Stitch76
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2009
- Messages
- 432
I have had one of the worst weeks in my life, it feels like the earth has opened up and swallowed me whole
. I just need to vent to someone, because DH feels the need to swallow what has happened and go on like all is well, not letting any of our friends and family know. I need to tell someone before I explode, and I have come to think off all of you on here as my friends, so here goes.
First of all, we have been planning our wonderful dream vacation to Disney in June 2010 for 2 years. We have only been once, and that was for a short trip in 2008. We took the 2 DD's and stayed at ASMV for 4 days. We didn't take DS because he was so small, and we were doing the EMH to closing commando style touring this trip, and we thought it would be too much for him. However, we planned on taking a much longer trip when he got older, so that we could tour at a relaxing pace, and everything would be better. I planned, and planned, and planned. DH worked overtime, and we were saving as much as possible to make this dream a reality. My DDs 10 and 8 have helped plan, and everything in their lives, since the last trip, as simply been a countdown until the "BIG ONE", as we called it. I have been telling my DS3 that he's going to go to Mickey's house next year, "He eats, breathes, and sleeps, everything Mickey Mouse". It was going to be the trip of a lifetime.
I know a lot of people on here go every year, and some multiple times, but this was to be probably the last Disney trip we would get to take for a LONG time, if ever again. Even if we did take anymore, they would be very short little trips, and we wouldn't be staying on site, since we can't stay in the value resorts anymore because of the size of our family. We were going to celebrate in style, staying at the POR, and using the dining plan, and spending 10 days at the park, in the wonderful 2 weeks we had planned.
But here is where the week went wrong. My SUV that I have, decided it wanted to die. We had the option of fixing it or getting another vehicle. Since it's not really worth much, we decided to get another car. Thus, we had to break the news to my kids, sorry babies, no Disney next year, Mommy needs a car. I felt so selfish as I broke the news, and seen the looks on their faces and the tears in their eyes. The DD's understood, but it didn't stop the heartbreak, my heart was broken as well
, I think I was looking forward to it as much as them. DS still is too young to understand, and I hope that if we all stay quiet about Disney for a while, that he will eventually forget, but that is doubtful. So with tears in my eyes, I cancelled our reservations.
That same day, I started looking for an affordable car. My SUV wasn't worth anything for a trade-in, so I started looking for individuals who had cars that they needed to get rid of, there wasn't anything in the newspaper, or local classified papers that I could find, that would hold my crew, and that we could afford. So I went online, nothing on E-bay, so I tried Craig's List. That is my fatal mistake. With about 5 minutes of searching I found a great car. It was roomy, affordable, and in great condition. We could use our savings, and borrow some from the bank on my DH's truck, and still keep the payments affordable. We contacted the guy, via e-mail, and he contacted us back and told us that He was in the Navy, and had been sent to Texas for training since posting the ad in Nashville (which is not far from where I live). So we couldn't look at the car. But, he sent lots of pics of the car, and described it in thorough detail. He told us that he was being shipped out in Dec. and needed to sell the car quickly to keep from having to pay storage fees on the car, while he was gone, because he expected to be gone a while. This did not raise any red flags to me, because I have a cousin in the ARMY, who is in Iraq right now, and was put in this very same situation. Anyway, he told me that he could not leave the base, so that it was necessary to use a 3rd party (mediator) company, to take care of the transaction. He had the company get in touch with me and send me all the details on the transaction process, the company's name was AutoCheck. The emails looked official, with links to the company site, everything looked to be on the up and up. I contacted the Better Business Bureau, and the company was in good standing, I didn't suspect anything. We went through with the transaction, wiring A LOT, of money to a bank in Las Vegas, supposedly to the AutoCheck account. They were to hold the money, until I got the car. I was supposed to have 3 days to either accept or decline the car. If I declined it, I was to receive my money back, and they come get the car. If I accepted, the money was to go into the owner's account, and the title of the car was to be released to me. It sounded like I had nothing to lose, either a great car, or my money back, right. WRONG! turns out it is a SCAM! I'm sure many of you are reading this and knew from the beginning, but we didn't. We had never heard of this particular scam, everything looked legit, the story sounded legit, the company was legit, I received account numbers, case numbers, official documents, I have a stack of papers an inch thick, but they aren't worth the paper they're printed on. My DH and I are not stupid people, but believe me I feel pretty stupid now. I don't know how I could have let this happen.
What finally tipped us off, is that I was supposed to allow 24-48 hours after sending the money, for a confirmation e-mail, after which the car would be shipped. At the 48 hour mark, still nothing. So, I emailed the company, and waited a few hours, nothing. So, I got on the computer and after about an hours worth of searches I finally found the phone number to AutoCheck. I called and gave the lady my case number and she informed me that she didn't know what I was talking about.
She said that her company didn't provide a mediation service for auto sales, and then casually remarked that they knew someone was using their company name, links, logos, ect. for a scam and that must be what I was involved in. 
"Sorry I can't help you, have a nice day!"
I just sent a thief a rather large amount of money, for nothing.
I sat there stunned for a moment, and then typed in the search, I would have given anything if I had typed in a few days prior. AutoCheck scam. I found a few other instances of this in different areas of the country, and then I typed in Navy Seal Car scam, and found lots more instances of this scam, using different companies including Ebay.
I contacted the local FBI, who referred me to there internet crimes division. I filled out an online form, and received a confirmation that they had received the form, but no one from there has contacted me.
I contacted my bank the next morning, I was standing at the door when they opened. I told them what had happened, and they contacted the thief's bank, to see if anything could be done about getting the money back. That was Friday morning. I didn't hear back from them Friday, and they were closed yesterday, so I do not know if anything was taken care of or not. I highly doubt it. I know I will never see the money again.
After talking to my bank, they referred me to the local Sheriff, who referred me to the County Attorney, who referred me to the State Police, who talked to me, but didn't make any official report, and referred me to the FBI, who has yet to contact me. I feel like a ball being passed from person to person. No wonder these scammers get away with this time after time, no one wants to get in gear to catch them before thay uproot and leave without a trace. I have their bank name, address, phone number, routing number, the name the receiving account is in, and their account number. Someone at that bank has the info needed to find these people. I know when I opened a bank account I had to give them my life history.
I still have not let onto the scammers that I know I have been taken, I got an email Friday, that my car has been shipped, please allow 3-5 business days for it to arrive. (Yeah Right! and a cold day in you know where!
) I'm hoping if I can keep them in touch with me long enough that maybe someone will get on the ball, and find these people.
So anyway here I stand, NO MONEY for a vacation, which I doubt we get to take in the next 5 years now, if ever. NO CAR, even though we'll be making payments on it for the next 3 years, and NO MONEY for another car or to fix mine.
I can't believe the situation I put my family in. I feel it's all my fault since I am the one who found the car, and wanted it, and I was the one who was supposed to check everything out and make sure that it was legit. My DH says that he's not mad at me, and it could happen to anyone. He's trying to tell me that we'll be okay
, and that God will make a way and we will come out of this, but right now I just can't see it.
The only thing that has kept me from jumping off the nearest cliff is realizing that it is just money, and that these people are desperate. They could have resorted to kidnapping my kids, or holding a gun to my head, (or someone else's) to get this money, at least all they did was lie to me.
I just want everybody to know if you think it can't happen to you, believe me, it can. Please pray for my family, and watch out when you find a good deal on something, it may come with a higher price than advertised. Thanks everybody, for letting me vent!
. I just need to vent to someone, because DH feels the need to swallow what has happened and go on like all is well, not letting any of our friends and family know. I need to tell someone before I explode, and I have come to think off all of you on here as my friends, so here goes.First of all, we have been planning our wonderful dream vacation to Disney in June 2010 for 2 years. We have only been once, and that was for a short trip in 2008. We took the 2 DD's and stayed at ASMV for 4 days. We didn't take DS because he was so small, and we were doing the EMH to closing commando style touring this trip, and we thought it would be too much for him. However, we planned on taking a much longer trip when he got older, so that we could tour at a relaxing pace, and everything would be better. I planned, and planned, and planned. DH worked overtime, and we were saving as much as possible to make this dream a reality. My DDs 10 and 8 have helped plan, and everything in their lives, since the last trip, as simply been a countdown until the "BIG ONE", as we called it. I have been telling my DS3 that he's going to go to Mickey's house next year, "He eats, breathes, and sleeps, everything Mickey Mouse". It was going to be the trip of a lifetime.
I know a lot of people on here go every year, and some multiple times, but this was to be probably the last Disney trip we would get to take for a LONG time, if ever again. Even if we did take anymore, they would be very short little trips, and we wouldn't be staying on site, since we can't stay in the value resorts anymore because of the size of our family. We were going to celebrate in style, staying at the POR, and using the dining plan, and spending 10 days at the park, in the wonderful 2 weeks we had planned.
But here is where the week went wrong. My SUV that I have, decided it wanted to die. We had the option of fixing it or getting another vehicle. Since it's not really worth much, we decided to get another car. Thus, we had to break the news to my kids, sorry babies, no Disney next year, Mommy needs a car. I felt so selfish as I broke the news, and seen the looks on their faces and the tears in their eyes. The DD's understood, but it didn't stop the heartbreak, my heart was broken as well
, I think I was looking forward to it as much as them. DS still is too young to understand, and I hope that if we all stay quiet about Disney for a while, that he will eventually forget, but that is doubtful. So with tears in my eyes, I cancelled our reservations.That same day, I started looking for an affordable car. My SUV wasn't worth anything for a trade-in, so I started looking for individuals who had cars that they needed to get rid of, there wasn't anything in the newspaper, or local classified papers that I could find, that would hold my crew, and that we could afford. So I went online, nothing on E-bay, so I tried Craig's List. That is my fatal mistake. With about 5 minutes of searching I found a great car. It was roomy, affordable, and in great condition. We could use our savings, and borrow some from the bank on my DH's truck, and still keep the payments affordable. We contacted the guy, via e-mail, and he contacted us back and told us that He was in the Navy, and had been sent to Texas for training since posting the ad in Nashville (which is not far from where I live). So we couldn't look at the car. But, he sent lots of pics of the car, and described it in thorough detail. He told us that he was being shipped out in Dec. and needed to sell the car quickly to keep from having to pay storage fees on the car, while he was gone, because he expected to be gone a while. This did not raise any red flags to me, because I have a cousin in the ARMY, who is in Iraq right now, and was put in this very same situation. Anyway, he told me that he could not leave the base, so that it was necessary to use a 3rd party (mediator) company, to take care of the transaction. He had the company get in touch with me and send me all the details on the transaction process, the company's name was AutoCheck. The emails looked official, with links to the company site, everything looked to be on the up and up. I contacted the Better Business Bureau, and the company was in good standing, I didn't suspect anything. We went through with the transaction, wiring A LOT, of money to a bank in Las Vegas, supposedly to the AutoCheck account. They were to hold the money, until I got the car. I was supposed to have 3 days to either accept or decline the car. If I declined it, I was to receive my money back, and they come get the car. If I accepted, the money was to go into the owner's account, and the title of the car was to be released to me. It sounded like I had nothing to lose, either a great car, or my money back, right. WRONG! turns out it is a SCAM! I'm sure many of you are reading this and knew from the beginning, but we didn't. We had never heard of this particular scam, everything looked legit, the story sounded legit, the company was legit, I received account numbers, case numbers, official documents, I have a stack of papers an inch thick, but they aren't worth the paper they're printed on. My DH and I are not stupid people, but believe me I feel pretty stupid now. I don't know how I could have let this happen.
What finally tipped us off, is that I was supposed to allow 24-48 hours after sending the money, for a confirmation e-mail, after which the car would be shipped. At the 48 hour mark, still nothing. So, I emailed the company, and waited a few hours, nothing. So, I got on the computer and after about an hours worth of searches I finally found the phone number to AutoCheck. I called and gave the lady my case number and she informed me that she didn't know what I was talking about.
She said that her company didn't provide a mediation service for auto sales, and then casually remarked that they knew someone was using their company name, links, logos, ect. for a scam and that must be what I was involved in. "Sorry I can't help you, have a nice day!"I just sent a thief a rather large amount of money, for nothing.
I sat there stunned for a moment, and then typed in the search, I would have given anything if I had typed in a few days prior. AutoCheck scam. I found a few other instances of this in different areas of the country, and then I typed in Navy Seal Car scam, and found lots more instances of this scam, using different companies including Ebay.
I contacted the local FBI, who referred me to there internet crimes division. I filled out an online form, and received a confirmation that they had received the form, but no one from there has contacted me.
I contacted my bank the next morning, I was standing at the door when they opened. I told them what had happened, and they contacted the thief's bank, to see if anything could be done about getting the money back. That was Friday morning. I didn't hear back from them Friday, and they were closed yesterday, so I do not know if anything was taken care of or not. I highly doubt it. I know I will never see the money again.
After talking to my bank, they referred me to the local Sheriff, who referred me to the County Attorney, who referred me to the State Police, who talked to me, but didn't make any official report, and referred me to the FBI, who has yet to contact me. I feel like a ball being passed from person to person. No wonder these scammers get away with this time after time, no one wants to get in gear to catch them before thay uproot and leave without a trace. I have their bank name, address, phone number, routing number, the name the receiving account is in, and their account number. Someone at that bank has the info needed to find these people. I know when I opened a bank account I had to give them my life history.
I still have not let onto the scammers that I know I have been taken, I got an email Friday, that my car has been shipped, please allow 3-5 business days for it to arrive. (Yeah Right! and a cold day in you know where!
) I'm hoping if I can keep them in touch with me long enough that maybe someone will get on the ball, and find these people. So anyway here I stand, NO MONEY for a vacation, which I doubt we get to take in the next 5 years now, if ever. NO CAR, even though we'll be making payments on it for the next 3 years, and NO MONEY for another car or to fix mine.
I can't believe the situation I put my family in. I feel it's all my fault since I am the one who found the car, and wanted it, and I was the one who was supposed to check everything out and make sure that it was legit. My DH says that he's not mad at me, and it could happen to anyone. He's trying to tell me that we'll be okay
, and that God will make a way and we will come out of this, but right now I just can't see it.The only thing that has kept me from jumping off the nearest cliff is realizing that it is just money, and that these people are desperate. They could have resorted to kidnapping my kids, or holding a gun to my head, (or someone else's) to get this money, at least all they did was lie to me.
I just want everybody to know if you think it can't happen to you, believe me, it can. Please pray for my family, and watch out when you find a good deal on something, it may come with a higher price than advertised. Thanks everybody, for letting me vent!
It sounds like you did your research and still got scammed. Huge hugs.
.
