One of the worst weeks of my life! (long) NO DISNEY, NO CAR, I WAS SCAMMED!

[Minnie's Pal]

Any updates from the OP?

 

[dfchelbay]

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 would get someone to run an ISP address to find out exactly where the scammers are. You'll then have a better idea who and where these people are operating from.

 

[tinatark]

We bought a car for our DS via craigslist recently. A couple of the cars we looked at had too-good-to-be-true prices - I had a list of questions I asked about every car we inquired about - many of them were salvage/rebuilt and a couple had situations like the one the OP asked about... that old saying, "if it seems to good to be true..." kept me away from those deals.

Autocheck is a service like Carfax, isn't it?

OP - I am sorry you are going through this and hope you find authorities willing to help you - at least arresting the scammers.

 

[goofymom23]

My prayers are with your family.

 

[terri01p]

We now live in a world where the unthinkable can happen and will happen, we use to live in a day where you could beleive most of what was told to you now not so much.

I'm so sorry about this situtation, and I do beleive that you reap what you sow, this person will be paid back one way or another for their actions!

Maybe when all the dust settles you can look into maybe renting a pop-up or a camper and stay at FW, it's all the bling without as much cost, you could at least save on food and such, there is a lady on the camping board that rents out her 5th wheel and I've heard she's pretty reasonable, good people over there give them a shout sometime. Well Godspeed!

 

[Mom2Ben02]

The girl I had been speaking to at my bank called me and said that they got a response stating, "We are sorry we are unable to return the money, due to insufficient funds in the receipt's bank account."
Well DUH! If they had done something when they were first contacted instead of waiting a week, maybe something could be have been done.

I work for BOA, and I can pretty much guarantee you that the money was long gone before you realized there was a problem. There are SO many scams out there - these criminals know when to run. When you send a wire, it is like sending cash in the mail - once it is snatched up, there is little to be done. BOA is not liable here, and neither is your own bank. I am sorry they ripped you off like this - people can be horrible.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I am sorry I don't even know what to say.I hope they find this person.

 

[NMW]

I am so sorry that this happened to your family.

As for Craigslist, I have never heard anything good about them. My neighbor recently tried to sell an entertainment center (at her husbands insistance) on Craigslist. All she got was emails that sounded like scams from people...away on business, out of state, etc. My father always told me the mark of a good scam is a lot of details and these emails had them. And, she was the seller of this item! She threw the entertainment center out last week. Well, actually she thinks this little old guy with a pick up truck that drives around our neighborhood looking for garbage took it. Either way, she's glad to be done with Craigslist. She told her husband never again.

The Geek Squad people at Best Buy told me that scammers use the sale of fake cars on Craigslist to put some sort of trojan horse or malware on people's computers when the scammer sends an attachment of extra pictures of the cars that people open. Not everyone has up to date protection on their computers unfortunately.

Best of luck with the FBI. I hope they can do something for you. I hope your family has a nice Christmas in spite of this unfortunate incident. At least you are all healthy and together...not everyone can say that.

 

[Stitch76]

The Geek Squad people at Best Buy told me that scammers use the sale of fake cars on Craigslist to put some sort of trojan horse or malware on people's computers when the scammer sends an attachment of extra pictures of the cars that people open. Not everyone has up to date protection on their computers unfortunately.

Thanks for this info. I'll have DH check it out and see if anything shows up, he knows how to scan/check for this stuff. I haven't a clue.
I have called our Credit Card company a few times, and our automated banking line for our checking account, just to be sure nothing else has been stolen. My bank says that there was no way for them to get my account info from the wire transfer, but I'm really parinoid (sp?) right now, so I've been checking anyway. I really appreciate the heads up.

And by the way, for those following my updates, still waiting for the FBI

 

[corie161]

I didn't read all the posts, but just wanted to add:

My BIL and DS were close to being scammed by the same type of situation. He was looking at a snowmobile with a too good to be true price tag. The guy told him they would go through Ebay Buyer Protection Program so he would be protected. Same talk, great sled in perfect condition, will pay for shipping, etc. He sent him a link telling him all about being protected with Ebay etc. They asked me to look at it and see the best way of paying the guy, because they new I had done Ebay/Paypal transactions before and they hadn't.

After reading the emails from the "seller", they had stated that money should be sent by Moneygram, nothing to do with Ebay or Paypal. That led me to google Ebay Protection Program scams and the results came up with a ton of complaints and warnings of the same type.

I told them it was a scam and linked the things I found. Told them I wouldn't even bother with it. Now I think they should pay me the money they would have no doubt lost.....

 

[robinb]

I have called our Credit Card company a few times, and our automated banking line for our checking account, just to be sure nothing else has been stolen. My bank says that there was no way for them to get my account info from the wire transfer, but I'm really parinoid (sp?) right now, so I've been checking anyway.I really appreciate the heads up.

And by the way, for those following my updates, still waiting for the FBI

There are things you can do now that might help and things that will only make you crazy. The crooks can't possibly have your credit card information or get into your bank account. You are spinning your wheels repeatedly calling and making sure that things are OK. I *know* it makes you feel better and like you are now being proactive but in reality you are wasting your time. Save your energy for something that actually might help, like keeping in touch with law enforcement and the FBI .

 

[Stitch76]

There are things you can do now that might help and things that will only make you crazy. The crooks can't possibly have your credit card information or get into your bank account. You are spinning your wheels repeatedly calling and making sure that things are OK. I *know* it makes you feel better and like you are now being proactive but in reality you are wasting your time. Save your energy for something that actually might help, like keeping in touch with law enforcement and the FBI .

It does make me feel better to check every now and then just to be safe, because these people were way smart. I just don't want to take any more chances. I am not very computer savvy, and I don't know how this spyware and stuff works, but if there is some way to find out my info through stuff like this, I 'm sure they know how.
I just want to feel like I am doing something productive. Law enforcement has pretty much told me, don't call back there's nothing they can do, and the FBI gave me the "Don't call us, we'll call you" line. So until something else gives I'm in limbo anyway!

 

[skhermsmeyer]

So sorry to hear this happened to you.

 

[thelionqueen]

I just have to send you best wishes and I am SO SORRY this happened to you. I literally had a knot in my stomach reading this, it is truly appalling!

On the other hand, what is done, is done. I would concentrate on putting it behind you and chalk it up to one very big expensive lesson learned. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, although we may never know what that reason may be.

Keep you chin up and keep moving forward. You still have your family and your husbands support, which I'd bet many many people would give anything to have

 

[thefirebuilds]

I buy DOZENS of cars per year and this is the first I've heard of this scam. I must admit though, the second I read third party I knew where it was going.

We paypal for cars all the time, the only scam i got involved in was a shipper that was drowning in debt and dumped our cars in Ohio and kept our money. To give the illusion he was still on the up and up he paid a private company 1.5x what we paid him to bring the car to us, and refunded our money so we would give him good feedback. Pretty much every customer after us is suing him.

we trust, very highly, the little hairs on our neck. It has been, is, and will be, a dirty world full of a lot of *****s. The internet's illusion of anonymity isn't helping, but we take great pains to mitigate that and get a feel for a person before we commit.

Either way, as a seller on ebay and CL who makes a lot of my income online, it makes it really hard to do business... I suppose I feel like the honest 1980's used car dealer.

Sorry for the financial loss, but as my mother says "if it can be fixed with money, it isn't really a problem"

 

[purpletiger]

OP, I just read your post and updates. I am so sorry this has happened to you . I would not stop calling the FBI or law enforcement. They might forget or lose your info or you never know what they might be doing (ie...most every crook getting away with this sh!t), so therefore these instances are not on their top priority list. If you keep on them maybe they will take care of it so you will stop bugging them.

I would possibly go to a Bank of America branch and talk to the branch manager to see what extra steps you need to take. Explain everything and you never know what he/she might be able to do. If nothing then ask who can help you. DO NOT BACK down and eventually you should get something done.

 

[thefirebuilds]

You might consider combing your hair and calling the news media too. If you're personable and tv friendly it might be what you need to get some money back with the back of the local tv station...

 

[StephMK]

DH is a bank fraud investigator. I'll ask him about other possible steps to take & what to watch for.

 

[fletchers5]

If every person that read this post

Send this family $1.00

Maybe she could get her money back.

What a wonderful thing that would be

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I was just on Craig's List looking for something else and see now there is a big link at the top saying offers to ship cars are "100% scams."