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Car buyers scammed on Craigslist

A man wanted by Gwinnett County Police for scamming car buyers on Craigslist tells WSB he plans to turn himself in by the end of the day.

Jeff Manders is accused of taking thousands of dollars in deposits from three victims who thought they were buying a 2002 used Honda Accord from Honda Mall of Georgia.

Derrick Ansley is among the three people who met Manders in the back parking lot of the dealership on Sunday.  He tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish he had no reason not to believe Manders worked there.

“He came out (and) he had all the paperwork in his hand… he told me the keys were locked up in the service (department),” says Ansley. “He said so you can put your deposit down and we’ll hold the car until Monday.”

Ansley gave Manders $1900 and was given a bill of sale. He even put insurance on the car like Manders told him.

But when Ansley called Manders the following day, he was told the rear lock on the passenger door needed to be repaired and he could pick it up Tuesday.  When Ansley showed up to the dealership that day, he found out he had been scammed.

“The guy took me to the back lot and asked me where did I meet him at… I showed him where it was on the trade-in lot, but the car wasn’t there; so, I guess they moved it,” he says.

Police say Manders even forged the signature of the sales manager.

When reached by phone, Manders told Parrish he has been working with the dealership for three or four months as a wholesaler and would make advanced sales on vehicles.

“To be perfectly honest it’s a gray area, very gray and that’s my position on it,” Manders says.  “I do plan on surrendering to the authorities to deal with the charges and putting this behind me.”

Manders also says he plans to refund the deposits.

So far, he faces three counts of theft and three counts of forgery.  Police say he’s also wanted on forgery charges in DeKalb County and a federal probation violation.

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