FRANKLIN, Conn. -- A Franklin man said he fell victim to an online scam while trying to buy a new truck.

The money was wired to a location in New York, but victim Tom Daigle said the company the money was wired through won’t help him catch the person responsible.

Daigle said he decided to look for cars online after his pickup truck gave out on him. He said he found the perfect truck online for a great price.

“She wanted me to get the $3,900 through MoneyGram, and MoneyGram would send me an e-mail and it would have the information on what I needed to do exactly,” he said.

When the e-mail came, he said, it appeared to be from a legitimate third-party company that would hold the money in escrow.

“I had seven days to inspect the vehicle, and I totally could turn back on the deal,” Daigle said.

But the truck, which he was told was in Oregon, never came, he said, and the seller disappeared. He said the escrow company had never heard of him.

He said the MoneyGram was picked up, but in Brooklyn, N.Y., not Oregon.

Daigle said he called local police, then police in Brooklyn, but he kept hitting dead ends, so he called the Channel 3 I-Team.

The I-Team brought Daigle's complaint to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who said the investigation should never have been an issue, since the state already has an agreement with MoneyGram.

“This consumer deserves better from MoneyGram,” Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal said MoneyGram promised earlier this year to better help police. Often, he said, these scams are run out of Africa. But with this money just two hours away, he said, it should be able to be tracked.

“Nigeria is a long distance away and basically lawless,” Blumenthal said. “Brooklyn is within a stones throw, certainly within a subpoena’s distance, and MoneyGram has an obligation under the agreement we already have with them to cooperate.”

Daigle, an out-of-work auto mechanic, said he hopes the money turns up soon.

“It just really stinks because that's my money to get my wheels and get back on the road,” he said.

Having spotted more scams since restarting his search for a car, he said he wants to warn others to be careful.