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  • Geebo 9:00 am on January 22, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cars, , ,   

    Winter weather towing scam leaves drivers stranded 

    By Greg Collier

    The past few weeks have blanketed a large part of the country in snow. Along with the snow came single digit and even negative temperatures, which kept snow and ice on the roads even longer. As you might expect, this has been a nightmare for drivers. Even the most experienced drivers can find themselves stuck in the snow, or stranded with a car that won’t start. This can be made even more difficult if the driver is in an area they are unfamiliar with. To make matters worse, these stranded drivers can find themselves sitting ducks for scammers.

    This past week in Iowa, authorities discovered a towing scam ring. Scammers there have copied the Google listings of legitimate towing companies but have added their phone number instead. As we’ve mentioned in the past, scammers will often pay platforms like Google to have their listing placed in the search rankings above the legitimate companies. When drivers find themselves in need of a tow truck, they might call one of these fake towing companies out of desperation. The scammers collect a payment over the phone, but no tow truck ever arrives. With this kind of extreme weather, that could leave the driver and any passengers in grave danger.

    However, there are a few ways to protect yourself from this scam. The best way is to sign up for a roadside assistance plan. This way, you can rely on the service to find a legitimate towing service for you. You can also find a legitimate towing company in your area and add their number to your phone in case you may need their services.

    But if you’re stuck in the snow and haven’t taken precautions lie those mentioned above, there’s still hope. If a towing company wants payment up front, there’s a very good possibility they’re trying to scam you. Also, be wary of any towing company that answers your call with a generic name like ‘Towing’. Scammers like this are often imitating several different towing companies simultaneously. You may want to call the local police at their non-emergency number to see if there’s a garage or company they recommend.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on December 1, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cars, , ,   

    Watch out for tow truck scams this holiday season 

    By Greg Collier

    Like most holiday seasons, many people will be travelling by car to visit friends and relatives. Unfortunately, many people also have cars that may not be in the best condition, attempting to make a trip where their car might break down. Or winter weather may make for hazardous road conditions where a holiday traveler may have a small accident. All of this could happen in an area that the driver is unfamiliar with. They still need to call a tow truck, but which one should they call?

    Police in Western Massachusetts are saying don’t call the first tow truck company you find on Google as it may be a scam. According to local police, scammers have set up fake tow truck companies in their area. When someone breaks down, they’ll call one of these scam services and make a deposit with their credit card, but the truck never comes. The phony tow truck companies are just looking to get the deposit. Police in Greenfield, Mass., found four supposedly local tow truck companies that were using abandoned buildings as their business addresses.

    So, how can you prevent yourself from being victimized in a scam like this? The best way is to sign up for a road assistance plan like the ones offered by AAA. While some consumers may think the expense of a road assistance plan isn’t worth it, you’ll be glad to have one if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Plans like this contract with legitimate shops and tow truck companies.

    But what if you’re stuck on the side of the road, and you don’t have a plan like that. What do you do then? You’re not going to like the answer, but you’ll need to do some research. Scammers like this often buy sponsored positions on search engines to make their listing appear in the top search results. If you call them, and they answer with a generic name like ‘Towing’, there’s a good chance they could be scammers. Check for towing companies with good reviews that have been around for a couple of years at least. Lastly, you may want to call the local police at their non-emergency number to see if there’s a garage or company they recommend.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on June 6, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cars, , , ,   

    Fake check scam costs victim $50K and muscle car 

    Fake check scam costs victim $50K and muscle car

    By Greg Collier

    The fake check scam has been around for so long, and happens so often because it continues to find victims. In this instance, we’re discussing the fake check scam as it affects online sellers. Typically, scammers will pose as buyers and send a fraudulent check to sellers for more than the seller’s asking price. The seller is told to deposit the check, then send the difference back to the buyer. Banks will make that money available to the seller before it actually clears the bank. By the time the bank realizes the check is fraudulent, the money has been sent back to the buyer. Meanwhile, the seller is left paying the bank the full amount of the fake check along with any penalties. Usually, that results in a loss of a few hundred dollars to the seller. That is, as long as you’re not selling a high-end sports car.

    A man from Georgia was selling his 2018 Chevy Camaro on Facebook Marketplace. A buyer sent him a check by phone for $49,000. This was enough to pay off the loan he had on the vehicle. The credit union who lent him the money even sent him confirmation that the loan had been paid in full. The man drove the car to South Carolina to deliver it to the supposed buyer. It wasn’t until days later, he was notified that the check he wrote to his credit union to pay off the loan bounced. That was because the check he received was fraudulent. Now, the man is stuck paying his monthly loan payment for a car that isn’t even in his possession currently.

    When selling high-dollar items such as a sports car, you can never be too careful when it comes to accepting payment. If you receive a check, whether electronically or physically, ask your bank to verify the authenticity of the check before you deposit it. Even if the bank says the check is legitimate, you’ll probably want to wait a few business days to make sure the deposit isn’t reversed.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on June 2, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , cars, free car trial,   

    New scam offers free car 

    New scam offers free car

    By Greg Collier

    Most communities in America are either underserved or not served at all by public transportation. This has made us heavily dependent on cars. The problem with this is cars can be prohibitively expensive. Between registration fees, insurance, and maintenance, many families can be priced out of a car even though it’s almost required for daily life in America. Now, imagine you’re in that situation and someone offers you a brand-new car to use for 30 days for free. If you’re desperate enough for transportation, you might jump at this offer.

    That’s what police in Brown County, Kansas are saying is happening there. The Sheriff’s Office of the largely rural county says that residents are receiving phone calls offering free cars. The callers say they’re representing a major car manufacturer, and they’re offering a free 30-day trial of a new vehicle. The only thing the recipient needs to do is evaluate the vehicle, and report back to the manufacturer. However, there’s the slight matter of a ‘destination fee’ that has to be paid by the recipient before the car can be delivered. The caller then asks the recipient for their banking information, so they can collect the supposed destination fee.

    While this is the first we’ve heard it being used in this manner, this is what’s known as the advance fee scam. Typically, scammers promise some kind of cash prize, but the victim would need to pay a tax or processing fee first. We’ve also seen this used in online lending where scammers will promise a loan, but the applicant has to pay a substantial fee first.

    Free car trials aren’t a thing. Car manufacturers have their own testing experts to evaluate their vehicles. Even if it was a thing, more than likely, drivers would have to apply for the program. Car companies are not usually in the habit of calling random people to give them free cars, even for a short time. This is one more case of if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on October 6, 2020 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cars, , , ,   

    Used car scams continue to find victims 

    Used car scams continue to find victims

    Even with many of us traveling less frequently than we used to, there are still those in the market for a vehicle. While many scammers may have rejected used-car scams in favor of scams more favorable to current crises, that doesn’t mean that used car scams aren’t still being pulled. It even seems that used car scams have been on a recent uptick all around the country.

    These scams can even affect seasoned professionals like a used car dealer. One man from Arkansas found some vehicles online that he wanted to have for his lot. The vehicles were for sale in St. Louis. The seller supposedly had the titles and the vehicle history reports showed the vehicles as being legitimate. However, after the car dealer sold those vehicles to other lots, they came back as stolen. It seems that sometimes police reports can take weeks or months to process which will delay such discrepancies from showing up on vehicle histories like CarFax. In a case like this, it’s recommended that you match the seller’s driver’s license information with the name on the title.

    In Texas, a man found a truck for sale on a social media marketplace. The seller of the truck claimed to be from Montana and was not only selling the truck at a bargain price because her husband died but that she was also deploying with the military. The seller then said that the vehicle would be delivered by eBay even though that’s not where the vehicle was being sold. All the buyer would have to do is send the seller eBay gift cards. This particular scam sends up a number of red flags. When a seller claims either a death in the family or military deployment as wanting to get rid of the vehicle there’s a good chance the sale could be a scam. This scammer put both of those stories out. Also, eBay may be a platform to sell vehicles but they do not ship them. Lastly, gift cards should never be used in a purchase like this as they are virtually untraceable once they land in the hands of scammers.

    Lastly in New Mexico, a woman fell for a similar scam. She had also found a car she needed on a social media marketplace. Her seller told her that her son just died and was also being shipped by eBay. Again, eBay gift cards were requested as payment. Once she sent the $1400 in gift cards the seller disappeared.

    You can never be too careful when shopping for a used car. However, if you keep some of these tips in mind they could go a long way in helping you avoid a scam.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on August 18, 2020 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cars, , , , , ,   

    Scammers are still using COVID in car scam 

    Scammers are still using COVID in car scam

    Even though some restrictions have been lifted, scammers are still using the current COVID-19 pandemic to their advantage. In the case of used car sales, they’re using it as an excuse to either not show the car or to not allow you to take a test drive.

    For example, a mother was recently looking for a car so she could shop for groceries and take her kids to the doctor. She was shopping for cars on craigslist. She says that she found a used 2008 Honda in her price range for $1200. Unbeknown to the mother of two, the red flags started almost immediately.

    First, the seller said that they were looking to sell the car as soon as possible because her son had passed away. The seller then added that they didn’t want to do any in-person transactions because of COVID-19.

    The woman was then instructed to go to a website that purported to be eBay Motors. The website instructed the woman to buy the car’s price in eBay gift cards to purchase the vehicle. The woman bought the $1200 in gift cards and gave the card numbers to the seller.

    As you might have already guessed, the seller made off with the woman’s money and the car never existed and the eBay Motors website was a phony website that was specifically designed for the scam.

    The red flags are easy to spot if you know what to look for. The first red flag was that the car was priced well below market value. This is how scammers lure you in at first. Then the scammer had a sob story as to why they were selling the car so cheaply. This often involves a story about a death, an illness, or someone shipping off to the military but it can take almost any form. This is used to tug on the buyer’s heartstrings to lull them further into a false sense of security.

    The use of COVID-19 in the scam is a believable cover as to why the buyer can’t see the car before purchase.

    Another common red flag was the use of eBay Motors. If you find a car on one platform and the seller directs you to eBay Motors saying that eBay are handling the shipping then it’s more than likely a scam. eBay Motors does not do any shipping of vehicles.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zrl-c_rirHs

    Lastly, the final red flag was the use of gift cards as payment. Gift cards can be drained of their funds almost immediately with the scammers disappearing with the money.

    Hopefully, now you’re forewarned with knowledge on how to recognize such a scam so you don’t lose your money.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on August 2, 2019 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cars, HLDI,   

    Will your car be stolen? 

    Will your car be stolen?

    The Highway Loss Data Institute recently released its list of the most stolen cars in America for the model years of 2016-2018. Dodges top the list as the Charger Hemi and the Challenger SRT top the list which is not surprising considering muscle cars are always a hot target of thieves. The Infiniti Q Series is next on the list due to their luxury features. The rest of the list seems to be packed with pickup trucks from all the major brands as the high cost of more modern trucks make them very lucrative for thieves.

    The HLDI also released the least stolen cars in America for the same model years and it seems that electric-powered vehicles are among the least stolen. Tesla Models S and X sit at numbers 2 and 3 on the list as Teslas are more often than not are in well-lit areas close to buildings where they need to be charged. The BMW 3 Series is the least stolen as it only had one reported theft for insured vehicles.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4I4OyhqyqM%5D

    After these cars are stolen they are often either sold for parts or illegally shipped to foreign countries where these models may not be widely available. A number of these cars are being stolen because car owners are said to be leaving their wireless keyfobs in the car which allows thieves to start some of these vehicles since they have keyless ignitions. If you own one of the most stolen vehicles, it could end up costing you even more in insurance premiums. A copy of HLDI’s lists of most and least stolen cars can be found here.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on April 17, 2019 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , cars, , , , , ,   

    OfferUp user assaulted outside of police station, BBB warns of car scam, and Amazon’s board to vote on facial recognition 

    OfferUp user assaulted outside of police station, BBB warns of car scam, and Amazon's board to vote on facial recognition

    As we always say, when meeting someone for an online transaction you should always make the transaction at a local police department. It can go a long way in helping to ensure your safety. However, that was not the case for a man in Albuquerque. This man was meeting someone through OfferUp to sell a camera. The suspect posing as a buyer lured the man out of the view of the police department’s security cameras before trying to rob the man. The victim was dragged about 20 feet after the suspect drove off while holding on to the camera. If someone tries to get you away from the police station it may just be a trap.

    ***

    The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota is warning residents of the two states to be aware of phony car scams that are proliferating in the area. They’re reporting that there are a number of phony car dealerships who are advertising cars on craigslist for a price well below market value. The phony dealerships then ask for the money to be wired to them before cutting off all contact with the victim. When buying a car online from a dealership, always do a web search to make sure such a dealership exists and money should never be wired for a transaction under any circumstance. It’s too easy for scammers to make off with your money while remaining anonymous.

    ***

    Previously, we’ve discussed how high-ranking Amazon employees have called Amazon’s environmental practices into question. Now it seems that shareholders are also getting ready to decide on another one of Amazon’s business practices. Next month the board will vote on whether or not Amazon should ban the sale of their facial recognition software called Rekognition to governments and governmental agencies. We’ve posted before about how a number of civil liberty groups complained about Amazon trying to sell Rekognition to police departments as the tool could be easily used to violate civil rights. Combine Rekognition with all the Amazon Echoes in people’s homes and Jeff Bezos’ ownership in the Washington Post and you could see how some board members may view this all as a privacy overreach on Amazon’s part.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on April 15, 2019 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cars, , , , , , ,   

    Craigslist to start charging $5 for cars, Kids in Ubers and Lyfts, and no trafficking in Robert Kraft case 

    Craigslist to start charging $5 for cars, Kids in Ubers and Lyfts, and no trafficking in Robert Kraft case

    What a $5 car may look like

    As of today, craigslist will start charging $5 for car listings. So as of tax day if you’re selling your car on craigslist it will cost you a fiver. While craigslist has not publicly stated the reason for the change, many speculate that the move will cut down on scam listings. It will be interesting to see if craigslist users will balk at the new fee and if scammers will be willing to pay the fee. Not to mention that it’s almost ironic that craigslist is now starting to act like so many newspaper classifieds that they helped close down.

    ***

    KATU in Portland, Oregon is reporting on a new safety concern when it comes to using ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber. Their investigation found that many minors are using the ridesharing services even though their terms of service require a passenger to be at least 18. Some drivers will refuse the fare if they know the passenger is under 18, however, there are many drivers who either don’t know the rules or don’t care. According to KATU, some parents are even ok with their older kids using an Uber or Lyft. If you’re a parent, would you be ok with letting your kid use an Uber or Lyft alone?

    ***

    Lastly for today, it was recently reported that the investigation that allegedly caught New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft using a massage parlor did not find any evidence of human trafficking. Critics have dismissed this investigation as a witch hunt of sorts and that police were just looking to arrest workers and johns. However, in many cases, those being trafficked are unwilling to testify against their traffickers due to fears of reprisal or threats of violence against their families. To refer to human trafficking as an overblown problem is to dismiss the safety and welfare of all those being trafficked against their will who are treated as slaves.

     

  • Geebo 10:59 am on February 8, 2017 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , cars, , vending machine   

    Would you buy a car from a vending machine? 

    Would you buy a car from a vending machine?

    Are you the kind of person who hates to shop for a car? Do you hate having to deal with salespeople who you know are trying to rip you off just to make a big commission? Do you wish you could just press the buttons of E and 5 and have the car of your choice of produced magically in front of you? Well now you can.

    AN online car dealership has opened what they call a car vending machine in Austin, Texas. The structure is a five-story tall glass structure that houses 30 cars. However the term vending machine is a bit of a misnomer. You still have to finance and make your actual selection through the dealership’s website, however when you go to pick up your vehicle they give a giant novelty coin to put in the machine to get your car.

    Thankfully, it’s not like an actual vending machine. Could you imagine having to lug $30,000 or more in quarters only to find out that you’re a few dollars short. Then you take out the crumpled bills in your pocket and try to straighten them out against the change machine only to have your selection of vehicle get stuck in the machine that has a sign that says ‘no refunds’? That would actually be worse than dealing with a sales person.

     

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