Fake Justin Bieber rep steals $200K in rental EVs in Coachella scam, owner tracks cars to Mexico
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA: A shocking scam tied to the buzz around Coachella has left a small business owner reeling after someone posing as a representative for Justin Bieber allegedly pulled off a bold electric vehicle heist.
The incident, which unfolded just before the festival's first weekend, saw four electric Mokes vanish under the guise of a last-minute celebrity request.
The scammer reportedly used Bieber’s name to make the deal sound legitimate, ultimately costing the Newport Beach-based rental company more than $200,000.
How a fake Justin Bieber request turned into a costly scam
According to the business owner, Chad Marta, the request didn’t seem unusual at first.
Speaking about the incident, he recalled, “The night before, we get a call for a last-minute request — four cars to go to Coachella for the headliner.”
He added that such last-minute celebrity bookings are not rare in his line of work.
“Which is not an out-of-the-ordinary request at all. We’ve done it a lot of times,” Marta explained.
The caller claimed the electric Mokes were needed to shuttle Bieber between a private villa and the festival grounds.
Wanting to deliver, Marta didn’t hesitate. “I didn’t want to leave the Biebers high and dry. I never thought this would happen,” he said.
Despite a red flag involving a $20,000 deposit that never came through, Marta trusted the situation.
“I didn’t think anything of it because he was scatter-brained and that’s normal. He said his wire got out a little late, we should have it in the morning,” he shared.
GPS tracking reveals shocking twist on California highways
The vehicles were delivered to Palm Desert as instructed.
But within hours, Marta realized something wasn’t right. The GPS data painted a very different picture than expected.
“(GPS signals showed) that we have a moving vehicle going down the 10 Freeway west. I realized, they’re not going 30 miles an hour, they’re on a flatbed,” Marta said.
When he contacted the supposed Bieber representative, he was met with denial.
“He’s like, ‘What are you talking about?’ I go, ‘What am I talking about? It’s my cars going down the 10 Freeway, what are you talking about?’” Marta recalled.
That’s when panic set in.
Desperate chase ends at the Mexico border
Marta quickly alerted authorities, hoping to intercept the vehicles before it was too late.
He tracked their movement across major highways, watching helplessly as they moved farther away.
“I was tracking them down the 215 to the 15, Escondido. I go, ‘They’re heading towards the border, stop these cars, stop the train,’” he said.
But despite his efforts, the situation slipped out of control. “I watched those cars go across the border into Tijuana,” Marta revealed.
Soon after, the GPS signals disappeared entirely. “They probably were taken out and just tossed,” he added, suggesting the vehicles may already be dismantled or hidden.
Business hit hard as investigation continues
The loss has dealt a heavy blow to Marta’s company, wiping out a significant portion of his fleet. “It takes away a third of the business,” he said. “It’s a big hit.”
While there is no indication that Bieber or his actual team had any involvement, the use of his name was enough to make the scam believable.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that an investigation is underway.
Marta, meanwhile, is holding onto hope that someone might come forward with information.
Though the scammer may owe him an apology, Marta made it clear what he truly wants.
“Maybe they’re coming back for weekend two. I can only pray and hope,” he said.
