A Salisbury man is charged with running a fake car parts Web site, S&C Automotive.
Rowan County Sheriff’s Deputy T.M. Haupt charged Shane Preston Mauldin, 23, of 305 Timber Creek Lane, with three counts of obtaining property by false pretense.
According to the warrants drawn Monday, Mauldin scammed three people when he sold car parts to customers in Arlee, Mont., New Middletown, Ohio, and Davenport, Iowa.
The parts included three transmissions for $2,500, $550 and $1,600, including shipping and handling.
In her sworn statement, Haupt said Mauldin falsely stated he could send the items “when in fact he did not have this warehouse of automobile parts or the transmission that this man was paying for.”
The incidents occurred in October, the warrant said.
The incidents were reported to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office in August and January, a report said.
Sheriff’s Capt. John Sifford said Tuesday that Mauldin had the victims send their payments and money orders to his home.
Mauldin was released from the Rowan County Detention Center after posting $4,000 bond.
His court date was set for today in Rowan County District Court.