By: Torontoworker

Torontoworker — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:28:43 +0000

The reason your giving real world, great and useful advice dittomuch- is that the writers here are only now ‘discovering’ these car buying issues after so many of us have brought the issue of criminal gangs hijacking the free car sites up in our blog posts below their rather lame articles. Perhaps we have finally convinced the Star auto writers that there ARE major issues in these sites? Most enthusiast sites such as BWM, Corvette and Porsche and other brand forums have long known about these websites and what to watch out for. Better late then never I guess but in a note to the WHEELS editors: Guy’s, can we not have an interview with whom ever owns the Canadian section of Autotraders? They simply REFUSE to alter their business model for their website. There are many, many ways they could run these criminal gangs out of their site – and I wrote them to give them some ideas – and they refuse to acknowledge the issue. Why this is I have no idea. If I sound harsh on the Star – no offense – but the Kijiji and Autotraders off shore scammers have been a problem now for 10 years! At least Kijiji respond to complaints – Autotraders couldn’t give a **** it would seem.

By: dittomuch

dittomuch — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:37:14 +0000

Always speak by phone, before you call them google the phone number. If you see a dozen cars for sale all with the same number you know there is an issue. Next step view the image of the car in the ad… now copy the URL of the picture and google it, if the image shows the car for sale in a dozen places you know there is an issue. Third LIE claim you have someone close by who can inspect the car on your behalf if the seller goes silent and isn’t interested they are a scammer. Ask for the VIN to do a carfax google the vin if the car comes up for sale in multiple locations it is a scam. Ask who the car is registered if it does not match the carfax it is a scam. If the price is to good to be true… it is a scam… If they are unable to take an additional picture (trunk without carpet to make sure there is no past water damage or rear end collisions) if they own the car they can get you 1 more picture most scammers use images from past ebay sales (including the vins). How is it there can be 3 articles on scams and NOT A SINGLE USEFUL HELPFUL TIP yet I can give you a half dozen in a blog comment?????

Comments on: How to spot an online scammer

By: Torontoworker

By: dittomuch