A North Carolina veteran was duped out of thousands of dollars while attempting to buy a truck to help in the search for his wife, who went missing after their home was swept away by Hurricane Helene.

Rod Ashby, who was frantic to find his wife Kim Ashby, was recently duped out of over $40,000 when attempting to purchase a replacement vehicle, according to CNN.

After losing his truck in the flood, Ashby, a US Navy veteran, discovered a website that claimed to sell repossessed autos at below-market costs. He paid the money for a 2020 Ford F-350, only to realize he’d been duped when his daughter Ansley Ashby called back pretending to be another bidder and discovered the vehicle was still “for sale.”

“It’s just another gut punch,” Ansley Ashby told CNN, adding that her father was “really just trying to find a truck that didn’t break the bank” amidst the family’s misery. Despite their attempts, including calling both banks and filing a police report, the family has been unable to recover the funds.

Melanie McGovern of the Better Business Bureau told CNN that Ashby’s experience emphasizes the possibility of frauds during times of crisis, and she recommends utilizing credit cards or checks instead of wire transfers.

The scammer’s website has now been removed, but Rod Ashby, who is still looking for his wife, believes the incident has exacerbated the tragedy.

“He definitely took advantage of our situation,” Ansley Ashby told the publication.

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