Vehicle scams are becoming all too common across the country. Every year, dozens of people are swindled out of their money after trusting someone to buy a vehicle on their behalf. Many of these cases come to light through ongoing court battles or social media complaints calling out the alleged scammers. In tonight’s episode of Five Point Breakdown, News Five’s Paul Lopez dives deep into the world of these automobile scams. We’ll hear from a victim, an industry insider, and even an alleged scammer to understand how these scams operate and what potential buyers can do to avoid falling prey. Here’s that report.
There’s been a flood of stories lately about folks getting swindled out of their savings by a sneaky vehicle scam. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people fall victim to these con artists.
Zenaida Moya, Car Scam Victim
“Anytime any errands, he used to carry out my errands and he was the one who really, the main go to person I had to carry out my errands. I entrusted him with the money and I had another vehicle, a van and I had entrusted that with him to sell that for me. He said he was going to sell that for me, and I wanted to get another vehicle to take my kids to school.”
Zenaida Moya put her faith in Melbourne Wade to handle buying her new car and selling her old van. Now, he’s facing the Magistrate Court, accused of swindling her out of over fifty thousand dollars. Back in 2024, Wade was hit with eight separate charges for similar scams. Having worked for Moya for years, she never imagined he’d betray her trust like this.
“In this case it was a 2015 Ford Escape. And so I was giving him money. I was giving him cash. I also gave him money via my bank account. So I was transferring him money. So, he was being paid for it and I wanted to deal with it very quickly so that I could get the tittle in my name. He brought the vehicle to me. I have photos of the vehicle. I have photos of him in the vehicle. I have photos of him standing next to the vehicle. This is not an imaginary nothing. I can show you photos of him with the vehicle.”
After spending weeks behind bars at the Belize Central Prison, Melbourne Wade, the man accused of scamming Zenaida Moya, told the media in January that he’s ready to come clean about his actions.
Melbourne Wade, Alleged Scammer (File: Jan 17th, 2025)
“It was not really scamming or thieving people, it was just bad business going wrong, right, and I am willing to own up to every responsibility, like I said. Four cases have been withdrawn against me and people are going the civil matter way. You know, it’s not the problem of paying back people their money or bad business or fixing what has gone wrong, but I have changed life. I have family that I should be out here for.”
Wade insists he didn’t scam anyone; he claims it was just bad business. He explained that one bad deal often leads to another, as some dealers try to fix one client’s issue using another client’s money, in essence, a Ponzi Scheme. Maho Koch, the owner of Coachella Car Club, also shared his thoughts on the matter.
Maho Koch, Owner, Coachella Car Club Limited
“As a businessman, I advise every single person on the street, even though the vehicles are not really cheap no ah days. There is really nothing for fifteen thousand, ten thousand. It sounds like a lot of money, but when you buy something on the auction in the U.S., as low as one thousand U.S., it cost you here landed after repairs, service, minimum fifteen thousand. So, you have to put your twenty percent, thirty percent profit margin, because you take about two, three months per vehicle. So how do you manage that. And people don’t want to pay the fifteen grand or twenty. They say no man I want cheaper. When you say cheaper that is where they catch you. They are out there waiting for you. They call themselves car dealers, anything you want to hear.”
During a recent press conference, the Financial Intelligence Unit highlighted the car dealership industry as one of the most vulnerable sectors to money laundering. From a law enforcement perspective, they emphasized the risks and challenges this industry faces.
Leni Ysaguirre McGann, Director, F.I.U.
“When we look at sectors, we look at how vulnerable they are and that compared to what threats they might be faced with.”
Paul Lopez
“But a specific one cannot be identified at the top of the list?”
“There are several that have high levels of vulnerability, and I can zone in on the nonfinancial ones. It could be vehicle dealers, real estate, those sorts of things, yes.”
In a recent interview, the Minister of Home Affairs brought up concerns about money laundering in the car dealership sector. Interestingly, at least two senior officers, including the Commissioner of Police, own car dealerships. While this isn’t illegal, it does raise eyebrows about whether police officers should be investing in an industry plagued by scams and laundering risks.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“We are not going to go down a road of restricting private officers from having a business. That business has to be legitimate. They have to maintain their reputation in carrying out there business. That is what is important. You have to look at that. If they are swindling people, I fully agree with you that if they are swindling people and have a business of that nature they should come out of the department.”
In August 2024, the Magistrates Court ordered Eden Crichton to pay Gilbert Blair nine thousand, six hundred and eighty-six dollars. Blair had shelled out thirteen thousand for a van he never received and is still waiting to be paid back. Meanwhile, well-known businessman Amado Badillo is facing at least three charges for allegedly scamming hardworking Belizeans. In a shocking turn of events, on January twentieth, a couple was murdered, allegedly by a car dealer who took their money but never delivered the vehicle. Both the victims and the dealer were from the same community, making this one of the most extreme cases we’ve seen.
“So it is not just oh, it can happen to just this person or this person or old or fit the code that they don’t have anybody around them or uneducated. No, it is all different people it can happen to. It is something where everybody, no matter what background, you come from, be careful, just be careful.”
The best way to avoid getting scammed when buying a vehicle is to make sure you have all the necessary paperwork for every agreement. Maho Koch advises that no one should take the process of purchasing a vehicle lightly.
“You got to touch it, you got to feel it. You have to test drive it. Many people have been buying imaginary items in Belize. It is not only vehicles. It is phones, furniture, even properties, real estate. We have seen what is happening in Belize. When I look at the statistics, most of the time it is friends, people who know each other that are suing each other, because of the trust you put on your friends. Don’t trust that easily. You have to look black and white, are you buying a vehicle, sir, do you give warranty? Please give me in writing. Keep everything in writing just in case you come across something, you have supporting documents. But many people like man, I don’t have time. How much is it? Twenty, here you go, just bring it. You are not buying panades, it does not work like that. This is not tacos. This is a vehicle, a big investment.”
Paul Lopez for News Five.
