I’VE had a BMW for about nine years. It would occasionally give me problems, but it got me places, and was paid for. My cousin, who I know is doing insurance fraud, borrowed my car. Once in the past, he offered to let me participate in a stolen car scam, which I refused.

After borrowing my car, my cousin told me my BMW had major problems, and would probably kill me in an accident. A few weeks later, he tells me he has an Audi “in very good condition,” and wants to strike a deal. I gave him the BMW and some money, and he gave me the Audi.

The amount of money was not huge, but in my present financial situation, it was about four months’ salary. Part of the deal was that any mechanical problems for a few months would be fixed at no charge. I trusted him blindly; gave him the BMW and its papers, and took over the Audi.

From Day One, it gave me problems: Water leaks, oil leaks, electrical faults. The worst time was when the brakes failed. Luckily, I was on a minor road with no traffic.

When the first breakdown occurred, my cousin lent me a car and paid for the repairs. The second time, he was cagey, and implied I should pay, as I was using it; which I did. With each new problem, he started shying away from me and not answering my calls. At that point, I stopped paying my installments. I’m glad I did.

At family events, he acted normal and friendly. The third time the Audi broke down, he said, “Well, okay. Does this mean I have to spend my money and buy you a new car?” I thought this was unfair, so I said, “No,” and continued with the Audi.

While all this was happening, my BMW supposedly sold for an undisclosed amount. I say supposedly because, since handing it over, I’ve received traffic and parking fines. My cousin let it slip that it sold for three times what he originally told me it was worth.

I never received the Audi’s documents, or the old owner’s name. I never signed papers for either car’s transfer of ownership. When I sent my cousin a message saying I wanted to pay for the Audi and get my documents, he ignored me.

His mother backs him up. If I haven’t reported him to the police, it’s because my grandmother, who is 85, would suffer. He is her favourite.
Brock

Brock,
Life happens. Bad things happen; but we don’t need to volunteer for them. Chances are, right out of the gate, your cousin didn’t need to borrow your car; he wanted to steal it.

Your strongest play is to go to the police, but there’s a problem: You would have to explain why you delayed acting. If you tell the police your cousin is a con man, they may wonder if you are part of his criminal conspiracy.

Like most people who have been played for a patsy, you thought it could somehow be made right, when all along, you were being drawn in deeper. What you needed to do from the beginning was act in your own best interests.

Tell your cousin you need proof; you are no longer the owner of the BMW. Tell him you need proof immediately, or you will go to the police and report it as a stolen vehicle. Then do it. Get the Audi’s papers, or return it to your cousin, and eat the loss.

Once this is cleared up, have no further dealings with him. Realise you are not your grandmother’s keeper; it is not up to you to falsify reality to fit her fancy.

We have to be in the world with some savvy. If we are not the keeper of our own life, then who is?