Sheriff warns of Internet auto scam
From Staff ReportsOriginally published: August 10. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: August 10. 2008 12:31AM
Blount County Sheriff James Berrong released information Friday warning residents of an Internet scam that has already bilked local citizens out of thousands of dollars.
The scam involves an individual, using a hacked e-mail and/or I.P. address, cutting and pasting pages of instructions, forms and agreements for purchasing a vehicle from a legitimate Web site like eBay or Yahoo to their own site. The scammer lists a vehicle for sale — at a price usually much less than market value — complete with photos of the vehicle.
The buyer and scammer trade e-mails discussing the sale price and shipping details, and the scammer will usually ask the buyer to wire money using Western Union. The scammer will then follow up with subsequent e-mails asking for additional money for transportation, insurance and shipping costs.
Once the money is sent, the buyer does not hear from the scammer again — the buyer is unable to get the money back and the vehicle is never shipped.
Because the scammer uses hacked I.P. and e-mail addresses, there is usually no way to track the scammer, according to information from the sheriff's office.
The crime occurs when the money wire transfer is received by the scammer, who usually uses a fake ID when picking up the money so there is no way to learn the person's true identity.
"This is a new twist to an old game," Berrong said in a sheriff's office release. "The common denominator in the cases reported to us is the request for a wire transfer through Western Union. If someone asks you to wire the money prior to receiving a vehicle or other product that you have never seen, then it is probably a scam.
"If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is," he said.