A New York City woman said she lost $4,600 after buying a used car through Facebook Marketplace, only for the vehicle’s transmission to fail days after the purchase. The buyer, identified as Saniyah (@saniyahyolanda) on TikTok, said she later learned the phone number listed for the seller belonged to a “Google Voice subscriber,” which she described as a fake number.
Saniyah said in her video that she wanted to warn others about the risks of buying used cars through Facebook Marketplace. She said she was sharing her alleged case “to not only share my experience but to spread awareness on people who are potentially looking or trying to buy used cars on Facebook Marketplace and the potential dangers of doing something like that.”
On-screen text in the video names “Jenifer Brein” and “Oren Presso” as the alleged sellers.
She says she spent weeks vetting the listing before the purchase
Saniyah said she had previously financed a car and found the payments too costly, which led her to search for a used vehicle instead. She said she spent about four weeks looking at listings before finding a 2018 Nissan Sentra that appeared to meet her needs.
She said the Facebook page for the seller looked legitimate, with real photos that did not appear to be AI-generated or fake. According to Saniyah, she had been communicating with a woman about the sale, but when she arrived to view the car in person, she said she was met by two men instead. She described this as the “first red flag.”
Despite the discrepancy, Saniyah said the car appeared to be in good condition. She said she test-drove the vehicle and had someone accompany her during the drive, and that the car did not show any signs of trouble at that time. Test drives can sometimes mask hidden concerns too, as when a car flipper let a buyer take a Corvette for a drive, and the buyer drove off with it.
Saniyah said she took additional steps to verify the car’s condition before completing the purchase. She said she paid for an inspection at a mechanic, who allegedly told her the car had only minor issues typical of a used vehicle. She also said she had the car scanned with an OBD scanner at AutoZone, which she said showed no issues with the transmission, engine, or battery. Because verification is a must concern in online car sales to avoid situations like this North Carolina seller who allegedly threatened to call police.
Saniyah said the car ran smoothly on the day of purchase and continued to drive normally when she took it home. However, she said that two days later, the car began jerking when she tried to accelerate and started making a whistling sound.
Saniyah said she initially suspected the brakes were causing the problem and paid to have them replaced. She said the issue persisted even after the new brakes were installed. According to Saniyah, a mechanic then told her the sound was coming from the transmission, not the brakes.
She said there was no check engine light or warning indicator on the dashboard at any point. Saniyah said mechanics told her it was possible the sellers had used a substance, possibly a type of truck oil, to make the transmission appear to run smoothly for a short period before breaking down.
After the transmission issue emerged, Saniyah said she tried to contact the seller using the phone number she had been given. She said the call went to a voicemail message indicating the number belonged to a “Google Voice subscriber,” which led her to believe the number was not genuine.
She said she also returned to the Facebook page associated with the sale, only to find that all the photos and information had been removed. She described the page as looking “blank” afterward. Saniyah said she was also given a home address by the sellers during their communication, but said she had no way to confirm whether the address was accurate.
Saniyah claims the financial impact went beyond the initial purchase price as she also paid for the brake repairs, as well as registration and insurance for a car she said she could no longer drive. She needed the vehicle to travel to school outside the city but was unable to use it because of the mechanical issues.
In the video, Saniyah acknowledged feeling frustrated with the outcome despite her efforts to research the purchase beforehand. She said scammers are “getting better” at running these schemes and encouraged other potential buyers to take extra precautions when shopping for used cars online.
Several commenters responded to the video with their own reactions and advice. One commenter wrote, “I will never buy a car off market place.” Another asked, “So is this my sign to just go to a dealership?” Other commenters offered suggestions for avoiding similar situations. One wrote, “Checking car fax saved me so many times. pre purchase inspections and taking a mechanic with me.”
Another commenter said, “You can still give the number to the police and have them track them even the fb page have them check out the address.” One commenter also referenced the brand of car involved, writing, “All that research and you still chose to go with Nissan.”
Published: Jul 22, 2026 05:32 am