Vintage car scam uncovered in online auction sites
Photo by: JoshMcConnell
RCMP arrested an Iraqi citizen and a Canadian woman in connection with an investigation into on online vintage car scam run on online auction sites. Akthem Saadi Yousif and Allana Nicole Austring were arrested in Vernon and charged with duping users of these sites on the pretext of selling them vintage cars.
The online auction fraud was run on an international scale. The arrests came after police forces from across the world conducted an investigation that went on for nine months. The duo allegedly duped 11 of their victims of $400,000 although no money was recovered when the arrests were made.
Vintage car scam done through online auction sites
The couple is alleged to have run the scam by posting fake photographs of vintage cars and making them available for sale. Popular auction sites like eBay and Craigslist were used for this purpose. Users of such sites, who became interested in the offer, may have contacted them after liking the photographs.
The duo is reported to have communicated with interested users using emails and phone calls. Money changed hands when the deals were finalized. Victims must have realized they had been scammed when communications with the seller must have abruptly broken off.
Frauds at online auction sites are the most common types of crimes committed online. According to an FBI report, they constitute as much as 50% of all crimes committed online. It is hard to track criminals down in such cases. It is precisely this facility that criminals take advantage of.
The arrested couple had tried to evade arrest by hiding their tracks online. But ultimately policemen caught up with them by following a money trail.
Related posts:
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- One more falls to an Internet Auction Scam!
- Social Networking Risks: How safe are you with revealing personal information in social networking sites?
- Car Buyers alerted against selling fraud
- Internet Crime Report: IC3 2007 Report does not raise much cheer!
STL Motor Group - Con Exposed
June 12th, 2008
WARNING TO CONSUMERS
There are a number of websites now set up on the Internet dedicated to warn unsuspecting people of those businesses who are involved in either: false, deceptive, or misleading conduct and/or involved in unconscionable behavior in their business dealings.
This website is set up as a warning to potential purchasers of cars from STLMOTORGROUP who operate out of St Louis, Missouri. In Australia we have a word which I don’t know whether it translates into the American vernacular so well, the word is “shonky”. This is also how a number of past customers (whom I contacted) regard the STLMOTORGROUP of St Louis, and its Owner/Manager (who calls himself Jay).
BEFORE YOU CONSIDER PURCHASING A CAR FROM JAY OR STLMOTORGOUP, ST LOUIS – beware of the following practices (based on my experience in importing a lot of 3 cars, and on confirmation of other customers (I think the American term is “suckers”) who have also purchased on Ebay with disastrous results). These practices include:
* Takes wonderful photos of cars that are posted on the Internet, especially Ebay and when you get the car you wonder whether it is the same car or not (guess what?)
* Fabulous photos of log books, car history, service records etc. Nice pics but surprise surprise they don’t arrive with the car – this is a stock photo that is used to fool unsuspecting buyers as to the ‘sound history’ and upkeep of the car’
* Misrepresents the state of repair of the car – The three popular descriptions used in cars are FAIR (suitable for restoration but most of the parts are there), GOOD (good running order, with an exterior and internal trim in a good state of repair consistent to the mileage and age of the car; or: EXCELLENT – generally meaning immaculate or near showroom condition. Beware of claims from STLMOTORGROUP cars in “excellent” or even “good” condition. Read this as “fair”, if you are lucky.
* Says will “upgrade the wheels”, and make other promises – but again, fails to deliver on promises.
* EBAY BUYERS be particularly aware of this one – Jay, says when the car has been shipped can a positive note be left on Ebay as a satisfied customer “so he can get his commission”. Don’t be conned, Jay is the owner and just wants to lock you out of placing a NEGATIVE in his Ebay.
This is my initial listing to urgently alert as many potential buyers as possible, I will shortly upload some pics to illustrate what I mean.
In the meantime, list on the blog your dealings with STLMOTORGROUP.
GP Sydney, Australia.
This site has been set up as a community service.
A website has been setup to report this scam http://stlmotorgroup.net/
June 15th, 2008 at 8:56 pm