Used Car Scam?

[photon]

Anyone ever see a used car scam? I found an ad for a car that's pretty low priced on Autotrader. I emailed them and got back an email saying something along the lines of "I'm out of the country and going through a divorce, so I just want the car sold and it done with."

I'm just trying to think of how this could be a scam.. They haven't asked for any money yet so not sure how this will go down, but just wondering if there's common scams like this like there is for rentals... like the "Here's the security deposit money order for twice as much as the deposit, can I get cash back" scam.

TIA

[SportsJunky]

Are they in Quebec? This scam is usually run from there.

This example is in the U.S.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2161609AAZLrN8

[stang]

Scam.

Ask where you can go see it.

It wont be anywhere near where the ad is posted, and they will ship it to you free because a friend/relative/army member will do them a favor.
They will want you to pay through a fake ebay motors site.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Is this a rhetorical question?

[Table 5]

Is it pretty new? Make sure there is no outstanding lean on the car. My dad once bought a one-year old car that was priced about 50% of the real value. He did a lean search on it, but apparently out of province leans weren't reported when searched in Alberta (or at that time they didnt). Turns out there was a lean on the car from Quebec....luckily enough he had traded it in by the time to a dealer, who had insurance on these types of matters.

[Orange]

Yeah, near definite scam. If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. Chances are he'll tell you of some sort of escrow payment service.

[MJK]

You sure it's not Valquest Motors?

[photon]

Cool thanks, now I guess I'll think about how long I want to string them along.

[pylon]

100% scam photon. I have seen one our our clients burned by this. And seen a few AMVIC warnings as well.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Is it pretty new? Make sure there is no outstanding lean on the car. My dad once bought a one-year old car that was priced about 50% of the real value. He did a lean search on it, but apparently out of province leans weren't reported when searched in Alberta (or at that time they didnt). Turns out there was a lean on the car from Quebec....luckily enough he had traded it in by the time to a dealer, who had insurance on these types of matters.

I'd try a lien search, too

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Is it pretty new? Make sure there is no outstanding lean on the car. My dad once bought a one-year old car that was priced about 50% of the real value. He did a lean search on it, but apparently out of province leans weren't reported when searched in Alberta (or at that time they didnt). Turns out there was a lean on the car from Quebec....luckily enough he had traded it in by the time to a dealer, who had insurance on these types of matters.

I am very surprised the dealer let him off the hook. In reality he was 100% responsible as it is the person trading it in who bears the responsibility for assuring the car is free of liens, as you sign a document declaring it to be 'lien free'. Never once have we missed it, as banks register the lien literally minutes after the loan is processed.

Also, there is no such insurance a dealer carries that protects them from vehicle liens. If there was it would be called stupidity insurance as searching a lien is as simple as copy, paste, search. I know, I do about 20 a week.

[3 Justin 3]

It is a scam, there are ads up all the time. It is pathetic how many ads I have seen.

[photon]

Hello,
I am sorry but the pick up and the test drive are not available because I am not in the
country.As I told you in my first e-mail, I am in United Kingdom. Before leaving I had
prearranged the deal with eBay Motors so my presence isn't necessary. The car is at the
shipping company in Canada, ready to be delivered. The shipping cost is included in the
total price of the car! You have 5 days to test it and inspect the car.So if you want to
make this deal I need the following details from you:
full name and address,shipping address,phone #
After I will have all this details I will forward them to eBay Motors and I will proceed the
order. eBay Motors will contact you with all the details that you need to complete this deal
and also to see that I am covered by them and that I am legit seller. Waiting your email
with the requested details.
Thanks!

Unfortunately I can't see any way to mess with them...

[photon]

Maybe I'll try and get their phone # and call them day and night from Skype.

[ken0042]

Ask for the VIN number?

[Rifleman]

Tell them you have a lot of free time and will travel to test drive it.

[gildo]

WOW this is unbelievable my wife & I just went through this a few weeks ago. We were looking for a used Jeep Liberty and we went online and one popped up for Calgary & area and it was a 2002 with only 60,000 km we looked into it and it was the same song & dance mentioned above the lady was going through a divorce she was in Montreal now, I have the email saved and have copied below as an FYI. Be careful out there!

First email:
"Hi,
Thanks for being interested in buying my SUV!It`s in perfect condition,no scratches,damages and never been implicated in any accidents.It has only 60000 km and the price is $4,000 CAD.It comes with a new set of winter tires and it has never been smoked in.Because of my divorce settlement,i own this Suv and as a woman without driver`s license i don`t need it so i`m trying to get rid of it as soon as possible(that`s why i`m selling it so cheap).We will use eBay`s Vehicle Purchase Protection plan for our both safety,i want only legit transactions.Let me know where are you located and any other details you need about it.
Have a great day!"

Last email;
" I`m located in Montreal(the car is here with me) right now because i got a new job here,the thing is i`m very busy and i don`t have time to stay and meet with all my potential buyers, that is why i gave to a shipping company that will ship it to the next owner(on my cost), so i'm trying to sell it online under eBay`s protection.Here is how it works :
The sale will be managed through eBay under their Vehicle Purchase Protection program since they offer the highest rate of safety and reliability during online transactions. They act as a neutral third party.
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(invoice, payment instructions, buyer's and seller's protection policy)
3. You will send the money to eBay and they will notify me to ship the car to your location.
4. After you will inspect the car and decide to keep it, eBay will forward the funds to me once you have approved them to do so. You will have 5 days to inspect it.
Please reply with your complete name and shipping address in your next email and let me know if you are interested in knowing more details about this purchase so that I can open a transaction at eBay and to move forward with this deal.After that they will contact you with all necessary information about this transaction(terms,buyer protection,payment instructions,invoice,etc.).
P.S. Please don`t forget to send me your full name and address."

[photon]

I told her I'm interested and that I'm a bit leery of sending my personal information via email so is there a phone # I can call to.

[stang]

Originally Posted by stang

Scam.

Ask where you can go see it.

It wont be anywhere near where the ad is posted, and they will ship it to you free because a friend/relative/army member will do them a favor.
They will want you to pay through a fake ebay motors site.

Originally Posted by photon

Hello,

Unfortunately I can't see any way to mess with them...

ASk where in Canada is it? Then whatever they say (Montreal, etc) say you have a buddy who is willing to go down and have a look/drive for you.

Then tell him you need him to verify himself so he needs to take a picture of himself. But to make sure its him he needs to put a fish on his head, and a loaf of bread to his lips.