Car scams everywhere

[Chris142]

We are looking at cars for the cousin. Out of the 5 we had lined up only 2 were legit. And it's currently taken apart, can't be driven and has no oil on the dipstick.

How do these scams where people lead you on then disappear work?

 

[dishdude]

Are they just ghosting you? Car might have sold and they're too lazy or inconsiderate to let you know.

 

[Chris142]

Are they just ghosting you? Car might have sold and they're too lazy or inconsiderate to let you know.

I was texting back and forth.as soon as I ask to meet or send me an address no response.

 

[JRay’07]

Seller: Here are some photos of my vehicle. Runs great, clean title, driven by an old lady to church. Just send me the money for shipment, ok?

Buyer: Alright, I transferred the funds to you.

Seller: Muahahaha!

 

[CDX825]

Sounds like my experience when I was looking for a work van on facebook market place.

 

[dishdude]

Seller: Here are some photos of my vehicle. Runs great, clean title, driven by an old lady to church. Just send me the money for shipment, ok?

Buyer: Alright, I transferred the funds to you.

Seller: Muahahaha!

Yeah that's usually how it goes, along with some lame excuse as to why they are out of the country and can't show the vehicle.

At least in the desert they're easy to spot, they'll use pictures of some car parked in the driveway of a house with vinyl siding, a lush lawn and a forest in the background.

 

[supton]

How do these scams where people lead you on then disappear work?

Maybe they are not scams, but just people who get a kick out of messing around with others. Or, someone else “bought” it, sent money, and now the scammer is quick to leave the scene.

I don’t do FB but you are starting to make stealerships sound better by comparison.

 

[Kestas]

At least in the desert they're easy to spot, they'll use pictures of some car parked in the driveway of a house with vinyl siding, a lush lawn and a forest in the background.

In Florida they use pictures that show palm trees, but with mountains in the background!

 

[Chris142]

Yeah that's usually how it goes, along with some lame excuse as to why they are out of the country and can't show the vehicle.

Have not had that yet. One of them had the same jeep and same pics but 100+ miles apart.

 

[Nukeman7]

In Florida they use pictures that show palm trees, but with mountains in the background!

They do the same in Kansas and Chicago too!

 

[Kira]

Maybe they are not scams, but just people who get a kick out of messing around with others

Emboldened by anonymity (duhh).
Rude responses to ads come along for this ride
What kick do the grocery scatterers get, I wonder?

 

[joekingcorvette]

In my area the sellers are on FB marketplace and if you view their profile you can easily tell that they are nowhere near the Midwest. All they want is some money sent to them to hold the car. Then they take the money and it's impossible to get it back. The vehicles or whatever it is they are selling are always way underpriced to make it look like a great deal. A buddy of mine bought a motorcycle and was scammed out of over two thousand dollars since he sent the money Western Union. What a sucker.

 

[Lyman]

It took me 2 years to find a Jeep XJ that wasn't a POS. Most ads were just flat-out lies. Others were total scams. I finally found it though.
My waiting paid off in the long run. Good luck to you. I understand your frustrations.

 

[wavinwayne]

Are there any non-hoopties at any of the used car lots around you?

 

[Chris142]

Are there any non-hoopties at any of the used car lots around you?

No. Even the hoopties are full price

 

[eljefino]

You gotta travel then, go somewhere with more yuppies. Success at this sort of thing is regional, and this is a nation/world-wide BBS.

It's hard selling, too. List something then the first responder is "super interested" but dinks around for a week. The second responder makes an appointment, then the first shows up out of nowhere with the money and you get to tell the second guy never mind.

 

[Dave Hess]

In Florida they use pictures that show palm trees, but with mountains in the background!

A Team TV show had an episode from Miami but obviously filmed in California with mountains in the background.

Lots of scammers everywhere selling junk.

 

[Hootbro]

Private party selling or buying is a chore anymore. Jerks and time wasters on both sides. When I am doing either selling or buying, I push hard to accelerate closing the deal as that will usually weed out the time wasters and scammers.

 

[levi]

People lie.
Dogs not so much.

 

[ecotourist]

It's hard selling, too. List something then the first responder is "super interested" but dinks around for a week. The second responder makes an appointment, then the first shows up out of nowhere with the money and you get to tell the second guy never mind.

It's hard selling stuff too.

I listed a car at a very reasonable price because of a few deficiencies - which I detailed. The prospective purchaser had it inspected (they found the same deficiencies) and then wanted to deduct the estimated cost to repair all the deficiencies.

It was lucky they didn't want me to pay them to take it away.