A TikTok creator says she was scammed while trying to buy body parts for a Ford Mustang she inherited from her late brother. According to her, she checked the seller’s address, read Google reviews, and even received a working tracking link, but days after placing her order, she got an email demanding an additional $400 before the parts would ship.
Brandy W (@bdizzle1013) posted a TikTok on March 24, which has drawn more than 530 views. Speaking directly to the camera from inside her car, visibly upset and in tears throughout the video, she describes how the purchase fell apart. A text overlay on the video reads, "I got scammed buying car parts."
How Did She Get Scammed Buying Parts for Her Mustang?
Brandy explains that her brother died by suicide in October and left her his Mustang. The car needs body work, and she had planned to fix it up as a graduation gift for her son, who is currently in boot camp.
"It was supposed to be my son’s graduation gift when he gets out of boot camp," she says in the video. "And now I somehow have to magically come up with all that money again. It was hard enough the first time."
On her account, the Mustang isn’t just a car but a connection to her brother and a gift for her son. She also says that she can’t easily replace the money she lost. Brandy says she did try to verify the seller before handing over her money.
"Before anybody says anything, I did my due diligence," she says. "I double-checked the address, Google … reviews. They even had a website to send me my tracking, so I could even check my tracking on."
Despite her precautions, the order turned out to be fraudulent. She says she received an email after the initial purchase demanding an extra $400 for delivery. This is a hallmark of advance-fee scams, in which sellers collect payment and then invent additional charges to extract more money before disappearing entirely.
Advance-Fee Scams: A Growing Problem For Car Owners
Brandy’s experience follows a pattern that consumer protection agencies and media reports have been warning about for years. Among others, the Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau have both flagged a rise in online vendors that use professional-looking storefronts, fabricated reviews, and fake tracking portals to appear legitimate.
The scam typically starts when a buyer finds an item at an attractive price on what appears to be a legitimate business website. The site may show a physical address, phone number, and customer reviews. After the buyer pays, the seller either demands additional fees for shipping, handling, or insurance, or simply fails to deliver the product. By the time the buyer realizes the site is fake, the money is gone.
‘File A Dispute With Your Bank’
Commenters rallied around Brandy with both sympathy and practical advice. Several urged her to contact her bank or credit card company immediately.
"File a dispute honey with your bank or credit card. They will open an investigation and most times you get your money back. Banks are insured for fraud," wrote SARAH. "I was scammed few years ago."
Cd343 asked whether Brandy had used a credit card, suggesting she "file a fraudulent transaction." Brandy replied that she had contacted the police but was told, "There [is] nothing they can do except file a report."
Yo mama 330 shared a similar experience and pointed Brandy toward the FTC’s fraud reporting tool. "I’ve unfortunately been scammed too but I was able to get my money back but it took several months," she wrote. "If you haven’t made a report please do so report fraud.ftc.gov."
The CARTERS est 2001(Meia) offered solidarity, posting, "We got scammed too! 4k gone! I’m so sorry!"
How To Protect Yourself
For car owners shopping for parts online, consumer protection experts recommend sticking to established retailers and marketplaces with buyer protection policies. The BBB advises checking a business’s rating before making a purchase and being wary of prices that seem too good to be true.
If a seller demands additional payment after an order has been placed, that’s a big red flag. Legitimate businesses include shipping costs in the quoted price or disclose them at checkout, rather than emailing days later asking for hundreds more.
Buyers who pay by credit card have stronger protections than those who use debit cards, wire transfers, or payment apps. Under federal law, credit card holders can dispute fraudulent charges, and card issuers are required to investigate. The FTC’s fraud reporting portal at reportfraud.ftc.gov is a starting point for anyone who has been scammed.
Motor1 reached out to Brandy W via TikTok direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds.
@bdizzle1013 im so angry at myself for being stupid enough to fall for it. #scammed #carparts #mustang #fyp ♬ original sound - Brandy W
