A Florida man says he's caught in a nightmare scenario after purchasing a vehicle.The dealership allegedly returned his fully paid-for car to the previous owner, while keeping his $30,000. Now the man seems to be stuck in a legal limbo while still out several grand. In a viral video series with more than 120,000 views across multiple parts, TikToker @diverseplug documented what allegedly happened after he bought a car from a Miami dealership and paid in full. According to the creator's account, the dealership told him to bring the vehicle back for a "rebuilt inspection." But after he dropped it off, he says things took a shocking turn. "The dealership told me to bring it in for a 'rebuilt inspection,' but once I dropped it off… they handed MY car back to the original owner," he explains in the caption of the first video, which shows him speaking with police officers about the matter. "I had to deal with police and track the car down myself. I'm documenting everything to bring awareness to shady dealership practices and to help others avoid situations like this," he says. The second video shows him returning to the dealership with Miami police to confront them about the situation. But the officers delivered disappointing news. "You need to sue them for damages, for the money. You know, it won't be theft because this is a business transaction between you and them," one officer tells him. "But it's fraud, I paid for the car and they took the car," @diverseplug responds. In the footage, a different police officer can be heard explaining to what appears to be the dealership manager that @diverseplug "purchased a car and was told to bring it back for inspection, and apparently when he brought it back for an inspection you gave the car back to the original owner." According to @diverseplug's caption, the officers classified the situation as a civil matter, meaning he'd have to sue the dealership himself. He says Miami police wouldn't let him file a police report. "Now I'm stuck waiting for the dealership to send the funds back to my bank before I can purchase another car. This whole situation has left me without the vehicle I paid for—and without answers," he writes. In a third video, dealership employees allegedly stated they didn't know the owner's name and refused to give their own names after what @diverseplug describes as "stealing back a $30,000 car." "I'm sharing my experience so others know what can actually happen when things go wrong with a dealership," he concludes. In follow-up videos, he continues documenting his purported efforts to get the vehicle back. In one, an officer says the dealership didn’t pay the previous owner for the vehicle before selling it to @diverseplug. When the prior owner asked for it back, the officer says the dealership convinced @diverseplug to bring it in, then returned it to them. “That vehicle is registered to you,” the officer notes, advising @diverseplug to continue pursuing the matter. Why Police Called It a Civil Matter The distinction between criminal theft and civil disputes in vehicle sales can be confusing. According to FindLaw, auto dealer fraud describes deceptive and unlawful practices used by automotive dealers at almost any stage of the vehicle purchase process. But law enforcement often treats dealership disputes as civil matters rather than criminal cases, even when fraud is alleged. This means the burden falls on the consumer to take legal action through the courts rather than relying on criminal prosecution. Justia notes that consumer protection statutes dealing with issues like false advertising apply to many forms of auto dealer fraud. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the "Used Car Rule," which prohibits false statements, material misrepresentations, and other unfair or deceptive practices in connection with vehicle sales. In Florida specifically, consumers have protection under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. According to Pusch and Nguyen Law Firm, violations can include hidden fees, undisclosed financing terms, or the sale of vehicles with major flaws. What to Do If You're a Victim of Car Fraud If you can't resolve your issue with the dealer directly, you have multiple options for filing complaints. According to USA.gov, the agency you contact depends on the nature of your complaint: Deceptive car ads or dealer fraud: Your state consumer protection agency and/or the Federal Trade Commission Auto loans or payments: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Car warranty issues: Your state's attorney general Auto repair shop problems: Your state consumer protection agency If you're considering legal action, HG.org notes that attorneys who handle fraud claims typically work on contingency, meaning you can often file suit with little or no upfront cost. People were extremely sympathetic to @diverseplug over his alleged experience. “Everything in Miami is a scam. Even being super careful they’ll find a way to get you. I’m sorry you’re going through this,” one wrote. “Contact the attorney general offices, file a complaint with your local DMV, and file a complaint with the BBB,” another urged. “That was never your car,” a third said. Motor1 reached out to @diverseplug for comment via TikTok direct message and comment, and to the dealership seen in his videos, Miami Automall, via email. (This business does not appear to be in any way affiliated with the similarly-named Miami Lakes Automall.) This story will be updated if they respond. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team