Investigators arrested a father and son recently on suspicion of scamming hundreds, maybe as many as a thousand people who thought they were donating old cars to charity.


California sheriff's officials said the two men advertised that the donated cars would be sold to benefit an organization called Stamp Out Child Abuse, and the donor would get a tax deduction.


No such charity is registered in the state, said sheriff's spokesman Chris Saunders. He said the men are suspected of pocketing the money after selling the cars at auction.


Saunders said an area resident who donated a car later felt uneasy about the transaction and called the Encinitas sheriff's station. Sheriff's auto theft Detective Jeff Maxin, worked with the Regional Auto Theft Task Force, the IRS, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Franchise Tax Board to investigate and found additional victims.


Agents arrested James Thayne, 74, and his son Jason, 25, on suspicion of grand theft and criminal conspiracy. They were being held in jail last night on $250,000 bail.


Saunders said a search of their home turned up records suggesting they had bilked hundreds, possibly 1,000 victims, and were getting ready to move to Utah.