Identifying Internet Scams when Buying a Classic Car
Identifying internet scams involving the purchase of a classic car is actually pretty easy. The classic scam scenario happens when a “potential buyer” wants to send you a cashiers check (or bank check) for more than your agreed upon price. They will make up a myriad of reasons why they need to send you more money than they should pay you, i.e. sent you too much money by mistake, sending you the amount to pay the transport company, etc. Then they will ask you to send the overage back to them or send it to a transport company address which they provide. That is the sting. You send them money, then weeks later you find out their bank check was fraudulent. You are out the money you sent them.
The Cars On Line.com staff has been helping sell classic cars over the internet for twenty-five years. We want classic car buyers and sellers to know that there are ways of identifying internet scams. Arm yourself against them by being educated about how internet scammers operate and how the scam works. That way you will recognize them before you fall victim to them.
It’s easy to be tempted by what seems like a good deal. Don’t let the “sucker” be you.
BUYERS BEWARE
Most of the risk involved in an online car purchase falls on the buyer. As the buyer, you’re being asked to pay a large sum of money for a vehicle that the seller will not part with unless first paid. Cars On Line.com discussed methods of payment in an article written about Completing the Transaction. You should also read our instructional article on Getting an Inspection Done, as well as Using a Bill of Sale. (Click the blue underscored type to read the articles.) These three articles are the best protection against a scam.
Another method of identifying internet scams involving classic cars is to be aware of the scamming techniques you’re most likely to encounter so that you can steer yourself around them.
SCAM SELLER
If a “scam seller” runs ads on eBay or Craig’s List, they will usually be offering a highly desirable collector car at an unheard of low price. Of course, the deal is very tempting. The “scam seller” will want a security deposit by Western union or Paypal. That is the sting in this scenario. Getting an inspection of the car first will always save you from the sting because the scam seller does not really have a car for sale at all. They will likely end the conversation.
HOW TO AVOID!
No deal is so good that you should ignore the basic steps required to protect yourself in an online deal. Have the car inspected by a reputable inspector, get a bill of sale, and use a trusted form of payment. When inquiring about the vehicle, be sure to ask detailed questions that someone who doesn’t actually own the car would have difficulty answering. Buying a collector car from a reputable Classic Car dealership will always be a safe transaction.
Most often these “scam sellers” are located outside the U.S. They often cannot communicate with you by phone or they would give themselves away by their inability to communicate in English. Their English usage in their emails will probably give them away. These are the ones that are easiest to figure out. Just stop communicating with them.
If a collector car seller is from the U.S. he will be easy to identify. You can even look up his address on Google maps and zoom in on his location. You can ask him for references which you can also verify. Most important, a U.S. citizen will not want to perpetrate a fraudulent transaction because he will always serve jail time for an interstate crime. That is why 98 percent of the internet scams are perpetrated by overseas scammers.
ESCROW
A buyer wanting to protect their money is an understandable goal, which is why escrow services seem so appealing. The idea is that the escrow company would hold the funds as a third party agent and wait for the car to be shipped to the buyer. Once the buyer has a chance to inspect the car, the escrow service would release the funds to the seller.
While there are legitimate escrow services out there, the reality is that sellers will not part with a car without cash in hand. A lot of so called “escrow services” are actually scams themselves. There just isn’t anything that an escrow service is offering that gets a seller interested. They are being asked to send their car to a buyer without being paid. No seller would agree to that.
When a scammer uses this method, they set up the service to look legitimate, then recommend the buyer use it to help protect both of their interests. Once the buyer parts with his money, the seller and the service both disappear.
FRAUDULENT CASHIER’S CHECKS
Many people don’t realize that a bank will release funds to you immediately, but will reclaim those funds if the check is determined to be fake. Victims of this scam will deposit the cashier’s check into their account, see that the funds posted, and think everything is okay. They then follow the buyer’s instructions and either send back the amount of an overpayment or make a payment to the transportation agent the buyer has selected. The transportation company the buyer requests is a fake company set up to accept the funds. Weeks later the bank will inform the seller that they deposited a fraudulent check, and reclaim the funds, leaving the seller to pay out of their own pockets anything they gave to the transportation agent or returned to the seller.
Remember that the scammer is not even interested in getting your car. The scammer just wants you to send them some of your money. Your car is never at risk. Scammers are most often in a country outside the U.S. (despite what they might tell you.)
Scammers often cannot speak English. They often will not communicate with you by phone. They will use email exclusively because they want to remain anonymous.
HOW TO AVOID
Only accept a cashiers check or bank check for the correct amount. Never send a refund or check from your account. Ask to speak to the buyer in person on the phone. Use a Bill of Sale to set the terms of the sale.
PHISHING
Phishing is a scamming technique that’s been around since the beginning of financial institutions. In involves getting enough of your personal information to open credit accounts in your name or even gaining direct access to your banking accounts.
Over the internet, the most common way to do this is by providing a link to a fraudulent website designed to look like a legitimate one. A seller might ask you to use Paypal or Google Wallet, both legitimate services, and provide you with a link to a fake website. Scammers will build a website that looks identical to the legitimate one, except that when you enter your information, it’s being collected by the scammer.
DON’T GIVE IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Most internet transactions will require that funds will be transferred through a wire transfer. We suggest that sellers have their bank set up a “dummy account” to accept a wire transfer. Do not give the buyer your private account number and routing number. Use the “dummy account” transfer information given to you by the bank. That will keep a potential scammer from getting your account information.
Never give a seller your social security number.
NEW SCAM: SPEEDING TICKETS
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that law enforcement is getting newer, high-tech tools every day. Not long ago, many municipalities approved the use of catch cameras, cameras connected to speed detecting devices that take photographs of cars exceeding speed limits or failing to stop at traffic lights. The tickets show up in the mail, with no officer interaction required. It wouldn’t surprise many people to receive a notice of a ticket in an email.
Scammers will now send you an email saying you have a speeding ticket. In California recently actual speeders have been contacted by email by internet scammers who demand payment for speeding violations. Law enforcement is still looking into how they’ve come by the specific details of a driver’s speed and whereabouts, but guesses point toward a smart phone app exploit. It records your speed and location as part of GPS navigation. Scammers have taken to sending speeding tickets out to actual speeders. When they pay the “tickets” they don’t realize they are actually paying the scammer.
Law enforcement agencies and municipalities do not contact you by email to accept payments for traffic violations. If you get a ticket delivered to you by email, it doesn’t matter who it’s from … It’s a scam.
GENERAL TIPS FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS
You can read about specific scams on our Scam Alerts page. While most scams are just variations of the kinds listed in this article, new ones do pop up occasionally. You can help to protect yourself from most scams by following these tips.
- Be wary of sellers and buyers that have requirements that seem complicated or out of the ordinary. If they start out by telling you they’re on a long-term business trip in another country, you’re better off just hanging up the phone.
- Don’t use links provided by the seller in an email. If they’re asking you to use Paypal (which is highly unusual to begin with), use an internet search engine to find the Paypal homepage, not the links in the e-mail.
- Keep the lines of communication open. Ask to talk to them over the phone, or better yet, in-person. A seller that refuses to talk to you over the phone is deserving of your suspicions.
- If you can’t see the car in-person yourself, get the vehicle inspected by a professional to be sure it’s actually there. You can get the opinions of the inspector regarding the seller while they’re at it.
- Use a bill of sale to protect yourself legally.
Some of the best advice ever given to help protect you from being victimized is this: don’t get greedy. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
If you think you’ve become the victim of a scam, contact your local police department and ask about how to proceed.
Click here to read more How to Buy a Car Online articles.
A person emailed me claiming to be Dominic Santini at Santini Air from Van Nuys Ca. wanting my bottom price for the car I have for sale.I gave him my price he then wanted my name and address said a check was on the way.. After some thought I checked his address and found the address belonged to a company that new nothing about him.. Have you had any other complaints about this person? Gary Parker
I have had the same Dominic Santini contact me. He did actually send a cheque. The cheque had two errors on it on the amount. And it was sent in British Pounds. Have you had any further contact? The whole thing seemed bogus but these days you never know.
It looks like Dominic Santini is a character from the mid-eighties tv show Airwolf. He was played by Ernest Borgnine. You were right to be suspicious!
I also got the check from Santini in British pounds, the British pound is worth 1.3 times as much as the dollar. I suspect he was going to ask me to send back the over payment. This would have been approx.7,000 dollars in my case.
I had Dominic send me an email also. I did not respond as he was asking questions that the ad answered. If they don’t have anyone look at the car, I am suspicious. And I do remember the Airwolf reference.
I also received emails from Dominic Santini. He wanted the bottom line price for my 1969 Firebird after exchanging several emails. Once I gave him a “bottom line” price, he sent me an email agreeing to but it. This email however, was signed by Portman Carey Mark. I questioned him about the difference in names and asked him to call me directly. He emailed me back and said Portman Carey Mark was his “personal secretary”. It was shortly after that I noticed the other messages regarding his scamming attempts.
I just received an e-mail from Danica Ryder from the U.K. asking if my ’72 Cutlass was still available.
I am asking $9,500 U.S. He is offering $67,000. Wow; I’m rich now. lol
The very screwed-up language was a dead give-away.
Cheers:
Doug
Nice catch. Unfortunately, some people will fall for it.
I also was suspicious with the screwed up language. I believe Santini and Ryder may be the same
scambo. All was moving to fast to be legitimate. Thank you for the Scam Alert info on website.
WARNING ! Do not buy any classic car from Detroit60.com , based in West Vancouver, B.C. they are rip off artists, usually advertising on Carsonline.com
ZICKO zickogabi@yahoo. com he won’t call me or tell me where he lives. Is this a scam. Carl
zicko also emailed me said he was from UK wanted to send me a check right away (in pounds) for way over my asking price.
Looks like Zicko Gabi is still at it. Sent me a check for much more than the asking price. Over price and in pounds. When I tried to look up his name on Google, it came up in what appears to be Russian. I’m surprised CarsOnLine.com doesn’t block his email.
do not answer anything from Ben Nino in the UK, he scamed me out of serval thousands
also beware of Dancia Ryder all in the UK
I just received an email from zickogabi@yahoo.com inquiring and asking information for my 1959 corvette. Thanks for the heads up.
be on the lookout for a guy selling a 1968 biscayne for about 16,500…..says he is in the military….forgot his name off hand……they set up a shipping company web sight …..looks great but its a scam will dig up his name in my emails and post it…..hope this helps someone out there
I too got an email from Zickogabi@yahoo.com, fair offer but asking for my information to send a check, glad I looked at this. Thanks for the info…
We have been contacted by “Walker Presler” wants to send us a cheque for what is not a correct amount. We are to deposit it, preferably at an ATM, then deduct for inspection, shipping, insurance through “our logistic agent”. it will be shipped to an Asian country of an European Country where they will “make use of the vehicle”
The language was a giveaway. Now he wants all my information for sending the check.
If these guys would put this much effort into a legimate job they could really do well.
OH YA WALKER is still in his world, got a check from him and said to do the same thing that he asked you to do,? what a dip shit , yes you would think that they would have better things to do???
beware out there
JERRY
I just got an email from this guy. He negotiated and everything. Weird deal.
Walker is still at it. Contacted me about a MC for sale on Cars on Line.. I saw his name on this site and told him I knew he was scam artist and not to respond to me. Haven’t heard from him since.
the 33 ford roadster just came on for $24,000 from Huntington,In is a scam
Any information on a company called “Smart classic sales” @ 855 W 39th St, Norfolk, VA 23508,USA
thanks
Has anyone purchased a car from ecarsgarage LLC trying to see if they are a scam
Received an offer for my car from Walker Presler. Made offer, however wording of the offer was questionable. My son checked Car-On-Line and noticed the name listed on one of the above replies. It is a scam. Be careful! Try to check out the person and never give out ANY information.
Wow Walker is busy—ALERT Walker Presler (not American) is busy scamming collector car sellers……just emailed me and said that he/she would agree to selling price on my collector car listed on Cars-on-line, send bank draft and would need me to deposit funds for price of car and send the balance to their “logistics person” (here is the catch – you send good money back to them in the meantime your bank notifies you that their check was no good—you are out the money you sent to the fraudulent “logistics person”……..yep, their language..for example “I’ll send bank draft of €208,985 from our financier to you” gives them away, but I pray that no one falls for these scams…..makes selling a collector car, suck.
Just received an email from a Kayle Burrows about my car. Anyone have any scam experiences with this person?
Do not reply! Scam artist Kayle Burrows!
What did/does he do? I got an email from him too.
Kaylee burrows made an offer on my car , told him I would only accept wire transfer bank to bank 2 weeks later I received a cashiers check for 12000.00 more than we settled on
Took it to the bank and everyone had a good laugh it looked like a 5 year old with crayons made it
He said he was from England but the envelope had Spanish stamp on it
I haven’t emailed him and not going to but I’m sure he would like me to wire transfer his extra 12000$ back to him as soon as possible haha like that’s going to happen
Oh wow that’s terrible. I had some weird emails from him, wanting to buy my car but didn’t ask to see it or have an inspection. Didn’t even ask for bill of sale or title, just sent cashier’s check. The check looked real and I took it to bank, haven’t heard anything back yet. But now I’m concerned. Thanks for the information, I think I should go to bank and tell them the check is probably fake.
Was the check for the correct amount?
Bank of America?
eMystery Global market research was the purchaser of the check
Do not send him any money or the car until you are positive that the check has cleared and I would get some kind of written documentation from your bank that they have established that the check is real
I was contacted on August 28 about my car did you respond?
Said she or he is from the UK and wants to buy my car. Still sounds fishy to me. I tried to get a call but to no avail so far.
Rick
Can I ask what car you have for sale?Mine is a 57 Chevrolet
I have a 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS
Scammer Alert – I have rec’d several e-mails from jimmywall147@gmail.com. Traced him to the United Kingdom. He expressed interest over and over in buying my car posted on CarsOnLine; asked a lot of questions and even told me he was sending a check for the full amount……..NEVER CAME. I advised him of all the details needed to ship a vehicle and he again said, you will be getting my check….Never Came. Don’t
waste your time on this guy, he is a scammer.
Scammer Alert – I have rec’d several e-mails from jimmywall147@gmail.com. Traced him to the United Kingdom. He expressed interest over and over in buying my car posted on CarsOnLine; asked a lot of questions and even told me he was sending a check for the full amount……..NEVER CAME. I advised him of all the details needed to ship a vehicle and he again said, you will be getting my check….Never Came. Don’t
waste your time on this guy.
Your add 92681 must be a scam. It has been posted for well over a year and the seller NEVER responds to an inquiry (I have made many). I am actually a cash buyer and want a black 51 Vic. I have 3 cars bought on line and shipped to me. 92681 is on your site now with so called 7 views. Only the same 3 that has been there for months show today.
Yes a lot of those fake ads now, you call and they tell you it’s sold, the ad never comes down no matter how many times you flag it as sold or contact the website and tell them owner insists it’s gone. The ad stays up forever – odd.
Hello
I bought a 51Mercury on Cars On Line about two Months ago and I notice it is still for sale.
How do I get it remove? I tried by emailing the guy I bought it off of and get no response.
Thank You
Follow-up to my SCAM notice. jimmywall147@gmail.com sent me a Barclays check for 37,000 British
Pounds ( the equivalent of $41,030 U.S. Dollars). The asking price for my classic was $27,000 U>S> $$..so
the SCAM is, that jimmy wall figured I would deposit his BOGUS check and then send him the difference between my asking price and the value of his fraud check which is roughly $14K U.S.
This guy is entirely STUPID and the e-mail address of the British Barclays Bank could NOT be found.
Beware of this scumbag.