How do online scams work?

One question we often receive is how do online scams work? What exactly are scammers trying to do? Fraud happens on both sides of the transaction.

Scammers looking to buy a car:

In the cases where they are offering to buy your car, they likely will mail you a check greater than your asking price and ask you to wire them the difference. They will claim some odd reason that the check is in the greater-than-asking-price value. The check is phony (they can look real enough to fool tellers) and then you’re out of luck after you’ve wired the money.

Scammers looking to sell a car:

In the cases where the scammer claims to need to sell a car, they are looking either to get a deposit from you for the car, or for you to advance them the cost of shipping. They will keep this payment.

In both cases, you likely have minimal legal recourse. Unfortunately, nearly all online fraud activity originates overseas. International governments are getting better about tracking down these criminals, but to this date they have not caught many of these thieves.

If you fear you have been a victim of a car buying scam or car selling scam, contact your local law enforcement officials. While local law enforcement hands are tied, they will investigate these matters. In fact, it’s important to report this crime, so that our government can make a case to foreign governments for more resources.

Comments

[Alışveriş]

Thank you in advance for your quick answer !. Very nice post.

[Sharon Paul]

Pretty bad that you go to report a scam on your site (and this is the second time I've posted an ad on your site and second time I've been scammed) and your e-mail address to report a scam is an invalid e-mail address.

[Scammed by Champion Chevrolet & Mitsibishi in Houston, TX]

We contacted Champion Chevrolet/Mitsubishi Gulf Freeway @ 877-634-2675 regarding this listing. I spoke to Alma twice in 1 day to confirm that this car was on the lot before we drove 2 hours to look at it. On that same day we drove there to look at the vehicle & were told that it was loaned out to someone, but that they didn't get approved for the loan, so they would be returning it that evening. Rick Gonzalez the ecomm mgr (Rick Gonzalez: 281-745-3194 or email gonzaleza1@autonation.com)told us that we needed to put a deposit on this vehicle because so many other people were inquiring about it, but no one had put a deposit on it. So we did, he said that if when we viewed the vehicle we didnt like it our deposit would be returned, & that this would guarantee the car was ours if we liked it. Well, after 1 week of excuse after excuse...the car never turned up. I would be willing to bet it doesn't even exist. I just really want to save people their gas & time, because these people are liars & a joke.

[Mail Russian Brides]

Pretty bad that you go to report a scam on your site (and this is the second time I've posted an ad on your

[fun]

Thumbs down, dude!