GT car / Salesman - Shiraaz Sookralli - Champion Porsche's VP of Marketing
#616
Rennlist Member
I hear Dave Maraj's son inherited Champion. I also understand that Dave's son and Shiraaz 'were like brothers.'
Personally cannot attest to either of these statements, just what I've heard through the grapevine.
Wish the best for all affected parties, including all uninvolved Champion employees as my biz with them was rather first-class.
Personally cannot attest to either of these statements, just what I've heard through the grapevine.
Wish the best for all affected parties, including all uninvolved Champion employees as my biz with them was rather first-class.
#617
The broker was getting his cut from them. He passed me Shiraaz's number and asked me to get in touch with him. Broker never mentioned me he was with Champion, but with a little bit of googling I found out. I was kind of amazed because I had reached out to Champion directly prior to this and was told they don't have any open allocations.
#618
#619
Rennlist Member
A little late to the party but this is completely nuts.
I hope there is no impact to customers that have a current V200 allocation.
Maybe @PCNA will do something about the crazy ADM issue.
I hope there is no impact to customers that have a current V200 allocation.
Maybe @PCNA will do something about the crazy ADM issue.
#620
Rennlist Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Mid-Atlantic (on land, not in the middle of the ocean)
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This is not on Porsche or PCNA. This is on a dealer that, at a minimum, had inadequate controls in its business. Fraud and embezzlement are not all that uncommon in the auto dealership business, given ample opportunities presented by the very nature of the business. IIRC, one of the prominent dealer sponsors on Rennlist had a nasty little embezzlement incident a few years back. It happens. It's on the dealer and the perpetrators of the fraud. Porsche/PCNA should advise/assist the dealership in dealing with the situation effectively, but the idea that they owe anybody any cars is a bit of a stretch. As a pure PR move, making cars available, if they even can at this point, may be a good thing, but it's likely better for them to just let Champion handle the situation.
My guess is that Champion is currently simply trying to assess the exact extent of the fraud and crafting a plan to deal with it. If I were a gambler, I'd bet they reach into their pockets and reimburse everyone for their loss and offer some measure of compensation beyond that, such as a future GT car at sticker, etc.
The wild card would be if their investigation uncovers a much larger fraud.
My guess is that Champion is currently simply trying to assess the exact extent of the fraud and crafting a plan to deal with it. If I were a gambler, I'd bet they reach into their pockets and reimburse everyone for their loss and offer some measure of compensation beyond that, such as a future GT car at sticker, etc.
The wild card would be if their investigation uncovers a much larger fraud.
Also, we can't say that the dealer didn't have adequate controls simply because of this outcome. We're not just talking about error, this was intentional crime by a person who took years to build credibility and rise to a position where he could pull this off.
#621
Champion booked a sale at something less than what the contract was for. The ADM, or part of the ADM, went to the fraud account. The dealership most likely knew nothing about that part. As the person committing the fraud could tell the customer you want to leave that off the final contract as you don't want to pay sales tax on the ADM when you register the car.
When the car is delivered it's sold and papered at the price Champion thinks the car was sold at. Neither Champion or the customer would know the difference and the salesman walks away with the deposit in their bank account.
This could go on for years undetected assuming the salesman can control the situation long enough. Fast forward a few years and the salesman needs more money. Now he goes further by "selling" the same car more than once. Now they are going to get caught. But they need the money and it just keeps getting worse until they are caught.
Unfortunately for the 99.9% of the employees at the dealership this is going to impact them to some degree. However as has been stated most buyers will never know this even happened. I hope this turns out ok for everyone involved except for the individual(s) responsible for the fraud.
When the car is delivered it's sold and papered at the price Champion thinks the car was sold at. Neither Champion or the customer would know the difference and the salesman walks away with the deposit in their bank account.
This could go on for years undetected assuming the salesman can control the situation long enough. Fast forward a few years and the salesman needs more money. Now he goes further by "selling" the same car more than once. Now they are going to get caught. But they need the money and it just keeps getting worse until they are caught.
Unfortunately for the 99.9% of the employees at the dealership this is going to impact them to some degree. However as has been stated most buyers will never know this even happened. I hope this turns out ok for everyone involved except for the individual(s) responsible for the fraud.
Hi everyone, I'm a reporter with Jalopnik, and we're working on a story today about this situation. If anyone who has prior experiences with Champion and Shiraaz, we'd appreciate a chance to chat with you. If you'd like to talk, I'm available at ryan.felton at jalopnik.com. Truly appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.
You (and plenty of others too) are doing an awful lot of speculating about what Champion knew and when. Yes, they were made aware earlier in the year when they were served in the Rampage lawsuit. Did they know before then? Maybe, maybe not. And what's happened between then and the latest lawsuit being filed last Friday? None of us are sure.
I'm not saying the guy was or wasn't a lone wolf. But it's not so difficult to believe that he was. Until then we are ALL just speculating.
One thing for sure, this guy was doing this a long time and it wasn't just "24 buyers". That's only what he admitted to in an email. One doesn't register this company in 2010 and then leave it dormant until now. Again, speculating, but that one's an easy one to see.
I'm not saying the guy was or wasn't a lone wolf. But it's not so difficult to believe that he was. Until then we are ALL just speculating.
One thing for sure, this guy was doing this a long time and it wasn't just "24 buyers". That's only what he admitted to in an email. One doesn't register this company in 2010 and then leave it dormant until now. Again, speculating, but that one's an easy one to see.
After this, Porsche needs to forbid the practice of its dealers requesting deposits against cars that are not guaranteed. This is now fully and squarely on Porsche. These dealerships are agents of the brand, and while this is a practice that’s not directly managed by Porsche corporate, now that Porsche corporate has notice of this fraud, they are responsible for putting a stop to this practice. It’s always been a shady practice but after this it’s absolutely unconscionable for Porsche to allow it to continue.
- The latest revelation with Champion Porsche is simply the preverbably '....tip of the iceburg............'.
- IMO, it is caused in how PCNA has created & allowed the mark-up of all of their GT cars, especially to anyone who is not a 'VIP' customer
- Each dealership establishes their own 'market', and PCNA has been well aware of this for some time
- PCNA has essentially created & allowed 2 different 'Classes' of Buyers through their VIP program
- It does not matter how many Porsche's anyone may have purchased in the past, nor how loyal they have been to the 'brand'
- If you attempt to purchase any GT type Porsche, the 'Surcharge' is $60K [at a minimum] to $150K-250K+/-
- That fact can be easily documented
- This was a predictable event............and Porsche [PCNA & others] have allowed it to develop
- Personally, I may simply purchase another brand of vehicle after decades of loyalty to Porsche, and after acquiring several different cars from them.
This is not on Porsche or PCNA. This is on a dealer that, at a minimum, had inadequate controls in its business. Fraud and embezzlement are not all that uncommon in the auto dealership business, given ample opportunities presented by the very nature of the business. IIRC, one of the prominent dealer sponsors on Rennlist had a nasty little embezzlement incident a few years back. It happens. It's on the dealer and the perpetrators of the fraud. Porsche/PCNA should advise/assist the dealership in dealing with the situation effectively, but the idea that they owe anybody any cars is a bit of a stretch. As a pure PR move, making cars available, if they even can at this point, may be a good thing, but it's likely better for them to just let Champion handle the situation.
My guess is that Champion is currently simply trying to assess the exact extent of the fraud and crafting a plan to deal with it. If I were a gambler, I'd bet they reach into their pockets and reimburse everyone for their loss and offer some measure of compensation beyond that, such as a future GT car at sticker, etc.
The wild card would be if their investigation uncovers a much larger fraud.
My guess is that Champion is currently simply trying to assess the exact extent of the fraud and crafting a plan to deal with it. If I were a gambler, I'd bet they reach into their pockets and reimburse everyone for their loss and offer some measure of compensation beyond that, such as a future GT car at sticker, etc.
The wild card would be if their investigation uncovers a much larger fraud.
That is different and not acceptable in my opinion
#622
I'm surprised by sentiments such as this. I feel bad for the guys who got bamboozled by Champion Porsche. But this situation has made me feel even more fortunate to lock up a PTS GT3. Between the difficulty of navigating the elusive PTS schedule, the endless ADM charges/dealer games/flipping, and this Champion Porsche debacle, I'm amazed and thankful to have landed one with no problem.
#623
No, he took care of my warranty repairs, sold my 4.0 in 2013 and when I stopped in for service I walked over to say hello to him.
I got my check and all was OK.
But I would have given him a check for a car no problem.
To me he was a member of the wealthy Champion family, always driving a baller Porsche or Rolls, he was there most days, just hanging out in the used car building.
The house of cards came tumbling down with the death of Maraj, or the other way around..
Someone should not only buy the dealership but also the movie rights.
I got my check and all was OK.
But I would have given him a check for a car no problem.
To me he was a member of the wealthy Champion family, always driving a baller Porsche or Rolls, he was there most days, just hanging out in the used car building.
The house of cards came tumbling down with the death of Maraj, or the other way around..
Someone should not only buy the dealership but also the movie rights.
#624
Rennlist Member
#625
Three Wheelin'
WOW this thread flourished to 30K hits in three days!
It started with "Fraud/Swindling" headlines!
Now it transformed to "INSIDER TRADING" !
Drive safe,
GT3RS-Fan1
It started with "Fraud/Swindling" headlines!
Now it transformed to "INSIDER TRADING" !
Drive safe,
GT3RS-Fan1
#627
Three Wheelin'
This kind of fraudulent scheme does not happen overnight, it must have taken Shiraaz at least up to a year to plan this. Do you guys really think he does not have any inside help to make this work ? Is the dealership completely blind ?
I was really hoping that CJ or Chicago whale can chime in how does the process work when a customer orders a GT car. Does it go through the sales manager and up the chain ?
Jack
I was really hoping that CJ or Chicago whale can chime in how does the process work when a customer orders a GT car. Does it go through the sales manager and up the chain ?
Jack
#628
Legally, maybe not, but from a practical standpoint Porsche and PCNA bear responsibility for shaping the system, and if they're smart they'll make the changes needed to restore and preserve their reputation, and prevent this sort of thing from happening again.
Also, we can't say that the dealer didn't have adequate controls simply because of this outcome. We're not just talking about error, this was intentional crime by a person who took years to build credibility and rise to a position where he could pull this off.
Also, we can't say that the dealer didn't have adequate controls simply because of this outcome. We're not just talking about error, this was intentional crime by a person who took years to build credibility and rise to a position where he could pull this off.
#629
Race Director
This will have to be verified by someone or a police report. Take it for what it is. Comes from a credible source.
Shiraaz was the only person with Dave Maraj (owner of Champion) when he hit his head on his boat and drowned. The police have supposedly opened up the investigation again after this embezzlement news.
Don't flame me here ... just passing a lead on. Not a verified fact. Not meant to detract here, but could be a big piece of the story here.
* I will retract if not accurate.
Shiraaz was the only person with Dave Maraj (owner of Champion) when he hit his head on his boat and drowned. The police have supposedly opened up the investigation again after this embezzlement news.
Don't flame me here ... just passing a lead on. Not a verified fact. Not meant to detract here, but could be a big piece of the story here.
* I will retract if not accurate.
Last edited by STG; 09-14-2018 at 04:16 PM.