Is This a Scam?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville NC
Is This a Scam?
My brother-in-law and I are always looking for a good buy on a classic car. We ran across two ads on Ebay for a restored/customized '69 Z28 and a '70 restored/customized Chevelle w/Z06 fuel injected engine. They were $6400 each. Same seller. I tried to "buy it now", but everything I clicked on sent me to the seller's email address. So I emailed him.
He says he's in Budapest, Hungary and the cars are for real. They are in locked storage in Miami. He said he would pay shipping (he also gave me the shipping company - they are legit) once I paid him for the cars. I expected some kind of transfer of money to a foreign bank, but he said just go thru ebay and they would hold the money until I get the cars.
I told him we would be flying down to Miami to view the cars first. If they were real, we would buy them.
What do you think?
He says he's in Budapest, Hungary and the cars are for real. They are in locked storage in Miami. He said he would pay shipping (he also gave me the shipping company - they are legit) once I paid him for the cars. I expected some kind of transfer of money to a foreign bank, but he said just go thru ebay and they would hold the money until I get the cars.
I told him we would be flying down to Miami to view the cars first. If they were real, we would buy them.
What do you think?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
SCAM!! They've been doing this for awhile now, if you keep watching them you'll see that ebay will take them off. Just remember, lots of scams out there, don't let them get you. I personally do cash deals at the DMV w/ title work and car in possession. Good luck...
Mitchell...
Mitchell...
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
Scam!!!! I live here in Miami and it is literally one of the highest fraud rates in the US. I know from personal experience as well as trying to buy a property here in Miami is not easy as all the mortgage companies are very cautious of the buyer making them show a ton of documentation.
Tell me where the storage unit is and I will go check them out for you to see if even the address does exist and will do it this week if you like.
I had my vette appraised about a month ago and asked the guy jokingly that I bet he sees a lot of fraud here in Miami. He replied that they use to but now Boca Raton is the new car selling fraud city as the word "Miami" already puts buyers on guard, but nobody yet thinks of Boca being a bad place. I myself was shocked. They said they do a ton of pre-purchase inspection for California & Texas buyers and the cars are generally not as represented to the potential buyer. He said they open a used car shop in very far West Boca in the warehouse district for a couple of months then close shop shortly afterwards.
Tell me where the storage unit is and I will go check them out for you to see if even the address does exist and will do it this week if you like.
I had my vette appraised about a month ago and asked the guy jokingly that I bet he sees a lot of fraud here in Miami. He replied that they use to but now Boca Raton is the new car selling fraud city as the word "Miami" already puts buyers on guard, but nobody yet thinks of Boca being a bad place. I myself was shocked. They said they do a ton of pre-purchase inspection for California & Texas buyers and the cars are generally not as represented to the potential buyer. He said they open a used car shop in very far West Boca in the warehouse district for a couple of months then close shop shortly afterwards.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: Sandy TX
Originally Posted by carpedm
Scam!!!! I live here in Miami and it is literally one of the highest fraud rates in the US.
A) The cars do not exist (only in "borrowed" pics).
B) Seller is operating outside of the U.S. and outside of the reach of U.S. law enforcement.
C) It's a scam.
Carpedm is probably correct...Miami is "scam central", however this auction has absolutely no ties to Miami.
Last edited by Topless75; Dec 4, 2006 at 12:43 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Wash.
Not to beat you up or anything......
But do you REALLY believe this line of BS?
My friend, if you clicked his "BIN" link, you may have just compromised your ebay account and possibly opened up your personal information to these scam artists. Watch for any funny business on your email accounts, your bank and credit card accounts and any banking you may do online. Your ebay account at a minimum may be hijacked for nefarious purposes. I hope nothing bad will happen, but if it does, this is a real hard and harsh lesson to learn. In this internet age, protecting yourself is of paramount importance. Always proceed with caution when communicating with someone you do not know. Even innocent emails can open you up to be compromised. Just my opinion.
Take care
But do you REALLY believe this line of BS?
My friend, if you clicked his "BIN" link, you may have just compromised your ebay account and possibly opened up your personal information to these scam artists. Watch for any funny business on your email accounts, your bank and credit card accounts and any banking you may do online. Your ebay account at a minimum may be hijacked for nefarious purposes. I hope nothing bad will happen, but if it does, this is a real hard and harsh lesson to learn. In this internet age, protecting yourself is of paramount importance. Always proceed with caution when communicating with someone you do not know. Even innocent emails can open you up to be compromised. Just my opinion.
Take care
Originally Posted by KALAWAY
My brother-in-law and I are always looking for a good buy on a classic car. We ran across two ads on Ebay for a restored/customized '69 Z28 and a '70 restored/customized Chevelle w/Z06 fuel injected engine. They were $6400 each. Same seller. I tried to "buy it now", but everything I clicked on sent me to the seller's email address. So I emailed him.
He says he's in Budapest, Hungary and the cars are for real. They are in locked storage in Miami. He said he would pay shipping (he also gave me the shipping company - they are legit) once I paid him for the cars. I expected some kind of transfer of money to a foreign bank, but he said just go thru ebay and they would hold the money until I get the cars.
I told him we would be flying down to Miami to view the cars first. If they were real, we would buy them.
What do you think?
He says he's in Budapest, Hungary and the cars are for real. They are in locked storage in Miami. He said he would pay shipping (he also gave me the shipping company - they are legit) once I paid him for the cars. I expected some kind of transfer of money to a foreign bank, but he said just go thru ebay and they would hold the money until I get the cars.
I told him we would be flying down to Miami to view the cars first. If they were real, we would buy them.
What do you think?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
I just found the ebay add and I would say YES>>> IT IS A SCAM!
everything you clicks on takes you to the guys email address, not ebay. Also has the buy it nw price but claims to have 2 bidders with the price up to $14,999. It just looks wrong to me!
everything you clicks on takes you to the guys email address, not ebay. Also has the buy it nw price but claims to have 2 bidders with the price up to $14,999. It just looks wrong to me!
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Wash.
Do Not Click Onto The E-bay Link!
Guys,
DO NOT Click onto the link! You are only enabling these scam artists to take advantage of your information and set you up for a life of misery.
DO NOT Click onto the link! You are only enabling these scam artists to take advantage of your information and set you up for a life of misery.
Originally Posted by 3rd_Vette
I just found the ebay add and I would say YES>>> IT IS A SCAM!
everything you clicks on takes you to the guys email address, not ebay. Also has the buy it nw price but claims to have 2 bidders with the price up to $14,999. It just looks wrong to me!
everything you clicks on takes you to the guys email address, not ebay. Also has the buy it nw price but claims to have 2 bidders with the price up to $14,999. It just looks wrong to me!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by 427-390
Guys,
DO NOT Click onto the link! You are only enabling these scam artists to take advantage of your information and set you up for a life of misery.
DO NOT Click onto the link! You are only enabling these scam artists to take advantage of your information and set you up for a life of misery.
i hope after you clicked on it that they didnt ask you to put your password in to e-mail him.if so go back and change it QUICK
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by KALAWAY
...Same seller...He says he's in Budapest, Hungary...the cars are for real...in locked storage in Miami....I told him we would be flying down to Miami to view the cars first. If they were real, we would buy them....What do you think?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 977
Likes: 1
From: wash. dc
just saw a program on discovery this weekend where that same thing happened to a kid selling a motorcycle... got scammed for 3 grand... i was on ebay and saw a 67 vert, 427 tri carb for 7300... the guy said he was in croatia and the car was with him but he couldn't afford to register it. our antenna went up when he said he was outta the country....SCAM!!!!!
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Wash.
If I were you, I would monitor all my email and any financial accounts that have your name on them for any funny business. Just because you were not "signed in" does not guarantee your information will not be compromised. There were a lot of Eastern Bloc computer scientists out of work when the fall of communism happened. Some of them took up new careers and are very good at hacking into your PC's and stealing information. Do what you wish, just my opinion.
Originally Posted by 3rd_Vette
When I clicked, it kept coming up with the guys email. I just closed out. Never entered anything. I was also not "signed in" on ebay.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 564
Likes: 0
From: London
Originally Posted by 3rd_Vette
When I clicked, it kept coming up with the guys email. I just closed out. Never entered anything. I was also not "signed in" on ebay.
