A Newport Beach buggy rental company lost four electric Moke-style vehicles worth over $200,000 after falling victim to a carefully planned scam. The business owners, Chad and Sadie Marta, believe they were targeted in a coordinated heist where scammers used pop star Justin Bieber‘s name to make the deal seem real.
The scam began when a man who called himself Alen reached out to the company with a last-minute request. He claimed he needed four vehicles for 10 days to transport Justin Bieber and his group around the Coachella festival. The Martas believed the booking was real, especially after the scammer mentioned Bieber’s young son. As Chad Marta explained, “Kids love Mokes,” and that detail made the request feel believable.
According to The NY Post, the scammers had also set up a fake business website to appear professional. The company delivered four buggies – a green one, a pink one, and two white ones – to a Palm Desert address near the festival, despite some warning signs like the last-minute nature of the request. Sadie Marta later noted that a tow truck appeared to already be staged and waiting at the location.
The scam was more organized than it first appeared
After delivery, the scammers claimed they had sent a $20,000 deposit by wire transfer, but the money never came through. They said it would process the next morning. When Sadie Marta called the renter, she described him as intoxicated and surrounded by loud music.
He said he was at Coachella and that everything was fine, but that was the last real contact the company had with him. This is not the first time Bieber’s name has been pulled into controversy, as he recently spoke out about his ties to Diddy’s alleged activities.
The Martas then started watching the GPS data on their vehicles and saw them moving south toward the US-Mexico border before the signals went dark. Chad Marta contacted the California Highway Patrol, but it was too late. “They’ve destroyed any kind of GPS on the cars and they’re now on the other side of the border,” he said.
The owners are now dealing with the emotional toll of the loss. “You think you’re doing the right thing for someone and it ends up being a fraud,” Chad Marta said. Sadie Marta said the family feels violated and is now wondering how long they may have been watched before the scam took place.
She also said they suspect they may have been targeted by a professional car theft ring. Bieber has faced his own financial troubles in recent years, having sold his entire music catalog for $200 million.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed it is investigating the case. Law enforcement has advised the Martas to stop looking into it on their own. Authorities have not confirmed any link to Bieber or to any organized crime group. As of April 16, 2026, the vehicles have not been found, and the Martas fear they may never get them back. “I’m afraid we will never find these cars,” Chad Marta said.
Published: Apr 16, 2026 03:20 pm