agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Wisconsin to Accelerate Dealer Fraud Investigations

The Wisconsin legislature has passed a bill that would authorize the fast-tracking of auto retail fraud complaints and allow investigators to shutter dealerships earlier in the process.

Tariq Kamal
Tariq KamalFormer Associate Publisher
Read Tariq's Posts
April 10, 2019
Wisconsin to Accelerate Dealer Fraud Investigations

State Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) said delays suffered by complainants regarding Standard Pre-Owned consignment stores in two Wisconsin towns helped inspire a new bill designed to fast-track dealer fraud investigations.

Photo courtesy Wisconsin State Legislature

1 min to read


MADISON, Wis. — A bill that would fast-track investigations into complaints of auto retail fraud heads to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ desk this week after winning approval in both houses of the state legislature, WBAY reports. The bill was co-sponsored by State Sen. Robert Cowles and State Rep. David Steffen, both Republicans from Green Bay.

Cowles told WBAY the bill would ensure future investigations can conclude in “a few weeks to a month” and authorize consumer protection agencies to “force this person to close their doors” earlier in the process. The lawmaker made reference to an ongoing probe into Standard Pre-Owned, an auto consignment provider with locations in Kaukauna and Suamico. Local authorities turned the case over to the FBI shortly after serving a search warrant at the Suamico store.

Ad Loading...

“From 2014 to 2016, dozens of vehicles on consignment at the car dealership Standard Pre-Owned were sold despite the original vehicle owner not being notified or receiving compensation,” Cowles said. “While complaints flooded into DOT, more Northeast Wisconsin residents found themselves defrauded by Standard Pre-Owned as the lengthy and tedious process of license revocation failed to protect Wisconsinites in these consignment sales.”

Click here to read the WBAY report.

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Industry

Group photo of men outside storefront.
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 28, 2026

Pennsylvania Dealership Under New Retailers

The sale of the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store puts a family auto group on a leaner path as first-time dealers take the helm.

Read More →
Hallway with lockered wiring and computer
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMay 28, 2026

Battery Storage Takes Priority Over EVs

U.S. automakers are prioritizing battery energy stationary storage over electric-vehicle production as the consumer demand for EVs lags the rest of the world.

Read More →
Gray-scale photo of a line of Mini cars in a dealership parking lot
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 27, 2026

Auto Dealers Feel Better But Not Great

A second-quarter Cox Automotive poll of franchised retailers and independents found better views of the current market after a good spring but anticipation of third-quarter storminess.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Closeup photo of the front of a white car
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 21, 2026

New-Vehicle Sales Picture Relative

A May forecast is complicated by last spring’s trade tariff effects on auto retail. Despite continued hard realities, many consumers took advantage of ways to bite the bullet.

Read More →
Nissan logo on front of building
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMay 21, 2026

Auto Group Acquires Third Nissan Rooftop

Iowa-based Coleman Automotive Group recently acquired its seventh dealership, McGrath Nissan, which it renamed Nissan of Elgin.

Read More →
Couple talking with auto salesman next to new car inside dealership
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 20, 2026

April Less Affordable

Based on prices, reduced incentives and slower household income growth, consumers found it more challenging to buy new last month, Cox Automotive reported.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Wooden people figures of different colors in a row, similar to board game pieces
IndustryMay 20, 2026

Building an Extraordinary F&I Agency

Work to determine your specialized talent, because that fact will determine everything about your agency’s future.

Read More →
Ingredient card, policies and procedures, fixed operations, variable operations, data security, audit
Industryby Jim GantherMay 19, 2026

Recipe for Compliance

The secret to both amazing barbecue and compliance is the same: understanding the basics and committing to a process.

Read More →
Photo of new Chevrolet Bolt parked on a beach
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 14, 2026

EVs Getting More Attractive

A growing percentage of U.S. consumers are open to switching and fewer are adverse to the idea, according to a recently completed survey. That’s despite the end of a tax break.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Benchmark bar graph showing April 2026 EV Sales
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMay 14, 2026

EV Sales Drop in April Following Surge

North American electric-vehicle sales were down 28% year-over-year, a sharp contrast from global EV sales growth of 6%.

Read More →
Ad Loading...