by A Dream That Didn’t Come True
Imagine ordering your dream car and handing over $147,000 to make it a reality, but instead received absolutely nothing. This is exactly what, according to the Nigerian man, happened to him, and he has turned to the American judicial system to get his money back.
The Beginning of Cooperation
The plaintiff, Briggs Egharevba, contacted Missouri resident Adesuwa Rene Oghozi, the head of the company Adesuwa Auto LLC, which specializes in online brokerage of luxury cars, in early October 2023.
Egharevba was interested in buying a Lexus LX and transferred a total of $147,000 to cover the SUV’s cost of $143,000, plus approximately $3,000 for delivery and $1,000 as a brokerage fee.
Promises and Reality
Initially, everything went well. Oghozi sent several photos of the LX600, and Egharevba was informed that delivery should be expected in the last week of November. But the car never arrived.
Over the next 18 months, Oghozi provided only explanations regarding delays due to holiday delivery schedules, inspections, and paperwork processing.
Disappointment and Uncovering the Deception
Egharevba concluded that the Lexus was never ordered when he grew tired of the delays and realized that the photos of “his” SUV were actually just stock images.
International Context of the Case
This case is particularly interesting due to its international aspect: a buyer from Nigeria entrusted a significant amount of money to an American seller, hoping for a successful transaction.
Since that didn’t work out, Egharevba filed a lawsuit against Oghozi for violation of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and conversion. He demands the return of the $147,000 he paid, as well as court costs and additional compensation.
The Evolution of Automobile Scams
Luxury car scams are not new, although this case is somewhat different from those we wrote about this year. In February, it was reported that thieves hacked into the computer systems of transport companies to change the delivery addresses for Ferraris and Rolls-Royces.
That same month, police detained three men from Russia and Armenia as they attempted to collect a bright orange Lamborghini Urus.
This story highlights the importance of caution when making international purchases, especially when it involves significant amounts of money. Many believe that buying through American brokers is safer, but this case demonstrates that risks exist regardless of geographical location. The increasing number of such cases may lead to tighter regulation in the online auto brokerage market and the implementation of additional protection mechanisms for international clients.
