Houston Woman Duped in Car Purchase: $4,500 Down Payment "Vanishes," Loan Amount Altered

A woman in Houston fell victim to a serious consumer scam while purchasing a 2026 Honda CBR600 motorcycle from Private Club Powersports. She paid a $4,500 down payment, only to later discover that her loan documents still listed the full $13,000 as unpaid—the down payment had seemingly vanished. Additionally, the motorcycle was delivered in matte black instead of the glossy finish she was promised, and it already had scratches upon arrival. Although the dealership promised to replace the bike, they never followed through. To make matters worse, as a first-time buyer, she was charged an exorbitant interest rate of 18%, leaving her "upside-down" on the loan—owing more than the motorcycle’s actual value. The woman shared her experience on TikTok to warn others about similar scams and said numerous people have since come forward reporting issues with the same dealership. Experts advise: always pre-approve your loan before purchasing, get all promises in writing, and walk away immediately if anything seems suspicious.