Cameroon National Arrested in Car Import Scam

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:30 am

Cambodia News (Phnom Penh): A Cameroonian man was arrested and sent to court for scamming a car seller via Telegram for 20,000 USD. The suspect was identified as BANGHA CALESTU NYODEH, called JOA, a Cameroon national.

According to a complaint lodged by the victim, Nang Vannak, a car seller in Khan Sen Sok, in November 2020, two Cameroonian men contacted him via Telegram about importing cars from the US to sell in Cambodia. They proposed to do business with the victim and he agreed.
On January 25, 2021, the suspects, MAURICE and JOA, came to the victim's house to prepare to transfer the cars in two containers, but the victim had to advance the two men 50,000 USD. The victim sent them 20,000 USD to prepare the paperwork.
However after he sent the money, the victim was unable to contact the two foreign men, who had disappeared.

On February 6, JOA was arrested while he was walking on the street and he has been sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of fraud.

ergosemper · Post by **ergosemper** » Wed Feb 10, 2021 7:27 pm

Oh my word, who does this. $20k handed upfront to dodgy characters.

Anchor Moy · Post by **Anchor Moy** » Wed Feb 10, 2021 8:33 pm

ergosemper wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 7:27 pm Oh my word, who does this. $20k handed upfront to dodgy characters.

I don't know much about the car import business, but I've heard that there is a very big official import tax on upmarket cars. So maybe the car dealer just thought that he had found a way to get around it.
But, as always, if it's too good to be true, then do your due diligence on your prospective partners. Why so cheap?