Cars.com Marketplace Safety Tips - Fake Email

Please be aware that the email screenshot below was not sent by Cars.com, even though the fraudster is using our Customer Service Representative's name in this fake email. 

Cars.com DOES NOT have a "Cars.com Protection Program".  We are not involved in the transaction or payment process between the buyer and seller. Cars.com also does not have an Escrow Department. 

We encourage sellers to use Dependable Auto Shipping and Escrow.com for shipping and escrow services.

(Click image below to see Fraudulent Email)

Payment Invoice for Transaction

We have reports of car buyers receiving a scam email with a subject line of "Payment Invoice for Transaction ID# XXXXXXXX."  If you receive an email with this or a similar subject, please refrain from further correspondence with the seller.  Never wire money to a buyer or seller regardless of any assurances they make.

Cars.com is ONLY a classified listing service and NEVER is involved in payment between the seller and buyer.  Despite contrary appearances, this email was not sent by Cars.com.

SAMPLE FRAUD TRANSACTION EMAIL (Click on Image to Enlarge)

Financial Department from Cars.com Spoof

Cars.com simply provides a classified listing service and never participates in transactions between buyers and sellers; specifically, we do not sell vehicles, collect payments for vehicles, warehouse vehicles, or ship vehicles.

SAMPLE EMAILS FROM FRAUDSTER (Click on images to enlarge)---------------------------------------------

Hi again,

Here is what I suggest: we will use financial department from cars.com. I send the car over, you can inspect it, take it to a mechanic to check it out, drive it and then pay the remaining ballance. If, by any reason, you will not be satisfied with it ( even though I can assure you that it is exactly as described), you can return it at my expense for a full refund of your money, no questions asked. I think this is more than fair for the both of us. If you agree, please provide your full name and shipping address and I will get everything started immediately. Afterwards, cars.com will invoice you the transaction details and payment instructions. All you will need to do is follow through with their guidelines. I'm looking forward to hear from you.

Thank you,

The escrow process of Cars.Com for the completion of a transaction (purchase or sale) through Internet can be done in four simple steps: 

     1.   A transaction agreement is established;

    2.   The buying party remits the transaction amount to Cars.Com.

    3.   The selling party ships the merchandise to the buying party.

    4.   After the expected date of delivery has elapsed, the buying party is granted a 30-day inspection period, after acceptance of the merchandise by the buying party the selling party is paid.

Pay for additional listings scams

Hello-

We've learned of a scam that has not hit our site but has hit several sites in other classified advertising categories, and we want you to stay ahead of the game.

Basically, a scammer will post an ad through us, but through either the text of an ad, or if you communicate with that seller, they will invite you to register/pay to see more listings. Usually these companies just want you to enter your credit card information so that they can use it!

Often these companies claim to have their car through impoundment or other police acquisitions, reposession, or some tie to an insurance company. Remember our fraud tips and you should be fine.

New Escrow Site Scam

Hello-We're seeing a new escrow scam. A customer reported this to our attention when replying to an ad for a Lambroghini listed for $139K. The seller claimed to have moved to London and needed to unload his car because the steering column is on the left. Obviously, even this is not reason enough to sell a Lambroghini that cheaply.

Remember, only use Escrow.com!

Latest shipping scam

Here is the latest shipping scam we're seeing. It claims to use a "Yahoo! shipping center", which does not exist. Please cease all contact if you receive a similar email.

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Sorry for this late reply but I have been overwhelmed by the number of emails I got from interested buyers after listing the car on Yahoo Autos and Autotrader. The car is in good running condition and comes with a clear title. There is no lien on the car, there will be no monthly payments, no take over payments, just final price. No damages, accidents or scratches of course. I am looking to sell it right away for $7900 (shipping and title transfer fees included). There is a reason for selling it for such a low price but it's just something personal and I'm not willing to discuss it so please don't ask.

I would like to use a third party service to handle this transaction for our both safety and comfort. Yahoo offers a third party service for their premium members only, of course for a small fee. As a Yahoo Autos premium seller I have applied for this service and I'm willing to pay for their fee if you agree using their service. The car is located at the Yahoo shipping center, I am in the military on duty outside the country and have nobody back home that could handle this so I had to leave it there (they will take care of the shipping/payment).
If you are still interested just let me know and I'll get back to you with further details about the transaction.

Scam: Seller is a model

In last week's post, titled "The lengths scammers will go . . ." we discussed some of the stories that scammers create to make their situations seem more believeable. We've received some reports from customers of a new lie that scammers are using. Claiming to be models, we've seen some emails from scammers stating that their careers of photoshoots causes them to travel and need to sell their car on short notice (why they are allegedly offering an unbelievable deal).

Again, we aren't saying never do business with a person who claims to be a model, but we are selling remember the Cars.com safe selling tips if a buyer or seller's story makes you skeptical.

Cashiers checks and certified checks

Online scams often involve sending you a check for more than the amount of the vehicle and then you wiring the scammer the difference between the actual price and the amount of the check.

****NEVER WIRE MONEY FOR A TRANSACTION****

When conducting a face to face transaction, cashiers or certified checks can be an ideal form of payment because there is no means to stop payment on a cashiers or certified check as with a personal check.

What’s the difference between a Certified and a Cashier’s Check?

Certified Checks: A certified check is a check that is “certified”. It has written acknowledgment by the Bank that the Customer’s signature on that check is genuine and that there are sufficient funds in the Customer’s account to honor the check.

Cashier’s Checks: A cashier’s check is a draft drawn by a Bank on itself, which the Bank agrees to honor when properly presented for payment. The Bank, not the customer, signs the check.

Which method is preferable?

There are fewer opportunities for forgery using a cashier’s check. Since there may be problems with either kind of check, if you have any misgivings at all about accepting payment via either, you should call the Bank that issued the check to verify its legitimacy.

Source: www.credittoday.net

Actual Fraud Email

Here's an actual fraud email sent to a Cars.com seller: Thanks for the email. I am interested and would be willing to buy it at that price ($3,500). I have an International shipping agent that will come pick it up from your (HOUSE) and ship to me. I will arrange for payment by sending your full name, address, state, city, ZIP code, country, telephone no./mobile no to my client in the states who is owing me the amount of ($8,000) to issue you a check for this amount, which is a refund for a cancelled order I placed with him, and being a refund the amount can only be written on a single check. I know it is more than the (car) price but after getting the check, I need you to cash it and deduct cost of the (car), then do me a favor of wiring the remaining balance to my international shipper via Western Union. I will also compensate you with ($50) for removing the advert from the net. After this is done and he gets the money, he will then pick it up from your residence and ship to me. So, confirm this and send your full name and address including phone number for mailing the check payment to you as soon as possible. Waiting for your urgent reply, Kind regards. John

Questions or concerns?  Call (888) 780-1286 or email us.

FTC Tips to Avoid Scams!

The Federal Trade Commission offers the following tips to avoid scams:

• Confirm the buyer's name, street address and telephone number.
• Don't accept a check for more than the selling amount.
• Consider alternative methods of payment such as an escrow or online payment service.
• If you accept a check, insist on one drawn on a local bank or a bank with a local branch.
• If the buyer insists that you wire back funds, end the transaction immediately.
• If a buyer attempts to pay with a winning check from a foreign lottery, end the transaction immediately.
• Resist pressure from the buyer to act immediately. An offer good today should be good after the check clears.

Questions or concerns? Call (888) 780-1286 or email us.

Certified Check Scams

According to the U.S. Secret Service, which enforces federal laws related to counterfeiting, certified check scams cost consumers $100 million a year.

How they work:

1. A buyer shows interest in buying the car and says a cashier's check will be issued for payment.
2. At the last minute, the so-called buyer comes up with a reason to write the check for significantly more than the asking price and requests the seller to wire the difference.
3. The checks are often such convincing fakes that the seller wires the money immediately after his or her bank clears the check.
4. In a week or so, the check turns out to be counterfeit, and the bank requires the car seller to cover the money for the phony check.

The checks are of such good quality that they often fool bank personnel who study them, says Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden. "Victims think the cashier's check or corporate check must be good when the bank gives them the money. But several days later they learn the check is a fake, and they're out both the item they sold and the full face value of the counterfeit check." In Idaho, even a deputy attorney general was duped by such a ploy.

If you're a victim of one of these scams, contact your local authorities immediately.

Questions or concerns? Call (888) 780-1286 or email us.

Cashier's Check Scams

In a typical scenario, a buyer — who usually inquires from overseas — arranges to pay for the car with a cashier's check or certified check in an amount that's more than the vehicle's purchase price. The buyer justifies this by saying a previous sale fell through or the extra money is needed to pay for shipping expenses or customs fees.
The buyer then asks the seller to wire the difference either to him or to the shipping company to cover expenses. Or a buyer will send a cashier's check as a down payment, then decide to back out of the deal and ask for the money back.

When asked to wire money, just say no. It's never a good idea to wire money to someone you don't know because it's an untraceable transaction. Stop negotiating with anyone who proposes this kind of bargain.

Questions or concerns? Call (888) 780-1286 or email us.

Safe Selling Tips

Advice for Sellers

Dealing locally is best.

The safest way to deal is in person and face to face. Be wary if the seller only wants to communicate via e-mail. Be more wary if the buyer is currently out of the country or resides overseas or far from where the vehicle is located. Be extremely wary if the seller flat out refuses to talk on the phone or claims they cannot talk on the phone.

Avoid complicated payment schemes.

Be suspicious of a payment process that involves many steps. One popular scam involves sending you a cashier's check for more than the purchase amount and asking you to wire the difference back to the buyer. These cashier's checks are almost always counterfeit and your bank will hold you liable. Any overpayment you wire back to the buyer will come directly out of your pocket.

Verify payment.

Do not transfer title of your vehicle to the buyer until the buyer's check has cleared or you have otherwise received full payment for your vehicle. You should always verify the authenticity of any cashier's or certified check with the issuing bank. Do not rely on the phone number printed on the check; look it up yourself. The bank can verify its routing number, describe the specific security features of its checks and even verify that there are sufficient funds to cover the check. Never accept a check for more than your asking price.

Use a legitimate escrow service.

Only use a real, reliable escrow service that you designate, not the buyer. Cars.com recommends Escrow.com. If you decide to use another escrow site, be aware that most escrow sites on the Internet are fraudulent. Research a service well before sending any money.

Questions or concerns? Call (888) 780-1286 or email us.