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Florida Man's $2.5M Classic Car Con Crumbles
26 Nov
Summary
- A Florida man received two years for a car restoration fraud.
- He defrauded clients of over $2.5 million worldwide.
- Victims were lied to about progress on vintage car repairs.
A Florida man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for a sophisticated fraud scheme involving classic car restorations. Clark P. Rittersbach, 51, from Cape Coral, operated Concours Classic Motor Cars in Macedon, New York. Prosecutors revealed that this business was a front, used to defraud clients worldwide out of more than $2.5 million.
Rittersbach preyed on the lengthy nature of high-end restorations. He sent clients, many of whom lived out of state or overseas, deceptive emails and texts. These communications falsely detailed completed engine rebuilds or progress on vintage Porsches, when in reality, little to no work had been done.
This long-running scam left numerous car owners with unfulfilled promises and significant financial losses, totaling an estimated $2.5 million. The case serves as a stark warning about the risks associated with entrusting expensive vehicle restoration projects to distant shops without proper verification.
