{"id":713,"date":"2026-05-19T17:06:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T17:06:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottsdalemovinghub.com\/?p=713"},"modified":"2026-05-19T17:06:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T17:06:36","slug":"goodyear-resident-says-roadside-repair-pitch-turned-into-costly-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottsdalemovinghub.com\/?p=713","title":{"rendered":"Goodyear resident says roadside repair pitch turned into costly fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GOODYEAR, Ariz. \u2014 A Goodyear man says he lost thousands of dollars after two men claiming to work in auto body repair approached him at a stoplight and offered to fix dents on his vehicles.<\/p>\n

Read more How does Ebola spread? What to know about the current outbreak in central Africa<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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What began as a casual conversation in broad daylight quickly escalated into what Erick Sabo now believes was an elaborate scam.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sabo said the encounter happened in early April near the intersection of Van Buren Street and Estrella Parkway in Goodyear. While stopped at a traffic light, two young men complimented his truck and asked whether he was interested in having a dent repaired.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cThey said it\u2019s a really nice-looking truck,\u201d Sabo recalled. \u201cDo you, are you interested in getting that dent fixed?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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After the conversation, Sabo said he pulled into the parking lot of a nearby Ace Hardware, where the men continued discussing repair options. According to Sabo, one of the men claimed he worked in auto detailing and assured him they specialized in making vehicles look \u201creally good.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sabo later invited the pair to his Goodyear home to inspect several vehicles with dent damage, including an older truck, a Toyota Tundra, and a BMW. He said the men offered an estimate of $6,100 for the work.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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When discussing payment, Sabo said he explained that he did not have that amount of cash readily available. Instead, he agreed to send part of the money electronically through Zelle.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cI can pay you half by Zelle,\u201d Sabo said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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According to Sabo, he transferred $4,000 upfront with the understanding that the remainder would be paid after the work was completed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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That same day, the men applied what Sabo described as a paste-like substance to the damaged areas of the vehicles. They allegedly claimed the material, referred to as \u201cheat paste,\u201d would help remove the dents.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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At first, Sabo said he trusted the explanation. But as the process continued, he became increasingly suspicious.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cAlarm bells are going off in my head,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not an auto body person, but heat paste is going to help take dents out? This isn\u2019t feeling right.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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When Sabo removed the paste later that evening, he said he saw no improvement in the dents. He also said communication with the men became inconsistent and tense when he began asking questions about the work.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s when I realized these guys are scamming me,\u201d Sabo said. \u201cI started looking at auto body scams, and I thought, \u2018Oh crap, I got hoodwinked.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Navy veteran gets Georgia city waiver that may save dog facing euthanasia<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sabo reported the incident to Goodyear police. According to him, investigators later contacted one of the men involved, identified as Jessie James Miller. Miller was arrested on an outstanding fraud-related warrant out of Flagstaff, police said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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However, Sabo said investigators also told him his case could potentially be considered a civil dispute rather than a criminal matter. Sabo hasn’t heard from any of the men he interacted with in over a month.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Goodyear police confirmed to 12News that the case remains under active investigation but declined to release additional details.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Despite the financial loss, Sabo said he hopes sharing his experience will help others avoid similar situations. He now encourages people to thoroughly vet contractors and repair workers before agreeing to any services or payments.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cAnybody who wants to do work for me, I\u2019m going to check their business license,\u201d Sabo said. \u201cI\u2019m going to get copies of their cards. I\u2019m going to go to the shop and get a written estimate. I\u2019m going to be more diligent.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Authorities advise anyone who believes they may have been targeted in a similar scam to contact local law enforcement.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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GOODYEAR, Ariz. \u2014 A Goodyear man says he lost thousands of dollars after two men claiming to work in auto body repair approached him at a stoplight and offered to fix dents on his vehicles. Read more How does Ebola spread? 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