10 ms·

I may be misreading this but the margins look insane. DG Auto paid like 38 million USD for stolen converters, performed a simple extraction process, then sold t

by 55555 4y ago

I may be misreading this but the margins look insane. DG Auto paid like 38 million USD for stolen converters, performed a simple extraction process, then sold the precious metals for 550 million USD. Wow.

mortenjorck 4y ago
This makes me very curious how many steps in the laundering chain you have to go before it’s no longer indefensibly obvious that something's not right with the sourcing.
- lazide 4y ago
  Usually about 3, maybe 4 tops.
fswd 4y ago
Wow. I googled DG Auto, and they even have an app for thieves to check prices. https://dgauto.app/ https://dgauto.app/ Really wish the cops would download a list of who installed this app and find their location data on top of a map of reported thefts...
- mardifoufs 4y ago
  Theft as a service, literally. You can even get them graded! Pretty good app all things considered
- insaneirish 4y ago
  > Really wish the cops would download a list of who installed this app and find their location data on top of a map of reported thefts... Uh... So, I too found the website and couldn't believe how brazen the business is. I too was surprised about the app. If I downloaded the app because I was so surprised, should my name be given to the police as part of this investigation? That's ridiculous.
  - gpm 4y ago
    Yes. I'd say that counts as probable cause, someone who downloaded the app probably committed a crime. The standard for a search isn't beyond a reasonable doubt.
    - insaneirish 4y ago
      > I'd say that counts as probable cause, someone who downloaded the app probably committed a crime. What?! Is Apple a co-conspirator then? What about the people who did app review? Should we round them up and charge them, too?
      - gpm 4y ago
        > Is Apple a co-conspirator then Probably not? Is doing something that is likely aiding in a crime, but that you don't know for certain is, enough to make you a co-conspirator? Does it change if you do it frequently enough that you're sure you've aided in a crime a fair number of times? I think not, but I'm not sure what the relevant legal standards are. > What about the people who did app review Even less likely than Apple, and even if it's technically illegal it would be a good exercise of prosecutorial discretion to not charge them.
      - scotty79 4y ago
        You should investigate them at least. There's no harm in shining a little light on how purely criminal app got approved to be in the walled garden. And maybe some money to be forfeitured there as well.
      - khazhoux 4y ago
        The word "probably" here is in the context of probable cause, which (as we all know) is a criminal law standard. The commenter is not suggesting that a download should be enough to face charges, but that it would be enough for law enforcement to investigate you.
  - fastball 4y ago
    Why is that ridiculous? Information like that is subpoena'd all the time. An inadvertent customer of a criminal organization is still a customer of a criminal organization. If you're not dealing in stolen catalytic converters not really sure why you would care if the cops know you downloaded an app for that.
- tptacek 4y ago
  It gets better: that app is in the app store, and it asks for background location access.
- fy20 4y ago
  It seems like this could be a legitimate business too. Running a breakers yard can be a good business if you part things out and sell what is valuable. Second hand parts that have no faults are often quite valuable, even for older vehicles. In my country scrapped vehicles are issued a certificate that you can use to reclaim taxes. Maybe manufacturers should start adding unique codes to all parts so you can be sure it comes from a legitimate source.
- bondarchuk 4y ago
  A hilarious detail is that their price tiers are "ruthenium", "platinum" and "palladium".
- dsfyu404ed 4y ago
  >Really wish the cops would download a list of who installed this app and find their location data on top of a map of reported thefts... This would be a massive time unless their goal is to find and harass every small time used car parts dealer. Thieves don't really care about precise prices on cats. They just know that certain year/make/model ranges are what to go after. The target market of this app is people who sell used car parts for money and want to know the value of the parts. When you are buying a random car for $500-1k with the intent of selling wheels/tires and a couple other big ticket items before scrapping the car for a couple hundred you care a lot about whether the cat is $200 or $1200 for obvious reasons.
danielvf 4y ago
You are missreading it. :) That's one group of thieves selling 38 million worth to them. Later on in the document more groups of thieves are listed, getting paid 13, 45, and 6 million dollars. But that's still not necessarily the whole amount paid to thieves. Also, it's quite possible that some of their business, and thus sales to refineries was legitimate. None of their partners are listed in the press release as being arrested.
pjc50 4y ago
Crime has huge margins. If it didn't nobody would bother.

by 55555 4y ago

mortenjorck 4y ago

This makes me very curious how many steps in the laundering chain you have to go before it’s no longer indefensibly obvious that something's not right with the sourcing.

lazide 4y ago
Usually about 3, maybe 4 tops.

fswd 4y ago

Wow. I googled DG Auto, and they even have an app for thieves to check prices. https://dgauto.app/ https://dgauto.app/ Really wish the cops would download a list of who installed this app and find their location data on top of a map of reported thefts...

mardifoufs 4y ago
Theft as a service, literally. You can even get them graded! Pretty good app all things considered
insaneirish 4y ago
> Really wish the cops would download a list of who installed this app and find their location data on top of a map of reported thefts... Uh... So, I too found the website and couldn't believe how brazen the business is. I too was surprised about the app. If I downloaded the app because I was so surprised, should my name be given to the police as part of this investigation? That's ridiculous.
- gpm 4y ago
  Yes. I'd say that counts as probable cause, someone who downloaded the app probably committed a crime. The standard for a search isn't beyond a reasonable doubt.
  - insaneirish 4y ago
    > I'd say that counts as probable cause, someone who downloaded the app probably committed a crime. What?! Is Apple a co-conspirator then? What about the people who did app review? Should we round them up and charge them, too?
    - gpm 4y ago
      > Is Apple a co-conspirator then Probably not? Is doing something that is likely aiding in a crime, but that you don't know for certain is, enough to make you a co-conspirator? Does it change if you do it frequently enough that you're sure you've aided in a crime a fair number of times? I think not, but I'm not sure what the relevant legal standards are. > What about the people who did app review Even less likely than Apple, and even if it's technically illegal it would be a good exercise of prosecutorial discretion to not charge them.
    - scotty79 4y ago
      You should investigate them at least. There's no harm in shining a little light on how purely criminal app got approved to be in the walled garden. And maybe some money to be forfeitured there as well.
    - khazhoux 4y ago
      The word "probably" here is in the context of probable cause, which (as we all know) is a criminal law standard. The commenter is not suggesting that a download should be enough to face charges, but that it would be enough for law enforcement to investigate you.
- fastball 4y ago
  Why is that ridiculous? Information like that is subpoena'd all the time. An inadvertent customer of a criminal organization is still a customer of a criminal organization. If you're not dealing in stolen catalytic converters not really sure why you would care if the cops know you downloaded an app for that.
tptacek 4y ago
It gets better: that app is in the app store, and it asks for background location access.
fy20 4y ago
It seems like this could be a legitimate business too. Running a breakers yard can be a good business if you part things out and sell what is valuable. Second hand parts that have no faults are often quite valuable, even for older vehicles. In my country scrapped vehicles are issued a certificate that you can use to reclaim taxes. Maybe manufacturers should start adding unique codes to all parts so you can be sure it comes from a legitimate source.
bondarchuk 4y ago
A hilarious detail is that their price tiers are "ruthenium", "platinum" and "palladium".
dsfyu404ed 4y ago
>Really wish the cops would download a list of who installed this app and find their location data on top of a map of reported thefts... This would be a massive time unless their goal is to find and harass every small time used car parts dealer. Thieves don't really care about precise prices on cats. They just know that certain year/make/model ranges are what to go after. The target market of this app is people who sell used car parts for money and want to know the value of the parts. When you are buying a random car for $500-1k with the intent of selling wheels/tires and a couple other big ticket items before scrapping the car for a couple hundred you care a lot about whether the cat is $200 or $1200 for obvious reasons.

danielvf 4y ago

You are missreading it. :) That's one group of thieves selling 38 million worth to them. Later on in the document more groups of thieves are listed, getting paid 13, 45, and 6 million dollars. But that's still not necessarily the whole amount paid to thieves. Also, it's quite possible that some of their business, and thus sales to refineries was legitimate. None of their partners are listed in the press release as being arrested.

pjc50 4y ago

Crime has huge margins. If it didn't nobody would bother.