A used auto parts website took thousands of dollars from buyers across the country as part of a recent scam. As it happened, none of it was actually real with paying customers never receiving any of the parts they ordered. When reporters tried to trace the operation, the people connected to it either said they believed it was legitimate or denied wrongdoing. The site, called Affordable Quality Used Car & Truck Parts, has since been taken down.
Eddie Ortiz, an off-roader who needed a used transmission for his 2008 Jeep Wrangler, thought everything was on the level. He checked out the website thoroughly and even used Google Street View to confirm that the building actually existed. He then went ahead and spent $800 via wire transfer, but the transmission never came.
Jeremy Burch, a salesman in Lynchburg, Virginia, found the same site while looking for a transmission for his Ford F-150. He negotiated a price of $2,400 and paid by credit card, but after more than a month of delays and excuses, he received nothing. The seller then started ignoring his messages. “It makes me sick,” Burch said after he stopped hearing from them.
The two men ended up in very different places, though. Burch disputed the charge with his credit card company and got his $2,400 back, while Ortiz, who had wired his money, couldn’t get a cent. back This is indicative of a scam that is hitting shoppers all over the country.
How Common Are Online Shopping Scams?
Scams like this one are among the most common forms of fraud in the United States. Online shopping complaints were the second most reported fraud category to the Federal Trade Commission in 2024, the same year Americans reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud overall. A big share of those cases are non-delivery scams, where someone pays for an item that never shows up.
The operations can be hard to spot because the fake sites are built to look real, with stock photos, professional layouts, working phone numbers, and even street addresses. Several of them even have glowing reviews to drown out any warning signs. They push buyers to use “unique” different payment methods as well, and then the end result is ignored orders and stolen payments
This isn’t something that has to happen to everyone. You can avoid it yourself by taking particular care. Before you buy, check whether the business uses a legitimate company email, check the reviews, and search the company’s name alongside the word “scam.” Also check the business on the BBB Scam Tracker. If you’ve already been hit, report it to the FTC. But don’t blindly send payments if you want to see your money again.