Complaint Review: Auto Scam - Moneybookers.com - Internet

I almost got roped into a scam everyone on here is talking about. I was looking for a Jeep Wrangler on Autotraders for my husband. I ran across one that was listed in a city about an hour from where I live. My parents actually live in the area the car was listed to be in. There was a phone # (that never worked...clue #1) and an email. I emailed the "seller" and after several days, had decided the car had already been sold and forgot about it. About a week later, I received the following email:

"Hi,

I'm Frank Boyette, you inquired about my 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (VIN: 1J4FA64S25P328051).

I apologize for the delay, I'm in the military and now I am in UK and that's why I couldn't reply in time. If you are still interested in buying it, I'm asking US $7450. It has a clean title, very well maintained, always garage kept, no rust, excellent condition, runs and sounds 100% perfect with no leaks or noises. All power and optional equipments are working perfect. I have to sell this car as fast as I can because in three weeks I will be in Iraq and I think I'll stay there for a while that's why I'm selling it so cheap. I intend to buy a new car when I'll get back home.If you want to buy the car, I can ship for free within US with one of our military airplanes so you don't have to worry about the distance. If you are interested we can use a third party escrow broker ( Moneybookers.Com http://www.moneybookers.com/app/help.pl?s=escrow ) to secure the transaction and to handle this whole process for us.

Using a reputable E-Commerce third party escrow company will secure the transaction and you will receive the car before I'll get paid and of course I'm also covered because the funds will be kept safety into the escrow account.Let me know if you are interested.

You can see some pics on the following link from my personal page: http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee244/jwunl/

You'll love the car, I can guarantee you that! "

My reply :

"Hi Frank --

I am very interested in this car. I noticed it was removed from Autotraders website so I figured it had been sold. I tried calling the number listed and it was no longer good. Is the car in **** or with you? My parents live in **** and I live in **** so if it is there, getting it wouldn't be a problem. I can get the financing done this week. I would like to get it for my husband in time for Father's Day. Thanks so much for getting back to me!"

I had planned on getting it for my husband as a surprise but I had been consulting with my brother and Dad about it. We all thought it sounded fishy and I went to moneybookers.com to check them out. I had written down their phone # and had planned on calling them to ask some questions. I wasn't as suspicious of moneybookers.com so much as the person using their "services." They may be legit...maybe a UK version of Paypal. My brother and Dad encouraged me to keep following up...get as many answers as possible.

"Frank's" reply to my response is as follows:

"The car is here with me at the base, in UK. The title is clear. The car is in showroom condition and it has not been involved in any accidents. It is paid in full and all you have to pay is the price of the car.

This is the best way for me even if I'll have to pay some extra money for their services. I'll cover the broker's fee and like I've explained, the shipping will be covered as well so you don't have to worry about the distance. The car will be delivered at your door.

You'll have to deposit US $3,500 in escrow before we proceed with the shipping process and the rest of the amount after you have inspected and test driven the car.

Once you've received the car you'll have 14 days for inspection and test drive. If for any reason the car is not as described, including the emissions standards, you may reject the car. It will be shipped back to me at my expense and you will be fully refunded.

It will come with the title, bill of sale signed by me, and with the power of attorney for the escrow manager that will accompany the car to sign all the papers that you need to register it under your name. The shipping process can take up to 4-5 days. The delivery will be made at your house. I'll have the exact schedule once the shipping process has begun.

If you want to buy it please email me your full name and address and I will contact Moneybookers to start the transaction. They will contact you with all the informations that you need to complete this deal.

Thanks,

Frank"

My reply:

"Ok. I am doing some research. One thing I am concerned about is getting a bank to finance this kind of transaction. I'm not sure how much of a risk they will consider this. To be completely honest, that is my only hesitancy. I've never dealt with this kind of transaction, outside of Paypal, and never with this amount of money. Today, as you know, is Memorial Day so there wasn't anyone I could talk to today. So, I am going to check into it tomorrow and will let you know something as soon as I do.

Thanks!"

His response:

"I understand your concern but your money will be protected by Moneybookers and they will hold the funds until you will receive the car.

First I will have my attorney write the bill of sale, I will sign it and send it to you by email to do the same and send it back.

With the bill of sale I will open a case with Moneybookers and they will contact you soon with all the terms about the shipping and payment.You will have to send the payment to Moneybookers to be placed in escrow. Once the payment has been confirmed I will start the shipping process. (I'll have the exact shipping schedule, after the process has begun). The shipping process can take up to 4-5 days. The delivery will be made at your house.

Once you've received the car you'll have 14 days for inspection and test drive. If for any reason the car is not as described, including the emissions standards, you may reject the car. It will be shipped back to me at my expense and you will be fully refunded.

It will come with the title, bill of sale signed by me, and with the power of attorney for the escrow manager that will accompany the car to sign all the papers that you need to register it under your name.

As I told you before I will cover the shipping fee even if you decide to reject it.

Regards,

Frank"

I then sent a message that said that I could only pay $1000.00 because I was only going to finance $6450 and that the bank would not cut a check until they had a title and bill of sale in hand. I actually did call my bank and the woman I talked to told me that this sounded really fishy. I told her I was feeling that way, too and she said that the only way they would ever finance something like this was if the seller was present to receive a check that would be made out to the name on the Bill of Sale or if there was a Power of Attorney present. It was after I talked to her that I called my brother again. By this point, he was pretty confident someone was scamming. About an hour later, I received a text message from him that said "Check your email" and it had a link to this site. I then sent "Frank" another email, letting "him" know he had been BUSTED and Autotraders had been notified. I also told him there is a special place in hell for people like him.

A the lady at the bank said, "Go with your gut." If you feel like there is something to it, there probably is. "He" did a lot of things wrong...and thankfully I didn't jump without getting advice and consulting with my family. Something needs to happen to these people. Not only are they scamming people out of money, they are stealing car pictures and information from other people! You can't just run a Carfax report...chances are, the car will check out. And that car is more than likely for sell...somewhere.

Hope this helps some of you out there!

Hannah

Tallahassee, Florida

U.S.A.