Mass. car dealer wanted in vehicle fraud scheme

About 25 people have reported being defrauded by the scheme since May, police said.

The owner of a used car business in Swansea has been charged in connection with a fraud investigation, officials say.

Since May, Swansea police have received about 25 reports from people saying they were defrauded by Bristol County Auto Exchange at 2388 Grand Army of the Republic Highway, according to a statement from the department.

Through an investigation, police determined that Edward Cicciu, 46, of Attleboro, receives cars on loan from a local auction but does not get the titles for the vehicles until he pays the auction in full. The cars are then sold at Bristol County Auto Exchange, police said.

“Cicciu allegedly completes a sale, takes the payment, attaches fake or forged license plates and promises that a title and registration will be mailed to the purchaser,” police said.

“Cicciu then allegedly stops responding to the victims and never pays the auction for the vehicle. The purchasers never receive the titles and cannot register the vehicles. Because the auction company still owns the victims’ vehicles, they are in the process of repossessing them.”

Swansea police have multiple arrest warrants for Cicciu on fraud-related charges, and he is currently wanted by police.

“The Swansea Police Department takes any allegations of fraud very seriously,” Police Chief Mark Foley said in the statement. “This has been an extensive investigation that underscores our commitment to protecting consumers from dishonest practices.”

Lindsay Shachnow is a senior at Boston University majoring in Journalism with a minor in Political Science and covers general assignment news for Boston.com. She has reported for various publications, including Gotham Gazette, GBH News, The Dorchester Reporter, and MuckRock, and covered policy and legislation from the Massachusetts State House for The Boston Business Journal. At BU, Lindsay is the President of BU’s Society of Professional Journalists.