The U.S. car import scheme: fugitive Odessa scammer Vladimir Filippov cashed out the money and legalized the business in Moldova under the Iron Motors brand

The U.S. car import scheme: fugitive Odessa scammer Vladimir Filippov cashed out the money and legalized the business in Moldova under the Iron Motors brand

A criminal group from Odesa, headed by Vladimir Filippov and accused of defrauding buyers of used cars from the U.S., has moved its operations to Moldova to launder the proceeds.

For a long time in Odesa, there existed a private enterprise called «Southern Path», registered under the name of Vladimir Serhiyovych Filippov.

Mr. Filippov launched a typical pre-2022 scheme for the turnkey sale of used cars from the USA. However, some clients never received their vehicles. The issue was that people were initially quoted significantly undervalued prices for luxury cars, but the costs kept increasing over time. At first, they were told about additional payments, rising customs tariffs, and other services.

Let us provide you with two examples. One of the clients transferred $15,000 in installments to the company (auto_rider.usa) and began waiting for the car to be cleared through customs. The money was sent to the account of a manager of the private enterprise "Southern Path" named Maksim. However, the car never arrived to the buyer. Filippov himself, in correspondence with the client, claimed that the company had not received the money, despite signing all the documents.

In the second case, another client ordered a Mercedes C 300 4MATIC (2017) on a turnkey basis for $16,000. The money was also transferred to the personal accounts of Filippov’s managers, Maksim and Sergey. After the payment, the woman was given an ultimatum: either she pays additional fees, or she would not receive the car. After refusing to make the extra payments, the car was sold to another person at full price. In November of last year, the Odesa police opened case No. 12024162480001307 under Part 3 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code (fraud): misappropriation of $9,140 and 132,500 UAH. However, law enforcement has not bothered Filippov himself. Meanwhile, he and his wife Tamara (Tamara Filippova), whom he moved to Moldova with relatives, are living their best life.

After fleeing to Moldova, Vladimir Filippov abandoned the private enterprise "Southern Path" with debts and now operates under the name "Iron Motors" in Moldova.

All the schemes have been transferred to LLC «Iron Motors», registered at the same address as the private enterprise «Southern Path» (Odesa, Lustdorfska Road, building 90-g, office 239), although in their advertisements, they position themselves as a company from Moldova. The same managers who worked in Odesa are employed there.

Currently, the participants in the scheme are offering gullible clients the chance to save 30-60% on the cost of a car by using their services. The IRON MOTORS office is now located in the TORO BUSINESS CENTER at Strada Pantelimon Halippa, 6 (tel. +373 (79) 00-92-77). The editorial team has already reached out to Moldovan journalists and law enforcement authorities to address this fictitious business.