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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH"Scams" on Craigs list and autotrader!!!
Leading reported evidence
Inspect /drove the car
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Flew down to pick up the car and inspected/drove the car before the deal was done.
Leading evidence: 'Inspect /drove the car' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check these out' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
They usually don't even own the car, pictures for ad some times taken from high end used car lots!
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Suggestion
Check these out before you start shopping and arm yourself information that can help you avoid being taken advantage of.
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Suggestion · Original poster
Some are claiming the car is at a trucking yard ready to ship, so you can't test drive car, or have a mechanic test it.
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26 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Since this is my first post. I feel I need to introduce myself first. My name is Dennis, and I am from southern California. And I am new to this forum, but appreciate all the information, and tips that are provided by the members of this forum.
I am an owner of a 99' beautiful Carrera 4 Cab, and I feel I need to let people on this forum know about frequently occurring fraud currently going on.
This is how it is working;
They will advertise on auto sale sites, such as, Auto trader, Craigs list, Cars.com, ect.
They usually will have a phone number listed that is disconnected. And a email address that is good.
They usually will list cars that are in high demand at a incredible low price!
If you e-mail them, they will get back to you in a short amount of time. They will usually have a story about, how the car sold, but the deal fell through, and they need money fast. Some times claiming medical issues, divorce, lost job, or all of the above.
Some are claiming the car is at a trucking yard ready to ship, so you can't test drive car, or have a mechanic test it. "This is because of the first sale that fell through"
But to set your mind at ease, they are willing to go through a "E-Bay" car verification Representative that will hold a down payment. Usually for several thousands. Then he claims he will ship the car to you for verification, and approval.
If you like it, the down payment will be released to him by E-Bay, and you are suppose to send balance for the title.
1. The E-Bay representative is a fraud.
2. They usually don't even own the car, pictures for ad some times taken from high end used car lots!
So you are thinking to yourself, how do I know this!
I am involved with one, and have sent all information to E-bay, and Auto trader.
Fortunately I figured it out before I sent any money. And E-Bay has contacted me, and confirmed it to be fraud.
The car in question, a 03" 996, turbo. Almost perfect condition, clean title, $18,000!!! "Yea right"
E-Bay also said that the sites these crooks send you to, look authentic!
Moral of the story? Well, there are many!
1. Buyer beware
2. If it looks to good to be true, "It Is"
3. Don't buy unless you can touch it, "plane tickets are cheap"
If this prevents one person from being scammed, I did my part.
Thanks again for this site, and i apologize if I posted this in the wrong forum.
Dennis
Welcome to the internet.
You forgot to ad the part where the buyer/seller is from Nigeria.
Seriously though, welcome to Rennlist. Pretty good bunch of people here.
or on eBay, watch out for Buy Now.
A while back I was looking at a Eurovan, the seller had great feedback, but the feedback was for knitting supplies, ha.
Someone had highjacked this woman's account, and since I had "asked the seller a question", eBay was good enough to email me a day later that it was a fraudulant listing.
Still there are good deals on CL, there's a reason why it is organized by local city.....
Whats with the "pics or ban comments?" Are pictures mandatory to make a post?
I just bought the 99' cab4, two weeks ago. The car I was mentioning in the "Scam post, was one of the cars I was considering. "And I will post pics as soon as I have a chance". The scam may be something that has been going on for a long time now, I don't know!
But e-bay's, e-mail to me indicated the method was new.
The only reason I posted it, was to posibly prevent some one from getting hurt.
If you look, you can see that I just joined this site. I did so to get information about the 996 I just bought. My knowledge on these cars is limited, so that is why I joined.
DDAY
Since Tim our Chief of New Member Orientation hasn't chimed in, it is customary for new posters to post pics of their car and some basic information (options/modifications) of your car since we are gearheads here.
Welcome to RL and our little corner of it. Oh and go snaps some pics of your car and post up
Sorry guys, I am late to this party!
DDay - Welcome to Rennlist. As LJPete stated above, it is customary for new posters to post pics of their car and share some basic info about your car, so consider this next sentence to be your "Newbie Initiation."
Come on Newbie, post the !@#$%* pics!
BTW - this is all meant to be in good fun!
Again welcome to the Phunny Pharm!
Hi folks--
Brian from AutoTrader.com here--saw the thread, and wanted to jump in. Dennis makes a lot of great points. AutoTrader.com and all on-line shopping sites take a variety of steps -� from technology filters to human review of suspicious ads -� to keep fraudulent listings off the web. However, in the case of AutoTrader.com, with millions of cars advertised on our site and fraudsters on-line every day with nothing better to do but post and repost phony ads, some still slip through. Dennis is right on the money in terms of some things people should watch out for when shopping for anything on-line. Our top 5?
- If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Research the prices of cars you want and if you see one at a dramatically lower price than the average, be suspicious. Don�t let your desire to get a good deal cloud your judgment.
- If you can�t contact the seller by phone, that should be a red flag. Most of these fraudulent ads come from overseas. Criminals can hide their location and the fact that they don�t speak English with an email. They can�t do it by phone. If you can�t have at least one phone conversation with this person, be suspicious.
- Don�t let a seller rush you. As Dennis pointed out, there�s usually a story about why this deal must close quickly and you shouldn�t wait (or a sob story pulling on your heart strings). Don�t let a seller with a great deal and a great story push you into doing something you shouldn�t. If you feel rushed or uncomfortable, take a step back and assess the situation.
- If you do engage with a seller via email and they send you a link to what supposedly is a reputable web site that will help facilitate the transaction, don�t follow those link. It�s very easy for criminals to build web sites that look exactly like sites from reputable companies. Rather, go to that company�s home page and try to find that functionality on their site. If you can�t find it, call customer service and ask where it is. More likely than not, that functionality won�t exist and the site � and the ad � are fraudulent.
-- Review major web sites for their fraud tips. At AutoTrader.com, you can find a link to tips, information about common scams and more right on our home page. Most other on-line shopping sites have similar tips and pages. Check these out before you start shopping and arm yourself information that can help you avoid being taken advantage of.
Thanks, Dennis, for pointing out this problem and some of your own thoughts on avoiding scams. We�re right there with you in wanting folks to know this information. We've also been working on improving our own scam detection systems, and also teaming up efforts with competitors such as Cars.com, because in the end, we all want to do everything we can to stop these ads from ever being placed at all.
Brian Gluckman
Manager, Media Relations
AutoTrader.com
I bought my car sight unseen from someone 400 miles away. My brother lives in the area though so he was my proxy and took car of the PPI for me. It can be done with care.
Someone I work with had a similar experience last week trying to buy a Jeep on Graigslist. The angle on that scam was similar to the original post but more along the lines of trying to get their personal identification, not money.
Wait a minute...there are scams on craigslist and autotrader? You mean to tell me that GT I just bought for $100 was a scam? G**dammit, I was plannin on paying off my mortgage w/ the extra cash I saved!
Yes; And he has not e-mailed me back. He must of figured out I was on to him!! "Was sending everything over to E-Bays fraud department.
PS; My aviator is the only picture I have figured out how to post. I have many other photos, but seems to be more complicated to upload them!
Side note; I have sold, and purchased several items over the internet, site unseen.
Just recently (2 weeks ago) purchased a 2007 Triumph Daytona 675, from a Gentleman from South Carolina. Received it as listed!
In 2000, purchased a 1999 Indian Chief, from a man hired by an Arkansas Indian dealer on E-bay. Never seen either bike until it arrived at my home.
You just have to take all the necessary precautions.
I found my car on Autotrader, had a PPI done at a reputable shop where the car was located. Ran a carfax and everything turned out ok. Flew down to pick up the car and inspected/drove the car before the deal was done.
No issues, the car was well represented and was exactly as described. It's the second car I've bought out of state. I also bought a Jeep wrangler unlimited (new) so i was less concerned about that purchase.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
