Complaint Review: Craigslist Sarah Michelle Cpt. Sarah M Snodgrass - Austin Texas

I was told about visiting the Craigslist website to locate and reasonably priced vehicle, within the price range I could at the time afford.  So among all the other vehicles I viewed, I chose this Acura that along with a very tempting picture, and the exact price I hoped to be paying.  I began communicating with this person Sarah Michelle  (by which only God knows if that's even her real name) in regards to what steps/procedures needed to take place to complete this business/purchase agreement.  This person sent me an invoice, which I still have saved in my messages, that appeared very authentic, with detailed descriptions and information related to this automobile.  She used a, what I would now consider to be, a very devious and deceptive story as to why she was letting this nice vehicle go and for such a low price...well below the book value.  She had me so convinced and empathetic, I was actually giving her my condolences for the loss of a loved one, which turned out to be a complete LIE. 

I was instructed to follow these steps to get the purchase rolling, asking to purchase some eBAY gift cards, each to it's maximum allowed amount of $500 to equal the total sum of the $2,000 price being asked for the vehicle.  At the time, I was in a total bind with trying to maneuver from point A to B, for not only myself included, but my five (5) children and one (1) grandchild.  The vehicle was an SUV, which was exactly the idea automobile I was seeking for my family.  So basically, the number that was reflecting on the invoice was a toll free number, listed as the contact to call with the eBAY card numbers, to complete the payment transaction, to get a process started of shipping the vehicle to my location... from Texas to Louisiana.  I even asked her can I drive there to her, and just complete the transaction in person.  But she stated she was on an army base, and therefore unable to tend to the matter from there.  It is absolutely baffling and down right disgusting to me, why I even proceeded forward with this out of the ordinary business matter and purchase,  Honestly, the main primary reason behind my being taken advantage of in such a matter, was due to my being absolutely fed up with asking for rides, missing out on getting to places I really needed to make it to, and feeling like I was a burden on the people I was calling and depending on to get around. 

Long story short, on May 15th I went on and made this horrific move (as it will likely haunt me the rest of my life, or at least a large portion of it) and went to Walgreens and purchased the eBAY cars to gone make this payment, and only dreaming of receiving this car and the weight that would be lifted of my shoulder finally, once the transportation issue for my family was finally over and done, and I could then focus on a long list of tasks needing attention thereafter.  It wasn't until after this person swindled me out of the $2,000 and actually proceeded after that to try for an additional $1,000 for so-called insurance coverage in the event something happened to the vehicle, they would be at a loss.  Supposedly, eBAY shipping financial department cancelled the arrangement for the vehicle to be shipped out until this buyer protection inspection process was completed, after which I would receive the $1,000  back.  At that point, my heart dropped into the bottom of my stomach, as I suddenly realized there was something wrong with this entire picture, and I needed to go investigate the matter, what I should have VERY WELL did prior to beginning this interaction.  So of course, the final conclusion of this miserable story, is I was scammed out of a whole $2,000, still had no vehicle, and didn't even know where to begin to try and rectify this situation.  This person suddenly (once the money was in their hand and I expressed my suspicion once that insurance ordeal was abruptly thrown in) stopped responding to emails and the phone number I originally called to provide the gift card information to was no longer being answered nor active. 

I just wish in the name of God, by some sort of incident or divine intervention, I can somehow receive some kind of sign, or signal that will trigger me finding out who did such a cruel, heartless thing...not just to me, but my children.  I do not have much financial stability, and generally could not afford to lose that $2,000, which makes it even more of a travesty. I've since have not been able to save that money again to purchase an automobile as I had been dreaming for, but rather back to phase 1, and $2,000 less in a backwards hole now needing to filled again before even beginning to work on the other numerous issues I needed to tend to.  I don't know if this experience is going to help the matter in any way, certainly most likely will not result in my getting at lease some of my money back.  However, I still took the time to share this with hopes of someone else actually reading about such matters in ample enough time, to not become the next victim.  I have a heart, and would not wish anything like this on anyone,  So I pray that Gods sees this through being the perfect and only authority to deliver fair and reasonable justice as vengeance is his, and will one glorious day, address and the guilty party of such a wicked crime, along with all the other followers of the devil will all with absolute certainty have their day before the Lord.