A terminally ill British Columbia senior says his dream of one last camping adventure with his grandson was stolen from him, along with $1,500, in what he describes as a heartbreaking scam.
A Final Wish Derailed
Terrence Loyer, a 74-year-old battling advanced prostate cancer, has been given just two to three months to live. Living in a room provided by St. Paul’s Hospital Catholic Men’s Charities, the man on a minimal pension had a simple, poignant wish: to buy a camper van and hit the road with his 17-year-old grandson for a memorable trip.
That hope sparked in October of last year. While riding a bus in Delta, Loyer spotted an old, beige camper van with brown stripes sitting in a yard. The vehicle, with its pop-up roof and wide front window, reminded him of his youth. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, he got off the bus, unfolded his walker, and went to knock on the door of the nearby house.
"It looked like it had been sitting there for years. When vehicles have been left out, sometimes you can get them pretty cheap," Loyer recalled. For a man with little time and limited funds, it seemed like a potential opportunity.
The Deal That Turned Sour
The homeowner, a man who had several cars in his yard and presented himself as someone who tinkered with and sold old vehicles, agreed to show Loyer the van. Loyer, who shared an interest in old cars, felt a sense of trust. The van started up well and had low kilometres, and the seller claimed he only used it on weekends.
According to Loyer, the man agreed to sell the camper van for $1,500. Loyer explained he could get the cash from the bank but not all at once. He paid an initial deposit of $500, and the seller wrote out a note stating the remaining $1,000 was to be paid by the end of December.
However, the situation quickly grew strange. Loyer says the seller then wanted to write a second receipt for $3,500, claiming he didn't want his son to think he sold it for such a low price. Loyer agreed, and on this new IOU for $3,500, the seller noted the $500 had been received.
They stayed in phone contact, and on December 15, Loyer returned with $1,000 in cash to settle the balance. "He wouldn't accept cash, he wanted a money order," said Loyer. This demand raised a major red flag and marked the point where Loyer realized he may not get the van or his money back.
A Costly Lesson and a Warning to Others
Loyer never received the camper van. The $1,500 he paid—his money for a final, meaningful experience with his grandson—was gone. "I got ripped off," he stated bluntly. The alleged scam has left him without the funds for his trip and serves as a devastating blow in his final months.
His story is a stark reminder of the risks involved in private sales, especially for vulnerable individuals. While Loyer hoped for a trustworthy connection over a shared interest in vehicles, the transaction lacked the formal protections of a licensed dealership.
Consumer protection agencies consistently advise caution when making large private purchases. Key recommendations include:
- Always meeting in a safe, public place.
- Conducting a thorough vehicle history check.
- Getting a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.
- Being wary of sellers who avoid cash, ask for unusual payment methods like money orders or wire transfers, or create confusing paperwork.
- Verifying the seller's identity and their ownership of the item.
For Terrence Loyer, the dream of a cinematic road trip with his grandson, likened to pairs like Obi-Wan and Luke Skywalker, has been replaced by the harsh reality of loss. His experience stands as a cautionary tale for all consumers in British Columbia and beyond.
