darebren
07-28-2004, 08:32 AM
2 members here, myself included have nearly been scammed out of our cars and money. myself included. I was not planning on selling my car, but when I saw some posts about possible sale price in high $20k range, my ears perked up, and figured why not try it myself..so I listed my car on Autotrader.
I got the same responses another member here received, and we started putting it together.
Received 2 emails from differing auto brokers representing non US buyers, both wanted to move quick, and were prepared to send a certified cashiers check drawn on a large US bank to me. The check was for more than the purchase price, and I was supposed to refund the excess to them via Western Union. They would pick my car up after 2 days so I know the check has cleared and I see the money in my account.
The scam is this, your bank will credit you the amount of a certified check within 48 hours... but that does not mean the check has cleared from the issuing bank. It takes up to a week or more for it to clear from the issuing bank, and when it comes back that the certified cashiers check is fake, you are already out of the refund money you sent back to the broker, as well as they already picked up your car. basically, they stole it from you, and you paid them to do it.
Bottom line, if it does not smell right, then it is not right.
i also ran into this website that explains exactly what was happening to me.
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/fraud.htm?x=0tekxgl_eoyyqkz_tt ky3&y=0x40x62x40x64
I told the broker, that I needed 2 weeks before i allowed my car to be picked up or i sent any refund money. he stopped calling me. Look for this if you decide to list your car on the internet or elsewhere.. the scammers also ended all their emails with "God Bless"...which was also pointed out on this internet scam website that says the scammers would do this... man, some of us almost had STUPID written across our foreheads.
i could see this happening to my grandmother, or yours for that matter... what a crappy society some people live in.
I got the same responses another member here received, and we started putting it together.
Received 2 emails from differing auto brokers representing non US buyers, both wanted to move quick, and were prepared to send a certified cashiers check drawn on a large US bank to me. The check was for more than the purchase price, and I was supposed to refund the excess to them via Western Union. They would pick my car up after 2 days so I know the check has cleared and I see the money in my account.
The scam is this, your bank will credit you the amount of a certified check within 48 hours... but that does not mean the check has cleared from the issuing bank. It takes up to a week or more for it to clear from the issuing bank, and when it comes back that the certified cashiers check is fake, you are already out of the refund money you sent back to the broker, as well as they already picked up your car. basically, they stole it from you, and you paid them to do it.
Bottom line, if it does not smell right, then it is not right.
i also ran into this website that explains exactly what was happening to me.
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/fraud.htm?x=0tekxgl_eoyyqkz_tt ky3&y=0x40x62x40x64
I told the broker, that I needed 2 weeks before i allowed my car to be picked up or i sent any refund money. he stopped calling me. Look for this if you decide to list your car on the internet or elsewhere.. the scammers also ended all their emails with "God Bless"...which was also pointed out on this internet scam website that says the scammers would do this... man, some of us almost had STUPID written across our foreheads.
i could see this happening to my grandmother, or yours for that matter... what a crappy society some people live in.