Jul 2, 2008 5:53 am US/Eastern
Charges Filed In North Philly Auto Tag Scam
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
The owners of a North Philadelphia auto tag shop are facing more than 600 charges after they allegedly sold illegal temporary tags to anyone willing to pay.
Police charged Samuel Hargrove, Frank Campbell, Tanya Bates, and Annette Carter with forgery and tampering.
Police said the owners of Rockland Auto Sales on N. 5th Street would issue customers 30 day temporary tags to anyone willing to pay between $100-150.
In some instances, authorities said the suspects helped sell salvaged vehicles that were legally not allowed on the road.
Police said they discovered the scam when a woman paid $900 for a car she bought from a man she thought she knew.
"What the woman didn't know and what this gentleman did is he went and he bought a car that's listed as a salvaged vehicle," Captain David Young of the Pennsylvania State Police said. "This is a car that could have been in a flood, it's not meant to be driven on the street, it's not safe."
According to police, the man selling the vehicle was able to hide the fact that it was a salvaged vehicle because he obtained a temporary tag.
"Obviously anybody that's buying a car from someone likes to be able to know that the car they are getting is safe to drive," Capt. Young said. "That's a problem that someone can go out, get vehicles and get temporary registrations and pink slips and sell it to somebody on the street."
Capt. Young said if you feel that you may have been a victim, you should contact PennDOT immediately.
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