Pasadena Mother Scammed Out of $1,500 in Cash by Local Auto Dealer!
A single mother in Pasadena, Texas, has been left devastated after losing $1,500 in an alleged scam while attempting to buy a used car. Alicia Butler, who hoped to find a reliable car she could pay for in cash, says her experience at Strawberry Road Auto Sales turned into a nightmare.
“I was really looking for a car that I could just pay cash for. That’s it,” Butler explained. However, when she visited the dealership, none of the cars on the lot started. Despite this, the manager brought her inside to discuss payment options.
Butler described how the accountant collected her cash without providing clarity on what vehicle she was purchasing. “She takes the cash—it’s all 20s—and leaves. When she comes back, she hands me a receipt that just says $1,500 cash down. No car details, nothing.”
Feeling uneasy, Butler requested her money back, only to be told that the cash was locked in a safe and could only be accessed by the owner. “I asked if I could just get my money back because I didn’t like how this went down. But they said I had to wait for the owner to return,” she said.
To date, Butler has neither received a car nor her money back, leaving her feeling cheated and frustrated.
In an effort to investigate, KPRC 2 reporter Gage Goulding went undercover to understand how the dealership operates. Pretending to be a customer, he was shown a Jeep, which he test-started before revealing his identity to the salesman. The interaction quickly escalated when Goulding entered the office to speak with the manager.
According to Goulding, the manager became aggressive without provocation. “Arms were twisted, and elbows were thrown,” he described. The incident ended with police intervention, and the manager was arrested on two counts of assault.
The case has raised questions about the dealership’s practices and left Butler seeking justice for her lost money. Police are continuing their investigation into the matter.
This story serves as a cautionary tale for anyone purchasing a used car to remain vigilant and avoid handing over cash without clear documentation or guarantees. For now, Butler continues to wait for a resolution, hoping her ordeal will prevent others from falling victim to similar scams.
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