This story appeared in the Haywood (NC) County News. Instead of receiving a candle-apple red 1968 Mustang from a seller on eBay, a Haywood County man got taken for $5,000.
Police are trying to track down the money the man, a Canton resident, wired by way of MoneyGram to a supposed eBay representative in San Jose, Calif. on March 13 and March 17.
The man originally bid on the car on what he thought was an official eBay site. He was not the highest bidder when the auction ended, but later received an email that said the winner backed out of the deal and the seller wanted to know if he was still interested.
After a few more email exchanges the Canton man and the seller settled on a price of $5,000.
The man told police that he contacted eBay for instructions on purchasing a vehicle and later found out that the instructions he received by email were not official eBay instructions. The man agreed to send a first installment of $2,500 to San Jose, and after confirmation of the wire, the seller would begin the shipping process, according to a police report on file at the Canton Police Department.
The victim then received another email instructing him to submit the final installment, and he would then receive the shipping information. He sent the final payment in on March 17 and has not heard back from the seller since then.
The man called eBay and found out that the car he bid on was not listed on an official eBay site. Canton police also contacted MoneyGram to get information about who received the $5,000, but a company representative told investigators that the information was confidential and could not be released. - by Jennifer Uhl-Ford, STAFF WRITER (Haywood County News)
Be sure to read our FordMuscle Editors Corner into internet automotive scams and how to avoid them.
Ours was a 1935 buick..and we were taken for 5700.00 dollars. About the same type of thing as with the mustang, but this scam started on ebay motors..Nov. 2007. Yes it sounded too good to be true,and every email we received appeared to be from ebay. Funds were wired from bank to bank,,and neither bank will assist in helping retrieve our money. Police are looking into it, but the funds were wired to California. E bay motors won’t help..natch..and the banks won’t help..of course. We’re just screwed.
By Elaine Case. December 19th, 2007 at 6:56 pmI agree that Western Union could do more to help people who getted robbed. They should at least make copies of peoples ID when they pick up the money. That way the police have a picture to go with the signature!!!
By me. October 23rd, 2006 at 5:30 pmThey are so EASY to spot!
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&satitle=BIN&sacat=6000%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=30907&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=2%26fsoo%3D2&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=
The eBay Police must be out getting a Lap Dance!
By DOC. October 2nd, 2006 at 4:55 pmhttp://www.ebaymotorssucks.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=3334#3334
You guys have to look at how fallacious this shit is. If it is too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t be newbies. Wiring cash is a load of shit. There are TONS of these things on ebay right this minute. look at RX7s, i count at least 3 scams.
By Paul. September 30th, 2006 at 12:38 pmScreen Captures of recent eBay Vehicle Scams..
By DOC. September 24th, 2006 at 9:52 amhttp://www.ebaymotorssucks.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=8
I just read about the scam on the 68 mustang. I almost got in the same situation but I asked for vin # and i wanted to pick up the car myself. but there was no reply to my questions just to wire the money and the car will be shipped. after doing research on many auto scams I did not fall into his trap.
By John E.. September 8th, 2006 at 12:46 pmI was taken by the same scam on a different colored 1968 mustang fastback but this scam was based out of New York. $4995.00 was the total. I think the moneygram/western union corporation should be held somewhat liable for these transactions if they are not willing to give up information to help investigators try and track down these criminals. My case is still under investigation after 10 months.
By C.Goodheart. July 2nd, 2006 at 6:31 pm[…] More eBay Scams - 1968 MustangFord Muscle, CA - Apr 5, 2006Instead of receiving a candle-apple red 1968 Mustang from a seller on eBay, a Haywood County man got taken for $5,000. … by Jennifer Uhl-Ford, STAFF WRITER … […]
By 1968 Ford Mustang » 1968 Ford Mustang - More eBay Scams - 1968 Mustang. April 7th, 2006 at 9:17 pm