Fraud Alert
Avoiding Scams
Please take a few minutes to read this page, it can help you know some of the scams you may encounter.
5/16/08
Here is a verifiable scam which happened to a person who purchased a vehicle "site unseen"; click on the link;http://reviews.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GTO-JUDGE-SCAM_W0QQugidZ10000000001493069
Attention; all types of buyers & sellers, particularly those in the market for used vehicles, have flocked to the Internet to search for that "killer" deal on "For Sale" classic cars.
Check-out www.ccmostwanted.com/topics/sc/scams.htm they have a good data base on recent and old scams.
Also check out the following website about check scams:
http://www.fraud.org/tips/internet/fakecheck.htm
Another website we have found to be very informative about check scams is http://fakechecks.org/index2.html
Here are some of the most common scams found on the Web.
Certified Check Scams - This scam is often perpetrated on sellers of cars or related items over the Internet thorough classified ads and auctions. A buyer indicates that he wants to buy the item and pay with a cashier check. At the last minute, the buyer creates a reason why he needs to write the check for more money and have the seller wire him the difference. The check turns out to be a fake, but it is often discovered long after the seller has wired the money. In addition, the seller is responsible for covering the money for the fake check. To avoid check scams, call the issuing bank before you accept the check and wait for the check to clear before you transfer anything to the seller.
A true buyer is not going to send you a check or wire for more money than the agreed selling price, does that even sound right to you? BEWARE: IF SOMETHING IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT USUALLY IS.
Your Bank will pursue recovery from you by any and all legal measures available to them in the collection of this debt
Bogus Escrow Services - Online vehicle sellers often use escrow services, which collect and verify payment from a buyer. The money is held by the service until all parties are satisfied with the sale. There have been some instances of phony escrow services operating on the Internet.
The best way to avoid most scams is to make sure you never transfer anything to a buyer until you have the cash in your"hand. That means, you either get cash from the buyer or wait for the cashier check to clear. Avoid buyers who will never meet you or never wish to see your items in person (overseas). Avoid taking personal checks and allowing buyers to pay your items off over time.
If buying, always verify the seller actually has/owns the item for sale and meet them face-to-face to view the items. If you follow these few precautions, your buying and selling experience should go smoothly. Legitimate sales happen every day on the Online Collector Car Trader web site as well as other Classified Ad sites. Unfortunately there are SCAM artists that travel throughout all websites hoping to find an unsuspecting seller or buyer. These are the same guys with the same Scams that you may find locally when advertising in your local newspaper. The internet is a new market opportunity for them. The good news is that these guys are very easy to distinguish. You just need to be wise to their schemes.
Warning: A very recent email scam; this is the actual email sent.
Hello,
i am an agent interested in immediate purchase of your item. After several consideration over the advert placed on the website,my client has really shown interest in it and would really want to issue the payment in form of casher checkmoney order. Will you be accepting a casher check/Money Order?
The payment that will be drawn by my client would include the cost for shipping this item to my client and my commission would be included on the same payment. We shall solely be responsible for the shippment of the item.
and let me know how much you are sell the item last, my client wil know exactly amount is paying for. Please send your name and contact address so the payment can be made asap. contact me asap via email for futher questions as regards this transaction,if you really show willingness in selling this item.
REGARDS. walberg_co05@yahoo.com
Note; the above email has poor grammer and an almost "broken english" writing style to it.
9/28/07
Checkout this email I've recently received:
Hi there,
I'm contacting you about the 1969 CAMARO CONVT. RS/SS 350/4sp I had on XXXXXXX. Here are some details about the car:it has a clear title, it is street legal and it comes with all the documents needed for registration. I am willing to sell it for $15,000 this price does include the shipping and insurance fees. The car is located in London UK. I'll ship it is using "marlink-movers" wich takes between 6 to 8 days to arrive at your door (door to door handling and shipping insurance fee included).
If you will decide to buy the car, I'll start shipping and I'll send you the tracking number but you will have to complete payment as soon as the item is in transit. Payment must be made through Bank to Bank Transfer. In order to have a quick and safe transaction for both of us, I want to set up an escrow account at Yahoo! Finance. The deposit must be placed in the escrow account, this way we will both be protected.Please reply with your complete name, address and shipping address and I'll open a transaction case at Yahoo! Finance.
Thank you,
Richard Smith
PS: Let me know if you want me to send pictures. Please send phone number ASAP!
10/05/07
As suspected this email was indeed a scam attempt. Here is the email we sent, of course they did not respond.
To: 'Richard Smith'
Your phone number, escrow company’s name and contact #, Yahoo finance does not have an Escrow Service? Please send pictures. What is the VIN # of the vehicle, who is the “insurer” include name and phone #, the phone number of shipping company,
I will send you my contact # when you send yours.
Please take a few minutes to read this page, it can help you know some of the scams you may encounter.
5/16/08
Here is a verifiable scam which happened to a person who purchased a vehicle "site unseen"; click on the link;http://reviews.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GTO-JUDGE-SCAM_W0QQugidZ10000000001493069
Attention; all types of buyers & sellers, particularly those in the market for used vehicles, have flocked to the Internet to search for that "killer" deal on "For Sale" classic cars.
Check-out www.ccmostwanted.com/topics/sc/scams.htm they have a good data base on recent and old scams.
Also check out the following website about check scams:
http://www.fraud.org/tips/internet/fakecheck.htm
Another website we have found to be very informative about check scams is http://fakechecks.org/index2.html
Here are some of the most common scams found on the Web.
Certified Check Scams - This scam is often perpetrated on sellers of cars or related items over the Internet thorough classified ads and auctions. A buyer indicates that he wants to buy the item and pay with a cashier check. At the last minute, the buyer creates a reason why he needs to write the check for more money and have the seller wire him the difference. The check turns out to be a fake, but it is often discovered long after the seller has wired the money. In addition, the seller is responsible for covering the money for the fake check. To avoid check scams, call the issuing bank before you accept the check and wait for the check to clear before you transfer anything to the seller.
A true buyer is not going to send you a check or wire for more money than the agreed selling price, does that even sound right to you? BEWARE: IF SOMETHING IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT USUALLY IS.
Your Bank will pursue recovery from you by any and all legal measures available to them in the collection of this debt
Bogus Escrow Services - Online vehicle sellers often use escrow services, which collect and verify payment from a buyer. The money is held by the service until all parties are satisfied with the sale. There have been some instances of phony escrow services operating on the Internet.
The best way to avoid most scams is to make sure you never transfer anything to a buyer until you have the cash in your"hand. That means, you either get cash from the buyer or wait for the cashier check to clear. Avoid buyers who will never meet you or never wish to see your items in person (overseas). Avoid taking personal checks and allowing buyers to pay your items off over time.
If buying, always verify the seller actually has/owns the item for sale and meet them face-to-face to view the items. If you follow these few precautions, your buying and selling experience should go smoothly. Legitimate sales happen every day on the Online Collector Car Trader web site as well as other Classified Ad sites. Unfortunately there are SCAM artists that travel throughout all websites hoping to find an unsuspecting seller or buyer. These are the same guys with the same Scams that you may find locally when advertising in your local newspaper. The internet is a new market opportunity for them. The good news is that these guys are very easy to distinguish. You just need to be wise to their schemes.
Warning: A very recent email scam; this is the actual email sent.
Hello,
i am an agent interested in immediate purchase of your item. After several consideration over the advert placed on the website,my client has really shown interest in it and would really want to issue the payment in form of casher checkmoney order. Will you be accepting a casher check/Money Order?
The payment that will be drawn by my client would include the cost for shipping this item to my client and my commission would be included on the same payment. We shall solely be responsible for the shippment of the item.
and let me know how much you are sell the item last, my client wil know exactly amount is paying for. Please send your name and contact address so the payment can be made asap. contact me asap via email for futher questions as regards this transaction,if you really show willingness in selling this item.
REGARDS. walberg_co05@yahoo.com
Note; the above email has poor grammer and an almost "broken english" writing style to it.
9/28/07
Checkout this email I've recently received:
Hi there,
I'm contacting you about the 1969 CAMARO CONVT. RS/SS 350/4sp I had on XXXXXXX. Here are some details about the car:it has a clear title, it is street legal and it comes with all the documents needed for registration. I am willing to sell it for $15,000 this price does include the shipping and insurance fees. The car is located in London UK. I'll ship it is using "marlink-movers" wich takes between 6 to 8 days to arrive at your door (door to door handling and shipping insurance fee included).
If you will decide to buy the car, I'll start shipping and I'll send you the tracking number but you will have to complete payment as soon as the item is in transit. Payment must be made through Bank to Bank Transfer. In order to have a quick and safe transaction for both of us, I want to set up an escrow account at Yahoo! Finance. The deposit must be placed in the escrow account, this way we will both be protected.Please reply with your complete name, address and shipping address and I'll open a transaction case at Yahoo! Finance.
Thank you,
Richard Smith
PS: Let me know if you want me to send pictures. Please send phone number ASAP!
10/05/07
As suspected this email was indeed a scam attempt. Here is the email we sent, of course they did not respond.
To: 'Richard Smith'
Your phone number, escrow company’s name and contact #, Yahoo finance does not have an Escrow Service? Please send pictures. What is the VIN # of the vehicle, who is the “insurer” include name and phone #, the phone number of shipping company,
I will send you my contact # when you send yours.
If it seems to good to be true, it usually is not true.
