Navy Veteran Scammed After Hurricane Helene

Rod Ashby, a U.S. Navy veteran from Elk Park, North Carolina, is facing a dual crisis as he searches for his missing wife, Kim Ashby, after their home was swept away by Hurricane Helene. In his desperate attempt to find a vehicle to navigate the storm's aftermath, Rod fell victim to a scam, wiring nearly $40,000 for a supposedly legitimate 2020 Ford F-350 from a fake Colorado car dealership. After realizing the truck was still listed for sale on the scam website, his daughter, Ansley, discovered that the website was impersonating a real dealership. The family is now grappling with both the emotional toll of Kim's disappearance and the financial blow of the scam, which has left them feeling helpless. They have reported the incident to local authorities, but recovery of the lost funds remains uncertain. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to assist the family, highlighting their ongoing hardships.