The red Ford Ranger allegedly sold for P970,000 with fake documents is recovered by Quezon City Police District operatives in Lower Bicutan, Taguig City. (Photo courtesy of QCPD)
A buyer discovered that the documents and plate number of a vehicle he bought for P970,000 were fake, prompting a police investigation that led to its recovery in Taguig City.
The buyer met the sellers at the parking area of Solaire North EDSA in Quezon City on July 22 and paid P970,000 for the 2020 Ford Ranger before receiving the vehicle, its key, and supporting documents.
The following day, the buyer discovered that the documents and plate number provided by the sellers were fake and immediately reported the matter to Project 6 Police Station (PS 15).
PS 15 subsequently referred the case to the District Anti-Carnapping Unit (DACU) for further investigation on Aug. 3, 2026.
During the investigation, authorities confirmed that the vehicle had already been listed as stolen since 2024.
The vehicle's history dates back to June 2022, when its original owner agreed to mortgage it for P650,000 at a monthly interest of 10 percent after a friend recommended the arrangement to raise funds for a construction project.
The owner then turned over the vehicle to respondents identified by the aliases “Win” and “Ria” at Circulo Verde, Quezon City, with an agreement that the owner would redeem it in September 2022.
When the owner attempted to redeem the vehicle, however, the respondents claimed that it was no longer in their possession and subsequently failed to return it despite demands sent on June 18 and 21, 2024.
The owner then filed complaints for carnapping and estafa before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City.
Despite the vehicle having been reported stolen, it was later allegedly offered for sale through an online selling platform by two individuals.
At around 6 p.m. on Aug. 4, DACU operatives received information that the Ford Ranger had been sighted in the vicinity of Lower Bicutan, Taguig City.
The operating team proceeded to the area and located the vehicle parked unattended.
The vehicle was recovered and brought to DACU for verification with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to establish its lawful ownership.
Further investigation is ongoing to identify, locate, and arrest the individuals responsible for the alleged online vehicle fraud.