Have you recently reviewed the costs of used cars? With tight materials and a higher demand for the COVID-19 pandemic, the costs of used vehicles are at a record level.
As a result, scammers accentuate their game and target other people looking for reasonable cars online.
They will offer fake used cars for sale online, with the pandemic as an excuse not to drive.
Honda Accord Used at a price
Daisha Wallace wants to buy a car and take her two young children to the doctor, so she started looking for reasonable used cars on Craigslist, Facebook and sales apps.
A 2008 Honda Accord indexed by $1,200 caught his eye.
“I have two babies,” she says. “Then I have to hurry up and take this car.”
He contacted the seller, who replied that the value was so low because he needed to download the Agreement quickly.
“She said her son had passed away and needed to sell the car,” Wallace said. “Because of COVID-19, I didn’t need to make any transactions in person.”
She sought to take over virtually the entire sale.
The dealership sent Wallace to an eBay Motors page, which promised full customer coverage and said he would take care of the payment and shipping.
The eBay page told you to buy eBay gift cards from the pharmacy and respond with card numbers. Wallace did this, reading $1,200 in gift cards to the seller.
The merchant’s gone.
“He stopped answering. I called his phone and he didn’t answer,” Wallace said.
Like yourself
This scam is not so unusual that it has a name: the eBay Motors scam.
eBay sells cars to individuals; it also offers a warranty on used cars. It is a reference service that manages the transaction between a personal customer and a seller.
eBay engines and car images were fake, stolen from a valid used car ad.
For you:
“It’s hard to make sure my daughter has Pampers and wet wipes now,” Wallace said. “I think I’m doing the right thing for my babies.”
Since eBay has no way to prevent this scam, it is not legally to blame for its loss.
Beware of any reasonable used car, boat or motorhome you can’t see in person, so you don’t waste your money.
___________________________
Don’t Waste Your Money “is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. (“Scripps”).
I like “John Matarese Money on Facebook
Follow John on Instagram at Johnmataresemoney
Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese)
To learn more about consumers and money-saving tips, www.dontwasteyourmoney.com
Have a problem, email me to [email protected] or a message on Facebook.