| All one has to do is troll through the car auction listings | | | | purchased was covered for one more year - upon |
| on Ebay and you will see hundreds if not thousands of | | | | taking the car to a GM dealership it was found that |
| fraudulent listings. They stand out when you see a deal | | | | only the catalytic converter was covered, not any part |
| that is just too good to be true. Right now, searching | | | | of the OBD and emissions system. Get it in writing. |
| through the keyword Ferrari I find many in the normal | | | | 5) Inspections and Emissions. Just as important as |
| range of $100,000 plus, but there is one 2006 that is | | | | warranties is whether the car can even pass |
| selling for $30,000. Why is it selling for less than 1/3 of | | | | inspection in your state. I can not state this enough - |
| its value? There is no mention of a wreck or damage | | | | every state has its own inspection and emission |
| and it has low miles. This is because it is most likely a | | | | requirements. I recently bought a car through Ebay |
| fraudulent listing. There are many listings like this and | | | | from Farmerville Motors in Monroe, LA. I specifically |
| this is only the start. | | | | asked if the car would pass inspection in my state, |
| Some you can quickly tell by the poor English in the | | | | North Carolina. I was told it was in great condition and |
| listings description. Much of this online car fraud is from | | | | that it would pass in my state without any problems. I |
| overseas. Don't rely on the sellers feedback or country | | | | bought the car, drove it back, and later found it couldn't |
| of origin as profiles have been bought and sold over | | | | pass inspection because the OBD system had been |
| the internet. Someone from Romania or Italy can easily | | | | tampered with and was inoperable. Don't rely on a |
| use a bought or stolen Ebay profile with great | | | | sellers word.- get it in writing! |
| feedback to lure unsuspecting buyers. They copy | | | | 6) Undisclosed flood and frame damage. This is a big |
| some pictures from the internet or another sellers | | | | one. Unscrupulous car dealers and body shops are |
| listing and put a great price on the listing so it will sell | | | | selling crashed cars and flood cars, doctoring titles, not |
| quickly. Some buyers get so caught up in the low price | | | | properly listing damages and repairs done to make a |
| that they become blind to the signs of this car fraud: | | | | quick dollar. With the advent of over the internet sales |
| 1) Poor English throughout the listing description. | | | | which are basically done sight unseen and based on |
| 2) Fraudulent escrow services (look for contact | | | | seller reputation and feedback crooks are coming out |
| information and contact them. Also look for poor | | | | in droves. Just search for car fraud on Google or |
| English and bad phone numbers). | | | | Yahoo. You will see thousands of articles, victims, |
| 3) Emails that don't go through Ebay or Yahoo | | | | etc...Be careful and do your homework. Don't send |
| Auctions (Many of these fraudulent transactions have | | | | payment or sign any paperwork until you see and |
| occurred because someone emails a bidder that is not | | | | checkout the car. Don't become a victim like I did - the |
| the winning bidder and tells them they are and to send | | | | car Farmerville Motors in Monroe, LA sold me upon a |
| them their last bid price - All Ebay transactions will | | | | thorough examination had been involved in a possible |
| have winning bidder notifications from and through the | | | | unreported flood - no wonder the OBD system didn't |
| Ebay email system). | | | | work. |
| 4) Also watch out for fraudulent promises. Car | | | | Online car fraud is here to stay. Take a few minutes |
| salespeople at car dealerships are notorious for this. | | | | to dig deeper into the deal. See if it is or even seems |
| Get any promises in writing. If the car has a warranty | | | | fraudulent or fishy. If it is don't go through with it. As the |
| and what is actually covered can be quite different | | | | old adage says, "If it sounds too good to be true, it |
| from what the salesperson says. Remember, the | | | | probably is." There are many good sellers and even |
| salesperson doesn't care about you and only wants a | | | | car dealers out there, but there are just as many |
| quick sale. You must make sure it has the warranty | | | | fraudulent sellers and dealers that you need to watch |
| you desire. The salesperson at Farmerville Motors | | | | out for. Don't become a victim of online car fraud like I |
| stated that the entire emissions system on the car I | | | | did. |