2 arrested in Newcastle for car-buying scam

Two Fremont men were arrested Monday in connection to an oil-in-the-engine scam. A Newcastle resident contacted the Placer County Sheriff's Office last week after the suspects attempted to scam her while buying her vehicle. According to the Sheriff's Office, the car began to smoke during the test drive, which it hadn't done before. The Sheriff's Office reported the victim grew suspicious when the suspects introduced oil to the vehicle to make it seem something was wrong with the car. "This well-known scam tricks victims into believing their vehicle has a catastrophic problem, which the all-too-willing suspects are able to take off the victim's hands for a steeply reduced price," the Sheriff's Office stated. The victim told the individuals to come back another day and contacted deputies. A follow-up meeting was arranged and the pair, identified as Iulian Mihai, 19, and Decebal Mihai, 36, were arrested when they met patrol deputies and detectives when they arrived. According to the Sheriff's Office, counterfeit documents and evidence of identity theft were also revealed in a search of the duo's vehicle. Further investigation by the Regional Auto Theft Task Force revealed the Mihais' 4Runner they drove to Newcastle had been obtained in a similar scam in the Bay Area. The Sheriff's Office confirmed the original owner was tricked into selling her car for less than 25 percent of its value. Both suspects were booked into the South Placer Jail for theft by false pretenses, conspiracy, possession of counterfeit registration materials and identity theft. Iulian Mihai was released from custody Monday, and Decebal Mihai remains in custody with an arraignment scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. The Sheriff's Office reminds the community to take precautions if you are meeting someone to buy or sell a vehicle or other large item. The public is also welcome to use the parking lot at any Sheriff's Office location for a safe exchange.