A 38-year-old Romanian national, identified as Mogos Constantin, also known by the alias Catalin Ionascu, is facing multiple charges in connection with a sophisticated used car engine oil scam. The incident occurred on April 27, 2026, in Uxbridge, Ontario, where the police in Durham Region reported the case.
The scheme unfolded when an individual interested in purchasing a vehicle from Facebook Marketplace arranged to meet Constantin. During this meeting, the buyer took the car for a test drive. While the seller was distracted by another suspect involved in the scam, Constantin maliciously poured engine oil onto the engine of the vehicle. This deceptive act was carried out with the intention of making it appear as though the engine was damaged and leaking oil, which significantly undermined the vehicle's value.
As a result of the situation created by the two suspects, the seller was persuaded to sell the car for a price substantially lower than the original asking price. This marked a successful execution of their fraud scheme, wherein they manipulated the seller into believing that the vehicle had suffered damage, thus enabling the suspects to acquire the car at a reduced rate.
On May 1, 2026, investigators from the Durham Regional Police Department came across the same vehicle being listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace, this time advertised for nearly its original price. Further investigation revealed that the odometer reading shown in the new listing was approximately half of the vehicle's legitimate mileage, indicating that the suspects were attempting to mislead potential buyers once again.
Mogos Constantin's background reveals a troubling history as he is also wanted on multiple warrants issued by the San Jose Police Department. In 2023, he was arrested as part of a Romanian Organized Crime syndicate that was known for executing similar vehicle scams via social media platforms. This organization was notorious for engaging in a range of criminal activities, including armed carjackings and robberies, and it specifically targeted vulnerable groups, such as elderly members of the Asian and Indian communities.
The recent charges against Constantin include seven fraud-related offenses, highlighting the calculated nature of his criminal endeavors within the realm of online vehicle sales.
