Complaint Review: ebay - Internet

How to recognize a vehicle scam attempt on CL:

Shipping a vehicle to you is suggested by seller

 eBay Motors or another intermediary is specified by seller

 Payment by Western Union or a money wire is requested

Price is unusually low (fraction of blue book value)

Offers to ship a vehicle are virtually 100% fraudulent

eBay has no involvment in craigslist for sale ads, and any eBay or similar emails or web pages you receive are fake

Never use Western Union or wire transfer to pay for goods - only a scammer will ask for this, and any funds sent will be lost


Next time just flush your money down the toilet and save the postage.

You stated that the ad for this car was on CRAIGSLIST, right? So how, exactly is Ebay involved here?? Please explain that one. Was the car actually listed on Ebay as well?If not, Ebay was in no way involved. That email you got did not actually come from Ebay.

Learn how to read email headers. Now, you send your $3000 to a complete stranger on Craigslist. What method of payment did you use? Let me guess! They asked to to wire transfer the money, right? Western Union??

I suggest you go to the FBI's internet crime investigation bureau [ic3] and file a complaint. Provide all emails [including headers], and any telephone or fax #'s that were used, as well as the Craigslist Ad info, etc.

From now on, just use some common sense!

When looking at the picture you posted, did you truly think that car would sell for only $3000? If you run a quick Google search for a 2004 BMW 330i you can see that the Kelly Blue Book value on that car is $13,200. That picture shows some obvious modifications which would probably raise that value.

Another thing you should always do when shopping for cars online is get an unlimited month long subscription with Carfax or a related service. When I was car shopping online I came across a ton of scams like this. In every single one, the car was in a different state than the scammer said he was located. Obvious scam is obvious.

Yet another key indicator is they will post on Yahoo autos or Craigslist and talk about the Ebay buyer protection. This protection applies to purchases made on Ebay! Many of these listings spoke of shipping the car to you at no cost. Seriously? Never wire money to ANYONE you dont know and definitely NEVER do it to pay for a service. Wire transfers cannot be traced. NEVER send a check to pay for something bought over the internet. These cant be traced either.

The morale of this lesson? A fool and his money are soon parted. When i see scams like this it only makes me scratch my head in wonder that anyone would fall for them. The fact is though that these scams wouldnt exist unless people fell for them.

As a eBay buyer you have the eBay protection. In otherwords if you paid your car using Ebay via Paypal you have one month where you can get your money back . Just contact eBay customer services from your Ebay Account and they will for sure handle the matter for you by either helping you to get your money back or get your car. I had 3 instances of similar problems and eBay in a matter of few days I able to help me and get my money back via Paypal.

This try it.

and you will not get it back. Sorry but never ever buy a car through the internet much less Craigslist. If you can make a report to Craigslist do so - I have never used this service but I am sorry you got scammed.

Unfortunately you have been scammed and you will never see your money again.  Craigslist and eBay do NOT work together.  You are the victim of a common scam and I can only say I am sorry you lost that much money.