Odometer Scam Busted: Two Men Arrested for Rolling Back Miles on Used Cars

When you’re shopping for a used car, that low mileage number on the odometer feels like a win — proof that you’re getting a reliable ride without all the wear and tear. But what if that number was a lie?

That’s exactly what Rustam Mirzoev and Dmitrii Grunin allegedly did for months across the Sacramento region. The two men have been accused of running a sophisticated vehicle fraud ring that targeted unsuspecting buyers by selling cars with fraudulently rolled-back odometers. Mirzoev and Grunin were arrested on May 1 in Sacramento County and booked into the South Placer County Jail, where they’re facing multiple charges including identity theft, conspiracy, theft by fraud, and tampering with an odometer.

The investigation, which started roughly a year ago after someone unknowingly purchased a vehicle with a tampered odometer in Roseville, uncovered a sprawling operation affecting numerous victims throughout the region. When police arrested Mirzoev and Grunin, officers discovered eight vehicles with illegally altered odometers — and there could be more out there. Investigators found that buyers across the Sacramento area had unknowingly purchased cars believing they had significantly lower mileage than they actually did, which directly impacts both the vehicle’s value and its remaining lifespan.

What makes this case particularly significant is the scale and coordination required to pull it off. The investigation involved multiple agencies working in tandem: the Placer Regional Auto Theft Task Force, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That level of resource deployment signals just how serious authorities are treating odometer fraud — and rightfully so. It’s a crime that affects real people’s wallets and safety.

If you’ve purchased a used car recently in the Sacramento area, this might be a good moment to get a pre-purchase inspection or check your vehicle’s history. And if something feels off about that deal you just got, trust your gut. The consequences of odometer tampering ripple far beyond the initial sale.