To whom it may concern:
I am writing because I was recently scammed on line. I thought I was purchasing a car from an ad that was placed with the AutoTrader classics.com with the transaction being handled through eBay Motors. Not ever having done anything like this on line-I did do some research before finalizing the deal. Every email that was sent to me had connected links and logos that went directly to eBay and the AutoTrader. Even the sellers eBay history had a good standing of a reputable seller to dealer with. After the agreement was made and we received an invoice from eBay motors we made a deposit with Money Gram of $4,800.00. Ebay motors financial was suppose to be the 3rd party to hold the money until we received the car, than we would have 7 days to make sure that the car was what we were promised. Once we made the deposit we were suppose to send eBay the information of the tracking #. eBay sent back to us confirmation that they received payment and that they would let the seller know. We than emailed the seller to let her know the money was sent and she said by email that she received confirmation and that she would start the shipping of the car and that we would receive it in 4 days. Well a day went by and the seller would not email us back. We grew suspicious. We knew that she was using the shipping company of DAS Shipping-Auto Transport. So I thought that I would go on line and look up DAS shipping. Well what popped up were several links with the words SCAM/Fraud all over them. It was than that I knew we had just lost $4,800-and would never see that money again. My husband and I by no means was this our life savings. I know that this is happening to several innocent victims where this probably is there last dollar. There is only one positive thing that has come out of this-well actually two-there was another car that we were looking at and it was $10,200.00 and we almost bought that car but backed out at the last minute but it was the same scam. After being scammed we emailed the guy back with the $10,200 car saying we were interested in the car-we asked several questions and the guy new we were fishing for information and has ended contact with us. So 1. we could have been out $10,000 but $4,800 is no drop in the bucket and 2. We learned our lesson and will never make another purchase from any on-line service again.
I think that ebay, Autotrader and all these on line auctions are very aware of what is going on-they take no responsibility for checking out who is placing these adds on there sites. Nor has there been any awareness on this scam. The consumer public needs to know what is going on. All they care about is the revenue that they are making from the postings. If they let a story out like this-no one would ever advertise on their sites. Thats there business-there not going to jeopardize that. Why the big man is making big money the small people are losing thousands of dollars by trusting these sites.
I know that I will never see the money that we were scammed out of but I don't want this to happen to anyone else. You have to do something about this! Unless this story gets out these criminals are going to continue there business of scamming the innocent consumer. I'm sure you could find hundred of stories just like mine.
Additional information on the sellers of the cars:
Seller: IP address 98-197-91-129 (Fredericksburg, VA)
Susan. Byrne@msn.com
8015 Yellow Daisy Drive
Wilminton, NC 28412
Third party Ebay Motors:
Dave Coldham
620 East Adams Street
Springfield, Il 62701
The address register on line says that this address on 620 East Adams street is registered to Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Dept.
Other guy who we were going to buy the $10,000 car from:
rogerdixon23@msn.com
(roger had 4 cars for sale on line)
A pattern of msn.com accounts
I am not accusing eBay or Autotrader but how can they allow their information-logos and links to be used for fraud.
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