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

[gwynne]

I didn't read everything.

How old is your SUV?

Make?

How many miles on it.

What has to be repaired?

This is a 2009 Zombie thread. Why it got bumped, no idea.

 

[RitaE]

Seems like sometimes it is best to let sleeping threads stay in the past.

 

[nugov2]

I hate when I read through a thread only to realize it is super old Super weird that it was bumped up by a similar name.

 

[Stitch76]

Wow, this is an old thread. I am not on here much anymore, since we really aren't planning on another trip right now. But, apparently I was still subscribed, so when I got the alert I was a little surprised. I am the OP, and thought I'd clear some things up for those that were curious. (Warning this is long, but should answer everyone's questions)
First of all, no, we didn't get the money back. I never heard back from any of the agencies that I contacted. When it's internet scams, it's a free for all. They can do whatever they want without any fear of being caught, because no one looks into it.
Yes, we did get to take a trip that year after all. It was far fewer days than we originally planned and instead of POR, we used a friends 5th wheel and stayed in the campground. We did manage to make it to POR a few years later though, and enjoyed it very much.
No one sent us money, and I didn't WANT anyone to send us money. I just needed to vent, because my DH didn't want to tell anyone we knew "personally", frankly because we were embarrassed, and it was eating me from the inside out. I needed to get it out, and also seek support and advise if anyone else had been through this.
We did manage to bounce back, only because my DH worked every over-time hour, weekend, and side job he could manage, to pay for our vacation. (So my kids wouldn't have to pay for what had happened. He's a good Dad like that! ) Also, to pay off the loan we had to take out on his truck, to repay the bank, for the car that never was. The loan was for $6000, pennies for some, but quite a bit for us. We managed to pay it off in a little over a year, but that was a year when we did not get to see DH very much at all.
DH managed to fix my SUV enough times to keep it going during this time. Actually what time he was not working at a job, he was working on the Durango, so me and the kids didn't get stranded out in the middle of nowhere, or even worse something go out while I was driving and cause an accident. I finally got another car, we make payments on it, something we didn't want to have to do (at least not this amount a month), hence saving up the money in the first place, but we didn't want to wait any longer to try to save more. We just couldn't afford to sink more into the SUV. We already had put more into parts than the whole thing was worth to begin with.
I know what I did was stupid, but when your desperate sometimes you really don't stop and take the time to think as clearly as you should. I am mentally still repaying off the loan in my head, even though it's been paid off in the bank for years. My DH is a wonderful man, and he never mentions it to me, but I feel that I "owe him" for that year he gave up to fix my mistake. Every time I save money at the grocery, by using coupons, or pass up something I'd really like to have, that's a few more dollars being "mentally" paid off for me. To this day, I refuse to make a financial decision, frankly I'm scared, and ashamed.
With that said, I want to thank all of those who supported me with a kind word or thought, PM'd me with yet another phone number or agency to contact, or with your story of something similar, and especially those who prayed for my family. Without prayer we would have never made it through this whole ordeal.
On the flip side though, there were those that called me awful names, and felt the need to kick me when I was down. There were those who accused me of scamming or panhandling for funds.
I just want you to know, I did have some kind DISers offer to send me donations, and I turned them down, and asked for their prayers instead.
Not everyone is evil or out for a handout in this world, and I feel sorry for those who feel that way.
I knew I got my family in this situation myself, and I didn't want anyone else to bail me out.
My DH and I came from nothing, and we still don't have much, by most people's standards. But, what we do have comes from hard work, not handouts, and we are proud of that.
I also feel sorry for people who feel the need to make fun of or put someone down to make themselves feel better. I'm not calling anyone in particular out, but there were quite a few, which is sad. Hopefully, you and all of your family members are as smart as you think you are. I would say that I hope Karma teaches you a little humility, but honestly I wouldn't wish for this to happen to my worst enemy. It is a feeling of helplessness that is literally crushing.
I knew I made a stupid decision, but haven't we all? Maybe not at this magnitude. But a mistake, is a mistake. I learned my lesson, and moved on.
Again, sorry this was so long, but I just wanted to answer the questions and doubts that people had about my story.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Haven't we all? Absolutely, OP. While I've never fallen for this scam, I did make a very big, very poor choice on a car once (numerous smaller ones too). DW wanted this car and I wasn't sold on it. But, she negotiated a good price, so I agreed. When I went to pick it up, something about the way it sounded bugged me. My gut was to go inside and get my check back, but I knew DW was not only sold on that car, but tired of car shopping. So, I drove it home. 6 months later, it threw a rod though the side of the block. We lost $3,000 on that car. My gut was right, but I ignored it. Lesson learned.

 

[sydneysmom]

Wishing you all the very best going forward. I can only offer you one bit of advice.... let it go. Forgive yourself and move forward. It's a lesson learned and we've ALL done something stupid that we wish we could take back. But you can't.... but you CAN choose to focus on what's ahead.

Those who throw stones and bad words only do so behind the protection of anonymity behind their computer. Take it for what it's worth.

It sounds like you have a great husband and a great family. That's what's most important in life.

 

[Stitch76]

Wishing you all the very best going forward. I can only offer you one bit of advice.... let it go. Forgive yourself and move forward. It's a lesson learned and we've ALL done something stupid that we wish we could take back. But you can't.... but you CAN choose to focus on what's ahead.

Those who throw stones and bad words only do so behind the protection of anonymity behind their computer. Take it for what it's worth.

It sounds like you have a great husband and a great family. That's what's most important in life.

Thank you! I can't agree more, my family is my everything!!

I just wanted to set the record straight, because since the thread's new found popularity, things started looking like it was going down hill, and I've always been one of those people who never wanted anyone to think badly of me, and it hurt me if they did.
As I've gotten older, I try not to let it bother me. I'm trying to learn to not care about what others think, especially complete strangers, but it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks sometimes.

 

[manning]

This is a 2009 Zombie thread. Why it got bumped, no idea.

I guess it is a good idea to first read the dates

 

[Gumbo4x4]

It's a lesson learned and we've ALL done something stupid that we wish we could take back.

Her name was Becky

 

[Grammyof2]

I realize this thread is very old but the scam is still very much alive.

Just last year, I replied to a CL add that turned out to be almost the exact same story as the OP shared. Luckily I realized it was a scam but I can understand how 5 years ago the OP probably didn't realize it was a scam. Especially when you know people that are serving oversees.

OP sorry for the whole mess you were involved in and glad you have semi recovered.

 

[Jaime4004]

I'll admit that my first thought when reading the original post was "I can't believe anyone would fall for that."
Then I remembered DH and I also got scammed about 5 yrs ago. We were fixing up our old house, repainting and doing minor repairs to the exterior. We got a few price quotes, went with a guy who seemed to know what he was doing. He requested 50% down, plus materials. That didn't register at all because we had other work (including kitchen cabinet and flooring which both wanted 1/2 down.) But they were both companies, this guy seemed like a one man company... So he showed up once, painted 1/2 a window and we never saw him again. The check had been cashed so the bank wouldn't do anything about it. Tried the police and attorney general office, because it was a crime. He stole $1800 from us. But they wouldn't do anything about it, it was a "civil matter." He changed addresses and we could no longer find him.
5 yrs later, I still hate him and hope karma takes a good bite out of him.
And I still feel like a gigantic idiot for giving him a check to begin with.
Anyway, lesson learned. We no longer pay anyone for anything until the work is completed. We have a different house, had some landscaping done, new furnace, etc. Each time they ask for money down, we tell them that we've been scammed in the past and won't pay until it's complete. No one has turned us down yet, we must look trustworthy.

Adding: the best part was the guy left a ladder and few small things at our house. When we originally went to the police, we asked if we could keep his stuff (not that it was really worth anything) until he paid, they said no because "that would be stealing." !?!??! Seriously?

 

[momtosam]

So sorry this happened to you OP. What a world we live in.

 

[IDoDis]

OP, I'm glad it all worked out and that you were able to have your vacation in the RV. I'm sure your kids will have many lasting memories of staying at WDW in an RV vs staying at POR. Like another poster said, let it go and stop letting the guilt eat you up even 5 years later. Since I responded back in '09 with the story of my friend who lost her house to real estate broker scammers, I had two friends who almost get scammed on Craigslist, but I saw through the scams and warned them.

One friend needed a car and since I used to sell cars years ago, she called me for advice on a car she saw on Craigslist. It was just like your story with someone moving overseas and a price too good to be true. The other friend had gone through a divorce and needed some money so she decided to sell her expensive wedding ring set. She placed an ad on CL and someone responded saying his son was out of the country and wanted his dad to buy a ring set for his fiancé. He said he'd wire her a money order and even pay her extra for such a beautiful set of rings. Yeah, right! The money order would be cashed, the ring would be mailed, and then the money order would come back as bogus after the rings were long gone.

I'm sorry this old thread is digging in the wounds again.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I agree, you should let it go now. It's over, you handled it well and you learned a valuable lesson. I do think that sometimes things happen for a reason. In this case, who knows what it is, but maybe some day you'll figure it out.

My DH and I came from nothing, and we still don't have much, by most people's standards. But, what we do have comes from hard work, not handouts, and we are proud of that.

You should be proud. It sounds like you have a good partnership with your DH and a loving family and that really is what matters most. Best wishes, and thanks for sharing your story.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I just read about this scam in the news a few weeks ago so the scammer is still at it. WHY would anyone how doesn't have money to really buy a car, and spend what little they do have for a Craigslist too good to be true offer.

 

[dpswift]

Remember it is not just adults getting scammed. Last year around her 18th birthday someone from CL was trying to scam DD with a babysitting job. They sent her a $1500 check and they wanted her to cash it and send $1200 to a third party. When they realized that we were not that stupid they threatened to turn DD in for breach of contract. I could see some young girls getting scared into going along with it.

They make you jump through hoops to report it so after about 3 calls I gave up.

 

[wekhogan]

It's so unfortunate that the liars and scammers in the world are so prevalent that it tends to make us suspicious of everyone. So sad. But I'm happy that the OP has recovered and very sorry that what seems to be a really honest and hardworking family had to be hit with a scam like this. It's so true that we've all made a stupid money decision. Happy that you managed to revisit and revise your plans and made it through a really tough time.

 

[kymom99]

OP, I am sure this experience has caused a great deal of damage to you emotionally. In the end, you came out on top, a stronger person because of it. We all make mistakes. Don't let the remarks of others make you feel bad. You and your family stuck together to get through it.

 

[Donnainnj]

These scams are what makes me put off selling my Dad's car. I am the Personal Rep of his will, and keep thinking how much of a scam it will look like, deceased father's car, out of state plates (at least now it is in our driveway and my brother would not be the one showing it) Anyone know of a better way to sell it, I just don't think a used car dealer would pay anywhere near what it is worth.
Donna

 

[bjscheel]

These scams are what makes me put off selling my Dad's car. I am the Personal Rep of his will, and keep thinking how much of a scam it will look like, deceased father's car, out of state plates (at least now it is in our driveway and my brother would not be the one showing it) Anyone know of a better way to sell it, I just don't think a used car dealer would pay anywhere near what it is worth.
Donna

I wouldn't worry about looking like a scammer- they can personally come see the car and see that it exists, and you can require they pay cash, it should be okay. You may get people that want to send you a wire and send a company to pick it up, etc., but just ignore them.

Otherwise a classified ad in your local paper? Or a for sale sign in the window if you have traffic by your house.

We bought DD15's pickup on Craigslist and it was fine- we met at a truck stop, test drove, visited with the seller, etc. But before that we did inquire about another one that had the military story, and DH just might have fallen for it. I did a google search on the email provided, and the title of the ad, and found that the same ad was running in several states. Once he also got a text on something he was selling, with the wire/shipping scam, and got excited, but fortunately he tells me these things and I can set him straight.