[campbellcj]

Did you get any kind of bill of sale, even an email or text message, showing that he received your payment? Do you have a signed cashier's check, wire transfer confirmation, or anything like that? Unless you mailed an envelope of cash it should not be too hard to track down this guy.

Unfortunately he may never have even had/owned the car so the VIN may be a dead-end. Same with the phone number which may have been a "burner" cell phone.