Marketplace warning as woman left $10,000 out of pocket after car purchase

Leanne Roney of northern Tasmania is determined to recoup $10,000 after inadvertently buying a stolen Fiat Ducato van via Facebook Marketplace in April. Her situation worsened when the seller, Michael John Bowerman, pleaded guilty in June and received a community correction order and suspended prison sentence, but was not ordered to repay the money.

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It's atrocious. So he gets a $90 fine and I lose $10,000.

"It's atrocious," Roney stated. "So he gets a $90 fine and I lose $10,000." After multiple attempts to seek resolution through police and the courts, it was only after ABC News contacted authorities that a restitution order was lodged. Roney, who can no longer work as a chef due to a past car crash, described the loss as equivalent to half a year's rent.

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Everything looked legit.

Roney, who enjoys tinkering with cars, found the van on Facebook Marketplace and believed it was ideal for conversion into a camper. A Tasmanian Vehicle Registration Check showed it was registered in Bowerman's name, and "everything looked legit." However, after a test drive, the van experienced error messages and broke down. She now suspects Bowerman used an electronic device to temporarily clear the codes before the sale. A mechanic's letter suggests the previous owner may have cleared codes to facilitate the sale.

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And look, honestly, my heart dropped to my feet.

Two days after the purchase, a repossession company informed Roney that the van belonged to Asset Rental Group, leased to Bowerman under a rent-to-buy agreement. Roney refused to let the van be repossessed, seeking legal advice. Consumer groups are highlighting Roney's case as an example of common occurrences on online platforms, urging the federal government to compel tech companies to better vet advertisements.

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No, you're not taking the van. I'll get a solicitor.