LOS ANGELES — Seventeen‑year‑old Arrod Berjis, a high‑school senior, says he lost the $58,000 he had saved for college when the 2019 Mercedes‑Benz C63 AMG he purchased was repossessed months later.
Purchase appeared legitimate
Berjis found the car on Autotrader and paid the full price after the Department of Motor Vehicles clerk confirmed the title showed no lien. He planned to repair the vehicle, enjoy it and later sell it for a profit to boost his college fund.
Scam and repossession
After three months of work on the car, Berjis secured a buyer willing to pay $75,000. The night before the sale, the vehicle vanished. When he called the Los Angeles Police Department, officers directed him to a towing company that told him the car had been repossessed at the request of Carvana.
Possible DMV error
Berjis says the title he received from the DMV contained no lien holder and that a Carfax report also showed a clean record. He and the seller visited the DMV together before payment to verify the title’s legitimacy. According to Berjis, a DMV clerk repeatedly assured him the title was clear.
When Berjis returned to the DMV weeks later to investigate, the original title was no longer available. He was told that sometimes, during a title transfer, paperwork can be overlooked, resulting in a void or invalid title.
Investigation ongoing
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating, but the seller’s identity and documents appear to be fabricated, limiting the scope of the inquiry. The DMV declined to comment, citing an open investigation, and Carvana has not responded to requests for comment.
Impact on education plans
Berjis says the loss of his savings could delay his plans to attend college. “I feel like I’ve lost all hope,” he told reporters, noting that the money represented four years of diligent saving.
Consumer advice
Experts recommend obtaining at least one vehicle history report and verifying title status directly with the DMV before completing any high‑value purchase. Multiple reports and a thorough title check can help protect against fraud and administrative errors.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
