WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

[Floyd B.]

I doubt that anyone on this forum would fall for this scam but you may be asked for advice from less knowledgeable friends and relatives. Craig's list and AutoTraderClassics have been flooded with fraudulent ads the past few days. This scam has been going on for some time on Craig's list sites along the east coast but the last few days has seen a flurry of these fraudulent ads showing up on AutoTrader.

The adds list a car for a fraction of its market value to generate interest. The "seller" often states that they have been deployed to Afghanistan and that they need a quick sale. They are on base away form the car so it is not available for inspection. They then present payment terms that use the "eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection Program" (how ironic) even though the car is not being sold on eBay. This is how they get you to make a deposit. Here is a link to an eBay fraud alert that describes how the scam works.

http://forums.ebay.com/db1/topic/Ebay-Motors/Craigslist-Scams-And/510078002

Here is an example of a fraudster's add:

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/find/vehicle/vehicleDetail.xhtml?adId=195325&conversationId=6333

Here is an example of the response emails:

First you will receive something like this:
Hi,
I am selling this car because my platoon has been sent back to Afghanistan. The price is low because I need to sell it before November 4th. Is in excellent condition, 57k miles.
Right now I'm in a military base so I will not be able to deal in person but I've already arranged the shipping and the title transfer anywhere in the US. I will pay the shipping fees.
I prefer closing the transaction trough eBay system because we are both protected. If you don't know how does the eBay Safe Pay work please let me know so I can help you
It is still available for sale if interested, price as stated in the ad $4,900. The car is in Baltimore, MD, in case it gets sold I will take care of shipping.
Regards!!!



LT Kimberly Walker
2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment
Baltimore, MD

Then you will get this:

Hello,


The sale will be managed by eBay for our own protection as they act as a neutral third part.
eBay will keep the money until you inspect/drive the vehicle. The title is clear.


This is how the Vehicle Purchase Protection Program works:


1. I will contact eBay and give all the info about this deal.
2. They will email us the forms which are needed for our deal.
3. You will send the payment ($4900) to eBay and they will notify me to ship the vehicle to your location.
4. After you will inspect/drive the vehicle and decide to keep it, eBay will forward me the funds and the deal is done.


Remember you have 5 days to test it. If by any reason the vehicle is not as described or if you find any problems with it I will pay for the returning fees. I'm sure it won't be the case because it's a state of art looking and working vehicle. I apologize if it seems like I'm pushing on this deal but I really want to be sure everything is clarified before any further steps.


If you wish to purchase it please provide me your full name, address so I can initiate the deal through eBay.


Thank you

[Bill I.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

You would think they would be smart enough to price it higher. And they still walk among us. Bill

[Joel A.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

The sad thing is, there's no telling how many suckers will, or have already fallen for it...

[Alan S.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

Hi,
My recollection from 1967 is that PLATOONS don't get sent anywhere, COMPANYS do. I think 99% of the time we referred to ourselves as a COMPANY. So perhaps this detail is goofed up too!!!
I realize the scammers must succeed to a degree or they wouldn't continue, but what might be the rate of success?
Regards,
Alan

[Wayne B.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

Alan, I'd be worried that you just gave them the extra info to help their scam but I'm sure they would mispell COMPANY just the same and the awful grammer would obviously be from someone not in this country (or graduate of today's public schools )

Most of these scams are so obvious I don't see how they get away with it but, it takes all kinds of fools to fill a freeway.

[Stuart F.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

I don't put much stock in his reference to PLATOON, as some people refer to themselves at a smaller more identifiable level or priority. But, in general, I find something so poorly written by a "Lieutenant" more disconcerting. People in small units, such a Special Ops, may be deployed individually or in small groups. Perhaps he is a Marine Sniper - NOT!

Stu Fox

[Terry M.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

Not to blame the victim, but it usually takes someone who is looking to get something for nothing. If it is too good to be true ......

[Chris L.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

Be Aware of Vettehound.com also as they run a high percentage of scam. They have had one of my cars on there for over 6 months now a nd keepre-running it at a different price each time. THey have NO CONTACT information anywhere on the site, so there's no way to kill the ad once some camel jockey puts it on there.
Chris

[Paul J.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

Caveat emptor.

I've answered a few of these ads on Craig's List. It costs nothing to check them out, and it's fun to mess with them if you have the time. If you're persistent enough you'll be able to eventually catch them in the scam. Then they disappear for a while. Maybe they'll get tired of people calling thier bluff and stop it, or maybe they'll get fed up with people like me pointing out that they're idiots.

My rule is real simple. I never buy a car that does'nt have a title that I can authenticate and confirm ownership. If I can't inspect the car and confirm ownership, as well as check the authority of the individual I'm dealing with to sell it, then I don't need the car that badly.

[John H.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

www.smokinvette.com is a relatively new fledgling Corvette forum-type website, and there's a poster called "toobroketoretire" on their C1/C2 forum who fell for this scam last month:

eBay scam auction for a '63 SWC with only 4,300 miles. Owned by a Croatian man who passed away recently, and his 38-y/o daughter is selling it for his estate; transaction completed outside of eBay, using the "eBay Purchase Protection Plan". Required wiring $12,000.00 to her bank in Croatia, and she would absorb the shipping and brokerage costs, and "DAS Shippers" would handle the shipping and deliver it to his door.

He wired the $12K, got (fake) e-mails from "DAS Shippers" informing him of daily shipping progress for a week or so, and (surprise) he never heard anything again, and the car (surprise) never showed up on October 2nd as promised by "DAS Shippers".

Yup, there's a sucker born every minute, and none of them can spot a scam.

[Paul J.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

www.smokinvette.com is a relatively new fledgling Corvette forum-type website, and there's a poster called "toobroketoretire" on their C1/C2 forum who fell for this scam last month:

eBay scam auction for a '63 SWC with only 4,300 miles. Owned by a Croatian man who passed away recently, and his 38-y/o daughter is selling it for his estate; transaction completed outside of eBay, using the "eBay Purchase Protection Plan". Required wiring $12,000.00 to her bank in Croatia, and she would absorb the shipping and brokerage costs, and "DAS Shippers" would handle the shipping and deliver it to his door.

He wired the $12K, got (fake) e-mails from "DAS Shippers" informing him of daily shipping progress for a week or so, and (surprise) he never heard anything again, and the car (surprise) never showed up on October 2nd as promised by "DAS Shippers".

Yup, there's a sucker born every minute, and none of them can spot a scam.

Boy, I always hate to hear about these things, but you're right. I get 2 or 3 "Nigerian" e-mails every week, so somebody must be falling for these scams.

[Sandra H.]

Re: WARNING: Fraud Epidemic!

I don't know Stu.....I have several friends that are Special Ops/snipers and they don't go talking that around much. About as low key a bunch as I've ever been around (except when we're trying to humiliate each other on the firing range.)
Sandy