I am thoroughly impressed that this woman was found!! Good JOB!!!!

However I have to disagree with some of this thread.

To me, she sounds like a fairly experienced, if not professional,
con-artist. She knew exactly how to dupe the mechanic out of his
money, and figured that she could get away with it. And she would
have if not for this list and the Vanagon "family".

I see no reason to believe that she's NOT the owner. And if she's
not, she probably STOLE the Van too! (Maybe went out for a "test"
drive and didn't come back?)  Call the cops. I don't know anything
about Canadian law, but my IMPRESSION is that it's illegal in Can. to
steal services and cross provincial  lines with the stolen goods.

Call the cops, stop this deadbeat from ripping anyone else off,
(like: selling a van SHE doesn't own!) and get to the bottom of the
story. It's possible the Van could be put up for sale in a police
auction and the proceeds could go to the mechanic.

Good luck

James