WILKINSBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police have issued a warning about a Wilkinsburg auto dealer accused of scamming at least 30 customers over the past two years.
According to police, the now-defunct dealer sold the victims vehicles and failed to submit the necessary paperwork, transfer fees and taxes to PennDOT.
The dealer in question is Penn Avenue Auto Sales, Inc., on Penn Avenue, police said.
The dealership is now closed and scheduled for sheriff's sale Monday, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper John Marks said.
Marks said charges are pending against the owner and operator Phillip Vixman.
It’s reportedly been days since anyone has seen Vixman.
“When he first disappeared, people were over here talking about breaking his neck and ‘I gave him $5,000,’” said Jay Johnson, who used to work for the dealership before opening a repair shop up the block.
If PennDOT does not receive the necessary paperwork and monies, motorists are stuck with expired rear window temporary registration slips and expired temporary copies of title transfers.
Once these documents are expired, the victims cannot get their vehicles inspected and therefore may also have expired inspection stickers, Marks said.
“A lot of people were trying to get their cars inspected down the street and they couldn’t get them inspected because the registration was expired,” Johnson said.
It is common that officers on the street do not have the resources nor the time to investigate the victims' seemingly wild claims of dealer fraud situation and therefore cite the driver and impound or otherwise tow the vehicle, according to Marks.
Unfortunately, this only serves to further victimize the citizen.
There is nothing that the victims can do to correct these issues other than file a police complaint and PennDOT, and then wait for the investigation to move forward. This process often takes many months for the police and PennDOT to complete.
“I feel bad because I like Phil,” said Menotia Kellem.
Kellem said she’s remained friends with Vixman even after her neice had a not-so-good experience at the dealership.
“It was all rusty and they had to junk it the same day (she bought it),” Kellem said.
Anyone who believes they have been scammed by Vixman is asked to make legible copies of paperwork from the sales and contact Marks, preferably by email at jomarks@pa.gov or fax at 412-299-1911. Callers can reach his voicemail at 412-299-1645.