This article contains AI-assisted content.

AI-generated imagePhoto byThe Bullet Point

Boise, Idaho – The Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) has taken action against "rongistrvautosales.com" and its associated entities for conducting a fraudulent RV online sales business, a clear violation of the Idaho Financial Fraud Prevention Act.

Key Points

• The entities named in the cease and desist letter include Auto Sales Group, LLC; AAEQUPLAG, LLC; Larry Gibbs, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Darius Petronis (alias of an otherwise unidentified male, with a photograph on the website that is stolen from another individual online); and others involved in the operation.
• The investigation began after an Idaho-chartered financial institution (institution) reported an attempted fraud against one of its account holders, who was instructed to wire $27,400 for an RV advertised on Craigslist, linked to "rongistrvautosales.com".
• Investigations revealed the scam used the identity and address of a once legitimate Ohio-based business to create a false business identity, even including images of fictitious employees on the website.
• The wire transfer, identified as suspicious by the institution, was halted, preventing financial loss to the account holder.
• Subpoenaed bank account documents show that Larry Gibbs opened a new bank account with a $100 deposit on February 23, 2023. The account remained mostly inactive until October 2023.
• He then received five transactions totaling $125,200 from October 18-24, 2023, as wire transfers from Albuquerque, NM ($21,400), Hermitage, TN ($23,000), Tonopah, NV ($29,400), Paso Robles, CA ($26,400), and a book transfer credit from Los Angeles, CA ($25,000).
• Three electronic withdrawals totaling $58,060 occurred between October 19-24, 2023. These withdrawals were international wires to China and Hong Kong. Current bank records do not show subsequent movements of the remaining funds.