Online car buyers exposed to common car scam by criminal sellers Users of online car buying sites such as eBay, Craigslist, and other non-dealer car advertising sites often find unbelieveable good deals, only to find it was no deal at all, but a common car sales scam. We often hear the question, "Is this a scam?" from car buyers who have found a "great deal" online. Buyers become suspicious because the price is "too good" and the payments arrangements seem a little risky. Cheap cars advertised on Internet sites can be scams, and it is relatively easy to spot them after the seller has been contacted, but not before. A car for sale ad placed by a scammer looks like any other ad — except the price is much lower than normal. They even provide pictures and VIN numbers of real cars (snagged somewhere on the Internet) to make the ads seem more believeable. If you want to avoid the inherent problems of buying on eBay and Craigslist, use a site such as UsedCars.com that only sells discounted used cars from licensed dealers in your area. This way, you can see the car, inspect it, drive it, deal with a known seller.
The general way in which the scam works is always the same, although details can vary from case to case. Here's how it works. How the scam works
The seller will have a picture of a car he claims to be selling for a low price. He will describe the car and it's condition, and explain why the car is being sold so cheap. His story nearly always involves some unusual circumstance, and is usually very believeable. Maybe he just got a divorce and needs to sell his wife's old car. Or his father died and his car is being sold. Or he just lost his job and needs the money. Or he is a soldier leaving for Iraq and doesn't need the car any longer.
Many of these scam stories involve a seller who claims to be out of the country or in the military, although his car is still in the country somewhere and must be shipped to the buyer. In fact, most of these scammers are indeed in another country. The seller might claim that he will use "eBay protection" with "eBay shipping" services, and that the buyer's money will be protected by using some kind of third-party escrow or bank account for safe payment -- and that the buyer will have 5 days to decide whether to keep the car or return it and get his money back. It's all to make the buyer feel that the deal is legitimate, when it is not. Why it's a scam
The seller's story and explanations are all nonsense. eBay has no such program or services for cars not sold through the eBay site. The escrow service or bank account is not legitimate, although it might sound like it is. It's a way for the scammer to get your money fast and then disappear. In fact, there is no car. The picture of the car in the seller's ad probably was snatched someplace on the Internet. This car scam will take your money and you'll get no car. The scam that has been around for years, but many people have never heard about it, and end up learning about it the hard way. Don't fall for this common scam. If the deal sounds a little fishy, follow your intuition and avoid it. Find your car somewhere else. Actual emails from scammers This one was sent to us by Diane N.: "If you are interested in my 2003 Mini Cooper S, it is in perfect condition, with no need for additional repairs, no scratches, dings, special marks whatsoever. It has 69,945 miles and the VIN # is : WMWRE33463TD65004. It has a clear title ready to be signed and notarized on your name.
I have the pictures hosted on the net and you can see them at :http://mynetimages.com/album/LauraPlummer1/2003_Mini_CooperS/. [editor: where did they steal the nice picture?]
The car is located in Honolulu, HI. [editor: sure it is]
The price is $2,970 including shipping costs anywhere in the continental US. There are no other costs regarding this transaction. I am selling the car because I am in the army, and my unit will be deployed to Afghanistan in December. [editor: sure, you are in the Army, that's what many of the scammers say]
The transaction will be closed only through a 3rd party and this way we will both be protected. [editor: only the scammer seller is protected] My time is limited due to my job in the army so I decided to use a service from ProPay. [editor: ProPay is NOT an escrow service] To begin the transaction I'll need your full name and shipping address, I will forward the details of our transaction to ProPay and then you will receive an invoice from them. The car will be shipped insured to your location with DAS and you will have 5 days for inspection. [editor: the car never shows up, and the seller disappears from the face of the earth, along with your money]
Thank you,
Laura Plummer [editor: nice girly name for a scumbag scammer] "
Here is another from Diane N.: "I am emailing you regarding the VERY Nice 2004HONDA ACCORD EX,
that I have for sale on Craigslist, I sell it at this price ($4000) because i just finished the divorce with my husband and i don`t have drivers license. [editor: sure, nice story]
The vehicle looks and works perfect. As you see it has a lot of options. No hidden problems and never involved in any kind of accidents, ONLY 55,100 miles. The VIN# is: VIN: 1HGCM56664A149427 [editor: VIN picked up on the Internet somewhere. It is a real car, but doesn't belong to scammer]
Since the car was also listed on eBay.com [editor: maybe so, not it's not your car], I prefer closing the transaction trough their Vehicle Purchase Protection system [editor: no such system for Craigslist cars] because we are both protected. If you don't know how does the eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection Program work please let me know so I can help you.
I used it several times (as a seller but as well as a buyer) and everything was perfect.
The vehicle was inspected by eBay. [editor: eBay [editor: eBay does not inspect cars] as well, shipping & handling fees
are included in the final price ($4.000.00).
if you want to see more pictures please click here:Honda Accord .
If you are interested please let me know your shipping details so i can open a transaction case.
(signed) Theresa Robinson [editor: again, nice cute girly name for a scammer]
"
Avoid buying cars you can't see
In fact, it's not a good idea, scam or no scam, when you can't actually see the car, can't drive it, can't have it inspected by a mechanic, and can't talk directly to the seller. Scammers tempt buyers to take the risk by offering unrealistic low prices and offering a "money back guarantee." A better way to find cars online If you want to avoid scams and the problems of buying cars on eBay and Craigslist, use a web site such as UsedCars.com that only sells already-discounted used cars from licensed used-car dealers. The big advantage is that you can see the car, inspect it, drive it, deal with a known seller. UsedCars is the largest online used car sales site. Another kind of car scam
If you found this article looking for information about another kind of car scam, a scam against individuals selling a used car, not buying one, then you want to read the article, Car Buyer Scam. ###
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