Car Scams on Craigslist

As I was searching for a “new” used car through different avenues (Ebay, local trading post paper, Craigslist) I could not believe the number of Cars for sale scams on Craigslist.

It was blatantly obvious when you find cars that are way below book value and especially below what most cars of the same vintage were going for. I mean when you find a car such as a 2000 Honda Accord in near perfect condition selling for $1,000 when most are going for $2-$3K you know something is just not right.

Also, they are listed in the dealers section and not the private sellers section *Lightbulb*!  The stories have read that they are a single mom trying to sell the car and that in order to proceed I need to give over my address, phone number so they can give it to the Ebay Financial Department (Umm Ebay doesn’t have a financial department).

Another one read that they are in the midst of a divorce and need to sell the car for $950 (when the Craigslist listing says $1,000).

I found a super nice Maxima that had wheels and tires on it worth what the asking price was, minus the car. The email I got read that they were in the military and heading off to Afghanistan. He didn’t want to leave the car sitting while he was gone.

The notorious one was the VW Passat (the kind of car I was intensely looking for/at) that showed up in the Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta and NW Georgia sections of Craigslist. Really???

I would hope that people wouldn’t fall for a car for sale that is about $2-$5K less than what similar cars were selling for. I am sure there are though unfortunately.

 

I am glad I didn’t find the “perfect” car on Craigslist as most of the ones I did find and tried to contact the seller they never bothered to respond even to tell me they sold the car or not. I got lucky one time and the seller promptly responded.

Maybe Craigslist should require all potential buyers to watch a video before allowing them to view the listings or at least hire some people to go through and check to see which listings are legitimate. I mean seriously, car listings that have been on there for half a day that obvious scams are not removed?

I am sure people swear up and down on Craigslist. Personally, I am a super skeptic. I have heard and read some horrible stories about people who were scammed, particularly on cars. I have family  and friends who have found some awesome deals on Craigslist but also heard their stories about creepy people they have come across.

My best friend and his son “rescued” a Jeep Cherokee about three years ago that was listed on Craigslist (Lebanon, TN). They were extremely creeped out so badly that being in a hurry they bent the track bar trying to get it on the trailer.

I think I will continue to stick with my local trader paper and Ebay.

 

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