A US Navy veteran, Rod Ashby, has reportedly been scammed out of $40,000 amid his search for his wife and pets, who all went missing after their newly built home in Elk Park, North Carolina, was swept away in Hurricane Helene.
Rod has been tirelessly searching for his wife, Kim, and their dogs since the flood destroyed their home in late September.
Rod's daughter Ansley Ashby told CNN that her father's Ford F-350 truck had been ruined and smashed during the flood, and he was in desperate need of a new heavy-duty vehicle to help him look for his wife. This was when he came across a seemingly "legit" website selling second-hand vehicles and reportedly got scammed out of $40,000.
Hurricane Helene survivor Rod Ashby got scammed amidst a search for wife and dogs
According to Ansley Ashby,
"[Her father was] trying to find a truck that didn’t break the bank with everything else going on that he could get fairly quickly," she said.
Rod came across a website claiming to be a Colorado automobile dealer selling second-hand vehicles for incredibly cheap prices. After several phone calls and emails, Rod finally decided to buy a 2020 Ford F-350 listed on the site. He received a seemingly credible contract and bill of sale from the seller and wired nearly $40,000 to his bank account.
The car was supposed to be delivered within a day; however, 36 hours went by, and the car didn't arrive. Ansley realized something was wrong when she discovered the F-350 was still listed for sale on the site. Ansley told CNN that she called the seller, pretending to be interested in buying the same truck, and was told the truck was still for sale. This was when she realized they had been scammed.
Later, she found out that the website was impersonating a real Colorado car dealership.
"It’s just another gut punch," Kim’s stepdaughter Ansley told CNN. "You just feel so helpless."
Ansley and Rod reportedly contacted their bank to report the fraud, but the bank hasn't yet been able to recover the money they wired. Rod additionally filed a report with the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in Pittsboro, North Carolina, where Rod is currently residing. According to Randall Rigsbee, spokesman for the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the family’s fraud case is currently under investigation.
The owner of the legitimate Colorado car dealership informed CNN that in the past months, he received calls from several people who fell victim to the same scam.
"They are taking the money, and people aren’t even seeing the cars (in person) or anything. They are blindly transferring the money," the owner said.
Rod was already struggling when he lost his home; his wife and three dogs got washed away by the hurricane, and now the scam added to his misery. Kim's daughter, Jessica Meidinger, started a fundraiser campaign on GoFundMe. According to her post, Kim has been missing since September.
"Hurricane Helene swept her and my stepdad's vacation home into Elk River," Meidinger wrote in the fundraiser's description. "After several days, Rod was evacuated safely and has been living at our home along with many other family members who have gathered to band together during this difficult time."
As per CNN, Avery County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Van Williams informed that both police and volunteers have been looking in the Elk River for Kim to no avail. She and one other person are the only two people left missing after Helene.
"Search and rescue efforts have been underway since September 29th to no avail," Meidinger continued in the GoFundMe.
She also stated that the fund would go toward Rod's home and car, medical bills, and other necessary expenses.
"Our hearts are breaking more each day, but no one has been more mentally and emotionally impacted than Rod. Kim and Rod have dedicated their lives to public service, Kim as a NC teacher for over 20 years and Rod serving in the U.S. Navy and retiring after 30 years of service. With everything they've given to our community over the course of their lives, it is our turn to help them in their time of need. We can't do much to help them physically or emotionally, but we can help lift the financial burden this disaster has caused them," Meidinger added in her post.
Trending
As of Monday, November 11, GoFundMe has raised more than $71,031 of its $100,000 goal from donations made by 780 donors.
According to CNN reports, more than 200 people reportedly lost their lives across the southeast region of the country in the devastating hurricane.
Reply
