Employees at Gossett Kia in Memphis, Tennessee, were quick to notice something suspicious about a customer on August 10. Sensing that something was amiss, they promptly contacted the police and took matters into their own hands. Their swift action ultimately led to the suspect’s arrest, right in the dealership showroom. The way in which the dealership employees handled the situation was nothing short of comical.
A 63-year-old man named William Hayes is accused of using a counterfeit Tennessee driver’s license under the name of a deceased individual. Shockingly, he tried to purchase not just one, but two Kia Telluride vehicles using this fake identification. The combined value of these vehicles amounts to a staggering $158,885.
Dealer employees and authorities facilitated Hayes’ entire buying process, going beyond just signing the paperwork. They even went as far as having Hayes pose for a congratulatory photograph and video before the police intervened.
In the video, we witness the arrest of Hayes, who expresses his confusion, saying, “Wait a minute, what’s going on here?” The police proceed to handcuff him. Currently, Hayes is charged with Forgery between $60,000 and $250,000, along with Attempted theft of property within the same range. He is currently detained with a $50,000 bond.
NEW: Man arrested in Memphis after a dealership tricked him into thinking he successfully bought two cars using a deceased person’s identity
The suspect William Hayes wanted to purchase two Kia Telluride SUVs
He used a “fake Tennessee driver’s license bearing the name of a… pic.twitter.com/qIVpvnBb5u
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) August 20, 2024
Scammers occasionally try to deceive dealers with varying degrees of success, as mentioned earlier. Interestingly, dealers also engage in deceptive practices towards customers, which some might perceive as karma.
The Kia dealer was charging an average of $79k for each Telluride, even though the most expensive trim of this SUV has an MSRP of under $54,000. Gosset added a significant amount in additional fees, causing them to be more expensive.
