***Fraud Alert***

Hello everyone! I just want to put a PSA out on here about a member on here @Tig Reaper aka Reaper Metalhouse in San Diego, CA.

I dropped off my 2011 Toyota Tundra to REAPER METALHOUSE on March 5, 2022 to have him build me a luxury prerunner offroad truck. I gave him over $76k up front to go towards buying high end parts, materials and labor costs. We had built up a good working relationship with common interests and collaborations shared for off-road fab and where my project was heading. Over the course of 1 year and 7 months this guy performed very minimal work for this timeframe, in my opinion. He tore my truck down to a bare frame, started cutting the cab up for the new roll cage, cut the back bed section of the frame off, started the roof portion of the cab cage, fabbed a partial engine cage and partially welded some overlay plating to the frame, THAT’S IT. I personally bought and supplied him with some of the high cost rear suspension parts that I paid for outside of the $76k I gave to him. He never bought ANY parts like he was supposed to with the money I gave him. I met with him on October 4, 2023 to discuss with him about giving me back some of the money that I gave to him and would pay him as he got more work done. He said to come back the next day and he would give me the money. I went there on the following day as he instructed and he was not there and his shop was closed. I attempted multiple times to contact him and was unable to reach him through text, phone calls and Instagram messages. I went again to his shop on Friday October 6, 2023 and again he was not there and the shop was closed. On Monday October 9, 2023 he finally text me and said he could not talk at that time but then continued to have a texting conversation stating he was gathering all of my parts and materials for me to come pick up and he was making me move my truck out of his shop and he was not going to finish the work I paid him upfront to do. He then stated that he couldn’t give me any of the unspent money back and he stated “I don’t got anything for you”. So this guy sent me packing with my truck in a million pieces and STOLE the $76k he gladly took from me. This guy has had 4 criminal cases filed against him, 1 in 2015 and 3 in 2018. What reputable business has that many criminal cases filed if they weren’t doing shady stuff? Also, currently he has 1 civil lawsuits against him too.

I’ve attached pics of my truck and some text convos to share

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT KARAC BRYAN AND DO NOT LET OTHERS GET CON’D BY REAPER METALHOUSE.

 

Oh my…

Seems like a good case for the courts, hiring an attorney might cost even more money though.

So he wants your truck out of his shop? Does this mean he’s still in business!!!??????

This guy is a prime example of “Never ever give anyone money up front, not one single dime!
Hope you have receipts, it’s time this guy is held accountable.

Where in San Diego?

 

You honestly gave him 76k? That’s unbelievable

 

Damn another one of these scam cases!? Sorry to hear about your situation. Good luck getting something back but I doubt you will see any of that money again.

 

I just messaged him to see if hes still doing fab work. We will see if he replies. 76k man thats alot of dough. Im sorry people cant keep their words on things anymore. I hope you recover some money from this.

 

My truck is out of his shop now and I’m working to get a lawyer to go after him. He’s in Kearney Mesa area off of Raytheon Rd.

 

Yes, but that was supposed to go towards buying all new parts and materials for the build and he never bought anything. Huge lesson learned

 

Wow……


Sorry to hear this.
But $76k up front and you “still” had to pay for more parts out of pocket. What the hell kind of PreRunner are you building? I’d have to imagine you have over a $125k in the truck by the time it was done.

I’d be knocking someone in the nuts and getting my money back.


There’s always 3 sides to the story.
But damn…………

 

^^This ^^

Did you have a signed contract or statement of work detailing what the $76K was being used for?

 

Always multiple sides to the story.. But damn, you gave him $76k up front!? As in 76 thousand? Who has that much money just sitting around?

Id be happy to take some of it off your hands, with much less hassle too

 

Should have never, ever , ever, even considered giving him ANY money up front. Let alone $76k

 

76k!!!!! What were you thinking??

 

Stuff like this, custome jobs, usually require a percentage up front. You can’t expect a shop to come out of pocket on materials. That’s normal.

But $76k…………No. How the hell that was even a legitimate number? I have no idea.
That’d have to be $300k build for that upfront price.

 

Thank you! It’s going to be luxury prerunner where it has all the amenities like A/C, heat, navigation, high end upholstery with front and rear long travel suspension, 4 full size race seats with 5 point harnesses. Yeah I’ll have well over $125k invested when it’s done

 

I’ve built overland builds before, Porsche, BMW as well, all through shops that were reputable and required not nearly that much up front. Not legitimate like you say

 

Does your truck still have most removed components? Wonder if he sold them off or cannibalized them for other builds a la Rock Solid Toys.

 

Is this a new case with a new shop/member or the same one from some months ago?

Guy forked over nice parts, and his truck along with a bunch of money

Vehicle was basically stripped

Other small jobs were done while this build sat for awhile (with minimal work done)

Money was used for personal use and for finishing smaller jobs

The stripped parts were sold off, and money kept as well

 

Where is the truck/pieces at now?
Pm/dm @desertjunkie760
He may be able to direct you to a proper shop.

 

Is that the company I was thinking of?

 

He didn’t seemed concerned a few months prior to you wanting to straighten things out. I’m going to assume he works alone, no employees? He’s sucking money and not putting out, like a street walkin hoe.

He needs a full blown finance investigation, I’m gonna guess he’s living well but then again California is an expensive place to live so he maybe using your money to keep afloat. Granted I don’t think he feels guilt or has a conscience. Sad sad sad…..