A Kansas City man is facing major legal trouble after prosecutors accused him of running a Facebook Marketplace scam in which vehicles were sold to multiple buyers and then stolen back within a day. Authorities say Mamadou Diallo used forged paperwork to make the deals look legitimate, convincing victims to hand over thousands of dollars before the cars disappeared from their driveways. The case has gone viral online, with many reacting in disbelief at how the same pattern reportedly played out again and again across at least eight separate sales.
The pattern: Sell, disappear, repeat
Police reports say the seller listed cars for sale on Facebook Marketplace and met buyers in person to complete the transactions. Buyers believed they were purchasing legally owned vehicles after being given documents that appeared to include valid titles and bills of sale.Within hours, and often within 24 hours, the vehicles were reported stolen, leaving the new owners with no car and no money back.Investigators say the cases followed a repeated pattern across multiple transactions. Buyers purchased either a 2013 grey Honda Civic or a 2013 brown Buick Verano, only for the same vehicle to show up again in another sale soon after. In one reported case, a car was taken back in as little as seven hours, with a theft captured on home CCTV during the early morning.Diallo now faces 14 felony counts, including:
- first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle
- forgery
If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 98 years in prison, showing how seriously prosecutors are treating the repeated fraud and vehicle theft accusations.
When it happened
Police records link the incidents to May and June 2025, when Kansas City Police received multiple stolen vehicle reports connected to Facebook Marketplace purchases. Investigators later matched the cases based on similarities in listings, vehicles, and paperwork.The charges were announced in January 2026.
Viral reactions: “Infinite money glitch”
The story exploded online after being shared widely on X, drawing millions of views. Many users joked that the scheme sounded like an “infinite money glitch” and compared it to Wall Street-style tactics, while others questioned whether the possible sentence is too harsh for a non-violent crime.The case has renewed concerns about the risks of peer-to-peer online sales, especially when large amounts of money exchange hands quickly. Unlike dealership purchases, private sales rely heavily on trust and paperwork, and forged documents can be difficult to detect on the spot.
How to protect yourself from Marketplace vehicle scams
Experts often recommend buyers take extra precautions before paying for a vehicle, including:
- verifying the VIN and registration details independently
- meeting at a police station or safe exchange zone
- ensuring the seller’s ID matches the title
- avoiding rushed deals
- confirming ownership through official channels
The case is now being viewed as a cautionary example of how quickly an online deal can turn into an expensive mistake. Go to Source
