In short, it works like this:
- You answer an ad which has a car for sale that seems "too good of a deal to pass up" or perhaps too good to be true.
- The seller says the car is in storage, and will be shipped to you. The stories vary, lately the most common one is that a military guy has to sell his car because he is shipping out, and he has to due it long distance.
- The seller demands that you send Western Union or a similar non-traceable payment to an "Ebay Motors Agent", using the Ebay Motors Protection Program. They even send you an official looking email.
- If you make the mistake of sending money, you are hosed. There is no Ebay Motors Vehicle Protection program. There are no agents, and Ebay does not use Western Union.
- Never pay anyone for goods using Western Union, it is probably a scam
- There is no Ebay Motors Vehicle Protection escrow program
- Ebay Motors does not use agents
- Ebay does not accept Moneygram or Western Union payments directly
- If the story seems fishy (vehicle in storage, guy overseas) it probably is fake
Useful Links:
12 comments:
CRAZY!!!
I JUST about got scammed by THIS VERY DEAL TODAY!! Went to money gram to make the payment and luckily the woman knew that ebay does not use money gram!!
Thank you for your #1 read post! It confirmed everything for me and I am not out the cash! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
This is the ad that almost got me.
http://www.driving.ca/buy-car/used/details.html?vehicleid=305830&make=Volkswagen&model=Vanagon&year=1990
Thank you so much for the heads up. Buying an automobile on Ebay can be risky. Not only do you want to avoid a scam, but you want to make sure you are not buying a lemon. When you buy a car from a dealer you have the security of a warranty. Unfortunately when you buy a car from a private party it is like flying without a safety net. It is best to have a mechanic check out any vehicle thoroughly before purchasing it.
Another one on Seattle Craigslist, with a car where the "seller is about to ship out to Afghanistan".
Elaborate. Shows pics of a car, where the domain is in East Timor.
http://2004mitsubishi-galant.page.tl/
Then asks for Western Union funds, rather than PayPal, which eBay says NO, NO, NO.
Be forewarned. I would have lost $2800.
I almost just fell for the same scam!!! he wanted western union because he was going to iraq next week. Thanks
I just replied to a similar post on Craigslist and got a reply from a woman who claimed that her husband just died and she moved to canada to be with her parents and the car would be shipped from canada. She told me the whole thing about Ebay and the third party protection program. I felt bad for the lady at first until I found this post!
UNBELIEVABLE SCAM! Had it not been for my daughter-in-law seeing your blog site, I would have been completely taken! Craigs List ad in Orange County, California selling a travel trailer that had been sold already on EBay Motors in August! Same pictures even! You are so right, 'if it seems too good to be true,' I now add to that 'it is a SCAM!' Thank you again, for keeping this going. Cannot believe it is still happening two years later!!
Rebecca
Almost happened to me today!! Luckily for me, my bank teller questioned my using "western union" for Ebay!!! Thanks to my local bank teller, bank manager, and God, my money is still in my pocket!!!
People are just too trusting I guess. To be safe, use an escrow service. Ebay recommends www.escrow.com. This way you are cimplely protected.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/cto/2740709704.html yeah go on this this is to good to be true here ill put the story she told me First of all, I'm sorry for the delay, but I just moved in a new place and I wasn't able to open my email until now. My name is Shannon Darby and I am the legal owner of this beautiful and rare 1995 Acura Integra RS 50,300 miles. It has Silver exterior. This car has been extremely well maintained, runs and drives excellent. No accident, clear title, free of encumbrances and liens.I bought it when I was serving in US Air Force's 125th Fighter Wing (125 FW).I have dropped my price to $1400 (purchase price) since this is an urgent sale and I need to sell it before I will be deployed in Afghanistan with my platoon replacing the troops scheduled to come home. I have decided to use eBay for this sale. The car is already at our Air National Guard Base at Jacksonville International Airport, crated and ready to go. The Logistic Department will deliver the car to your home. I will offer a 10 days period to inspect the car from the moment you receive it. The shipping will be free for you! I'm currently stationed in London, United Kingdom for about 1 week before I will be deployed to Afghanistan. This is why I must sell it before that.
If you agree with my price $1400, I need your FULL NAME AND ADDRESS for title transfer and shipping process, after I will inform eBay that I have a buyer! I will forward your details to them and then you will receive an invoice (with no further obligations or fees). Like this you’ll be able to talk with them directly and ask all you want to know.
PS: If there are any questions left please don't hesitate to ask. I can provide you more photos & details if you are interested to buy it.
Thank You,
Lt. Shannon Darby
They thought THEY gonna get us!!! Good thing We called Ebay to comfirmed and sure enough they couldn't find the transaction! Same story about the Military crap! .. So sad they use that lame reasons! People Are just AWFUL!!!
I was scammed by this guy with the same 95 acura integra rs but I was told its was stock with needed bodywork. I was gotten for 1400 and was given an address and all contact info even had nearby area code from me. Please don't be a dumba** like I was December 2011 that was a part of my chain reaction of bad luck and would suck if this fraud is never caught
Yes it happen to me I bought a bike through eagle rider .com and saw a deal to good to be true and I jumped on it paid 2600 dollars and I thought it was a scam but then it seem ok when we communicated back and forth. I sent the money western union they said the eBay motor agent was John Dunn and the email person was a janette Scott her email is the same name janettscott11@gmail.com so please be careful so imy stupidity doesn't happen to you.
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