Engine builder scam - Page 3

jimbo1 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-25-2003, 05:46 PM

On 11/26/2002 I sent in $1,099.00 to KHP for a marine engine.
This was after talking to someone named Mike. He seemed very knowledgeable about the particular engine. Today I am still waiting on my engine. I was told someone named "Junior" hurt his back while "making deliveries." He spent two months in a hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. I called different numbers and talked to different people but they all sounded like the same person.
8-25-2003 I called AGAIN and got nothing! Cellphone is disconnected. No answering service on the other phone numbers.

I came across Club Cobra while searching the internet for KHP's web site so I could try to get a hold of them that way.

SAD JIM

Any info would be appreciated!

jimbo1@mail.ohio.net

Jim Wintz · #2 (**permalink**) 08-26-2003, 04:25 AM

This is the second new casuality this week of this situation. Chad if you are ckecking the forum, I e-mailed you my number so we can talk over the phone as your requested. Jim I will e-mail you directly to see if there is anything I can help you with. Most of the history of this story . situation is posted here. If you want to post here with question I will respond and answer what ever I can.

Jim

Nailheadfred · #3 (**permalink**) 08-26-2003, 02:34 PM

Jim, I came across this site and forum while looking for info on KHP. My Brother is also waiting on delivery of a Engine. He too was told 3 wks ago that it was on the truck. I sent you an e-mail direct as I think you two need to talk. Thanks, FRED

Jim Wintz · #4 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 04:57 AM

Well, the list keeps growing, I spoke with 2 new unfortunate victims yesterday. Seems like there are a lot of similar but slightly different stories. As far as I can tell everyones that I talked to was expecting their engine on this delivery truck that has had delay after delay. Here are the different stories that I have been told.
1 - The truck hit a deer and busted up the inner cooler for the turbo. Wrong parts ordered, then it was put together wrong and blew the engine.
2 - The main frame rail on the truck broke.
3 - The Driver got a broken jaw and had to park the truck and go back to Iowa.
4 - The driver was worthless and didn't care so they fired him and had to get a new driver.
5 - The driver hurt his back unloading an engine that was falling from the stand and he tried to catch it. He was laid up in the hospital.
6 - From what I was told the driver was laid up in a hospital in Lexington KY. and Cincinnati Ohio, I believe for the hurt back both times.
7 - I was told the truck was broke down about an hour north of Nashville Tn. by the Kentucky border, someone else was told it was South Tennesse.
8 - I was told he was delivering the South first coming up through Georgia, Tennesse, Kentucky, then all of Ohio before he would get to me in Indiana. Talked with someone in Georgia who never received their engine and per the story I was told he was already there. It sounds like he was in everyone of these states depending on the story but no one received delivery of their engine.
9 - A gentleman I spoke with last night was told he was making a delivery just outside of Indianapolis (an hour from me) then he had to deliver one in Indiana close to the Ohio border before he deliveried his. Well he assumed that was me since I am close to the Ohio border and Indianapolis. Well I never received mine and from what he was telling me the driver never made it through Kentucky.
These are just a few of the stories on why the delivery was delayed, the reasons why the builds were delayed very as well. Sounds like the names of the supposed different individuals at the supposed shop were pretty much the same.
These are just the different versions from the people I have talked with over the past few weeks. The Deputy Sheriff says he is talking with 4 to 6 new victums per day. Got to give this guy credit for keeping the names and the stories straight.

Will keep you posted as new news developes.

Jim

JWheaton · #5 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 05:27 AM

Who are all these new posters that all of a sudden have found this scam thread?

I am confused. How can so many first time posters all of a sudden be somehow guided to this site to post on this particular problem.

Are members of CC being scammed?

Jim Wintz · #6 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 05:55 AM

The people I have been talking to are finding this site through a web search. Since they are waiting on delivery of their engines, and now when they call the shop there is no answer, and all of the cell phone numbers are disconnected they are searching the web for information on this company. When you put KHP, Dragboy, or as one person did they put in KHP's phone number it brings up this web page. That is how they have told me that they have found out. Some are posting some are just e-mailing me direct and others a calling me. As far as I know I have only come across one individual who was previous a member of Club Cobra who was caught up in this last year with Dragboy, but he was the more fortunate individual who was able to get he money back. I found him through the search engine on this web site for Dragboy. I saw that he had posted that he purchased an engine from them, so I e-mailed him asking if he ever got it. He said he had stopped posting on the forums awhile back for whatever reason. As far as I know he was the only one, other then myself caught up in this that is or was a member of the Cobra Club.

Jim

jimbo1 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 06:55 AM

I came across Club Cobra while searching for KHP on the internet!

I searched for KHP at www.google.com and put KHP Engine in the search field. The first and second listing were Club Cobra - Engine builder scam.
Don't worry CC is not being scammed!! Try the search yourself!
Jim

jimbo1 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 08:00 AM

Jim,
Could you please let me know what Sheriff Dept. contacted you - were they from MN or Iowa?
The Sheriff's name and the phone number where they can be contacted?
I dealt with the people in Iowa.
Thanks alot for your help!

Jim

Zderf · #9 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 08:04 AM

I want to know what happened to that Doug fellow, who made his single accusatory post the same day he registered. That was some 3 days after this thread was started.

It is amazing... just how effective Google is. I suppose we have now moved to a new level of membership recruitment at CC.

My best hopes and wishes to Mr. Wintz and all of the others who appear to have been taken to the Cobra Car Wash.

Regrets,

Zderf

Excaliber · #10 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 08:26 AM

Google,,,,,,it boggles the mind. How do they do that, and SO fast!

Ernie

Jim Wintz · #11 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 10:29 AM

Zderf,

Not sure what happened to the guy who posted the first response. This Doug Harraty pretty well defended his good fried Kent and his company KHP. He also was the guy who fixed the supposed delivery truck and worked on his new truck. He also made some pretty serious accusations to me or about me and all of the supposed lies I was posting about his friend.

My though is that it was Kent himself. I was told he was out of town that week-end at his sisters who has a computer. He may have been putting in names trying to get info and phone numbers on some of is customers that he lost in the raid. I was told he was try to call as many previous customers as he could giving them the story that it was a messed up drug related raid and the police have everything tied up. This was his recent excuse for the delays on deliveries and builds. So if he would have punched in my name and searched I am sure this forum comes up as well. It looks like an attempt to clear his name and down play my post. I have not seen or heard from this guy since. If he was real and his statements were true I would have thought he would have posted again defending his friend and posting the facts from their standpoint.

Jim

JWheaton · #12 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 01:13 PM

Jim W. and all

Thanks for the clarification. Not that you had to and all, but I appreciate it.

I am now realizing that after getting all caught up with tech stuff I am back to being old school already with tech stuff.

Good luck getting your money back.

Jamie W.

69mustang · #13 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 06:30 PM

Hi guys,
I officially became another victim yesterday, 8/26/03. May 28th I mailed a bank check to Kent Helseth Performance and never heard a thing from him after that. The motor was supposed to be delivered in August. Two weeks ago I started calling but never reached him. I took a few hours of searching, but I eventually talked to the Mayor of Meservey, IA. She informed me he had been arrested and told me to call the Chief Deputy. He is the one directing people to this site. He also told me that "DOUG" was actually Kent. I live in upstate NY, and have to admit I swallowed his bait hook line and sinker. As did other people that I had talk to him in an effort to check his credibility and knowledge. According to the Chief Dep., the scam was nation wide.

Since so many of us have been taken for a ride, has anyone started a class action suit. My lawyer tells me this is probably the only chance I'd have of getting any of my money back. I lost approx. 3 grand and my lawyer says if I went it alone, legal fees would likely out weigh the return. Does anyone have any info. I would love to discuss this over the phone or through email with anyone. I'm new to the site and don't know if I have my preferences set right. I don't think you have access to my email. If not, post something on the board and I will try to correct the situation.

I like the web site, but don't know how well I'll fit in. I love cobras but don't own one. The motor was for a 69 mustang fastback. It ran strong till I blew it. I didn't feel to bad about it though. It needed a rebuild. I saw the add for the 358/380 hp at $1800 and said that's for me. By the time I was done, I got the complete motor, dyno'd, computerized break in, ready to drop in. The only thing that got dyno'd and broke into was my wallet. Ouch!!!

I'm looking forward to hearing from people. This guy needs to pay some sort of reparation.

Excaliber · #14 (**permalink**) 08-27-2003, 07:08 PM

Well the good news is we seem to be picking up some new members. Ha ha,,,OK, it's a mean way to find the Club, but Welcome Aboard you guys!

Now about that Mustang, a Cobra would look great parked right next to it.

Ernie

Jim Wintz · #15 (**permalink**) 08-28-2003, 04:34 AM

Sorry to here you are included in this group of victums 69Mustang. You are correct, the Chief Deputy is also directing people to this site as well. Once I informed him what I had posted and where, especially after receiving the first response from the supposed Doug Harraty I believe the Chief Deputy started monitoring this site for information, and additional victims as well as directing others here for a place to go to look for help and information.

I spoke with a lawyer in Iowa since anything we do has to be file from there, and was told the samething going one on one will either cost almost everything I may be hoping to gain. I agree that getting a large group of us and then retaining one lawyer we may stand a better chance with a class action suit. The other issue is that if the Sheriffs Dept. does not find any large amount of cash or items with a lot of value, not sure what a law suit might gain. If he ain't got anything we can't get anything, so I was waiting to see what the Sheriffs Dept. investigation turned up before proceeding. I think that is how he has gotten away with this. Thousands of poeple over the years lost their money because they were from out of state and it would cost them more to try and do something about it. Well this time we are not a bunch of individuals trying to stand on our own, we are a group and we will have more support, power, and backing to do something. Something has to happen this has gone on for too long.

Again another day, another victum found.

69Mustang, I will try to e-mail you directly if it doesn't work please post again or e-mail me through this site. I will be glad to talk with you over the phone.

Jim

Roscoe · #16 (**permalink**) 08-28-2003, 08:29 AM

Contact the tax assessor in the town (or the county) and find out if he owns the property. If he owns it get someone to check mortgages at the county to see how much equity is in the property (sometimes you can just call the records room at the courthouse.)

I did check liens in Iowa and there are none in the name of Kent Helseth.

If you can't find any assets you may be spinning your wheels. Nothing wrong in obtaining a judgment against him. It will stay on the books for decades but it is only good if he aquires assets.

Roscoe

DAVID GAGNARD · #17 (**permalink**) 08-28-2003, 09:20 AM

I would take Roscoe's advise now and check into any property he may own and if you do not get any money back (and sorry but I do not think your chances are good),take out a judgement against him and/or lein on any property he may own.....

Years ago a buddy was rear ended by a drunk in a borrowed car with no insurance,he took out a judgement against the guy for his damages ($4,000.00) and about ten years later got his money when the guy was in a wreck and collected some money for his injuries.... After they paid out on all the outstanding judgements against him,he did not have enough money to cover his medical bills....

You never know when someone may inherit something or if he has any property,when sold the judgements come first....

David

Jim Wintz · #18 (**permalink**) 08-28-2003, 11:26 AM

Rocoe / David,

Thanks for the advice, it makes sense, might not make us any money but it makes sense.

Jim

AC Cobra · #19 (**permalink**) 08-28-2003, 04:20 PM

Call Dragboy at (218) 372-4269 in Sturgeon Lake, MN 55783 and ask for Kent. Most likely he go back to where he has friends and maybe even relatives.

Roscoe · #20 (**permalink**) 08-28-2003, 04:27 PM

You should check property in MN also. You may have to bring an action there too.

Roscoe