Classic Car Scam Exposed

by Robert Farago

April 21st, 2009 9:14 PM

Hello Robert,

I dropping you a note to alert TTAC readers about a growing problem in the autoblogosphere. There’s been a marked increase in fraudulent collectible car ads posted on www.trader.ca. Normally, the bogus ads are easy to spot: they tout pristine classics at firesale prices. In many cases, the “seller” only provides an e-mail contact. If they list a phone number, it’s usually a fax. But even buyers who forget that “too good to be true” means just that should caveat their emptor. Some of the ads offer desirable cars at prices that seems good but not great. I recently inquired about a Mustang. I became suspicious. When I asked for close up snaps (to see if the seller could provide them), the seller became indignant. When I stated flat out that I wouldn’t pay a cent without these “proof of life” pics, the “seller” disappeared.

In short, be careful out there! You don’t have to be a complete fool to be parted from your money.

Nicholas

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4 of 16 comments

AJ on Apr 22, 2009

It is amazing that people fall for this kind of thing? But they must, sad to say.

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Dolorean23 on Apr 22, 2009
Besides, anybody who has ever served knows that the military (gov) will not simply load up a POV and send it Stateside for free. Actually they do. As long as you are stationed overseas say, in Germany, like I've been. You are allowed one car to shipped to Germany at the beginning and one car at the end of your tour back home. This does make for the occasion where a service member will leave their classic car in the states and decides later he/she wants to sell it for some extra scratch. The military will not pay for the shipment of this car EVER, regardless of the sob story the scammer may provide. I've had Soldiers over the years get tangled by all kinds of scams. The bottom line I've always told them is if the person is asking for money up front you should be looking them in the eye and reading everything twice before you sign it. Money up front is always a warning sign and too good to be true settles it.

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Signal11 on Apr 24, 2009

To back up what Dolorean said, if you PCS OCONUS to certain countries, you get one car shipped there, one car shipped back. Doesn't have to be the same car. Don't know what the rules are now but a lot of guys used to buy cheap BMWs and have them sent back. They still ship to Hamburg? That's a loooong train ride from Bayern to North Sea.

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JOHN POPE on Sep 04, 2012

IF YOU SEE A POST FOR A 1947 CADILLAC 62 CONVERTIBLE 5,200 EUR ITS A SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I engaged this seller who wanted 5,200 EURO for a $52,000 classic Cadillac in pristine condition. He told me he wanted to sell the car because he needed money and he would pay the transport from Spain to the USA!!! I checked and found that only the transport is $4,500!!! I knew that this was a scam but played along just to see where it leads. I told him that I have a friend in Malaga (that is where the car is supposed to be) and that I wanted my friend to meet with him, see the car and buy it on the spot. He answered back that he wanted me to send money to some transport company which would take care of the entire deal. Yeah Right..... I agree with what has been said in here "Can't touch it, don't buy it". Stay very far from this one his email is eugenio.ramos@aol.com and phone number is: 0034 678.278.725. I saw the same beige convertible posted on several sites. Be warned!!!

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