### Family Falls Victim to Truck Scam Amid Devastating Hurricane Aftermath

Rod Ashby’s quest to find his wife, Kim Ashby, who went missing after Hurricane Helene's floodwaters destroyed their home in Elk Park, North Carolina, has taken a tragic twist. While searching for a new vehicle to aid in his search, Rod fell prey to an elaborate scam. His daughter, Ansley Ashby, revealed that her father required a new four-wheel-drive pickup after his Ford F-350 was swept away by the storm. Using the insurance money, Rod began looking for an affordable replacement.

Rod, a US Navy veteran, stumbled upon what appeared to be a Colorado-based auto dealership offering repossessed vehicles below market prices. Following several phone conversations and email exchanges with the supposed seller, he decided to purchase a 2020 Ford F-350 for nearly $40,000. The deal seemed legitimate; Rod received a contract and bill of sale, and confirmation that the vehicle would be delivered by October 30.

However, doubts surfaced when Ansley discovered that the same truck was still listed for sale on the website 36 hours after her father sent the payment. Pretending to be a new buyer, Ansley called the seller and was told the truck was available, confirming their worst fears—they had been scammed. Further investigation revealed that the scammer had created a copycat website of a legitimate Colorado dealership.

The situation has intensified the emotional strain on the family, already grappling with the search for Kim, a 58-year-old teacher described as "the glue that holds everyone together." Ansley and her father reported the fraud to their banks and filed a police report with the Chatham County Sheriff's Office in Pittsboro, North Carolina. The Sheriff's Office confirmed that the fraud case is under investigation. Meanwhile, the scammer's website has been taken down, although attempts to contact the fraudulent company have failed.

The owner of the real Colorado car dealership disclosed that numerous individuals have fallen victim to the same scam, with people transferring money without ever seeing the vehicles in person. Melanie McGovern from the Better Business Bureau advises purchasing from local dealers, conducting thorough research, and using payment methods that offer fraud protection, like credit cards or checks.

Adding to Rod Ashby's struggles, his retirement home, built along the Elk River, was swept away by the hurricane. On September 27, shortly after breakfast, the house was carried away by the floodwaters. Despite Rod's efforts to save his wife and their three dogs by clinging to a mattress and then a wall, they were separated in the torrent. Kim Ashby remains missing, one of two people unaccounted for in the county.

As the family continues to search for Kim and cope with their losses, the fraudulent truck purchase has delivered another grievous blow, leaving them feeling helpless in an already dire situation.