What's a better gift on Christmas morning than a new car sitting on the driveway, with a giant red bow on tip? This is a popular time of year for car buying.but consumer reporter John Matrese warns us about a car selling scam you need to watch for, so you don't waste your money.
Are you thinking of buying someone a used car this holiday season? Or maybe you're going to need a car yourself soon? We have an important warning about some car ads that will leave you empty handed and disappointed Christmas morning.
Shawncea Colvin was hunting for a used car and found a great deal on "letgo," a selling app like craigslist. It was a 2010 Nissan Maxima for a bargain 15-hundred dollars. "I've seen every part of the car. i’ve seen the inside, i seen the front, the side. Shawnsea messaged the seller who explained she was in the military and about to be deployed, the woman needed to sell the car quickly, at a low price. "She said she was going into training with her medical team for a year. she said she didn't want to store the car." The seller told Shawncea it would be sold through eBay motors for safety and that she needed to send a 500 dollar deposit on eBay gift cards. "I put 200 dollars on one 200 dollars on another one, and 100 dollars on a another. that’s 500 dollars." But that's the last she heard from the seller: it was all a scam.
In case you are wondering how people keep falling for these car selling scams, it is very easy. You see the seller will be contacting you through an eBay motors email address making it look like you are dealing with eBay. "When she sent me this eBay protection service I thought that’s ok, eBay is a secure site, so i never thought it would be a scam or anything."
eBay told us: “this transaction appears to be a scam , unfortunately, scam artists will list items for sale on non-eBay trading sites, and promise eBay's protection as a means of completing the scam. “ He said to protect yourself, do not pay via gift cards or western union and be suspicious of any car or truck you cannot see in person.
As Shawcea stated, "she seemed so trustworthy. she trusted me, I trusted her." But that trust has cost Shawnsea $500 dollars like many other fake car offers before it, it appears this ad was copied from a legitimate ad and reposted at a much lower price so be careful so you don’t waste your money.
