The PERFECT eBay car scam!

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Ryan Friedman from @RyanFriedmanMotorCars shares the story of an elaborate scam that got the best of him.
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#VINwiki #carscams #scammers

[@robroten6446]

Reverse image search the pictures in the ad. You'll be surprised how quickly this can pop a scam.

[@captainsergeant]

I do this even on facebook market place ads that seem too good to be true.

[@taylormullis4942]

Yes it's odd how something so simple still works to catch a scammer....its like they are to lazy to go into the wild and find the model they want to list and get a few pics

[@dedalliance1]

​@taylormullis4942 Because that doesn't actually work, just having a few pictures of a random car in a parking lot is going to be a red flag for most people. This guy had pictures of everything, the scratch the title with matching vin ID with matching name to the title, that's why the scam worked.

[@Thumper68]

I use this great app called image search and it searches multiple search engines using your choice of words,photos, faces in photo,files, image url,clipboard images.

[@Thumper68]

@@taylormullis4942they don’t need to because there’s millions of idiots who fall for it and even if you prove it’s fraud provide evidence while reporting it to Facebook they don’t remove ads. Hell the people will have same ad under 5 names and they don’t remove it

[@russelljacob7955]

Remember Ed's words. Never let one party have all three of the purchase. Cash, Car, Title.

[@spoolyboi9434]

Sending a stranger that kind of money without seeing a car is wild to me

[@northernsurferboy]

I worked at eBay for 4 years and believe me they don't play games with scammers, the fraud team works with all levels of law enforcement local and international until the issue is resolved, it is important to read the eBay protection and have all communication go through their email

[@Salvaba]

I had ordered computer equipment on Amazon for an amazing deal and relisted it on eBay. Got a restriction weeks after I sold like 70 units. Restriction turned into a permanent one because “info doesn’t line up and they want to err on the side of caution”. I triple boxed all of the items, brand new sold and shipped by Amazon, provided proof of purchase, delivery, ID, SSN, bank statements etc. They took and are holding my money for half a year “for caution”, on top of taking all of my sensitive info and not doing the diligence of even opening the file to see the name/address match. It’s my experience that they are a bunch of crooks and there is nothing redeemable about them.

[@markk3453]

do the cops catch any of them ? with ebays help?

[@rolexseller5120]

eBay sucks they don’t follow up on anything and they are never available to talk to a live person

[@drxvms]

Not sure about the eBay Motors division, but the rest of eBay is a scammer's paradise.

[@davidg9401]

Yeah I’m not a huge fan anymore, I used to buy tons of stuff off of eBay with 100% feedback. Then suddenly out of nowhere My account was blocked without any explanation as to why. This account was over 10 years old also. Super weird. And they refused to give me a reason. Customer service was boooty

[@Matp345]

There's a special place in hell for people like that

[@criordan5437]

Wish i was a young kid getting a $41k porsche for his first car. 😂

[@AiOinc1]

yeah I had to come up with half of the $1000 my first car cost

[@GreenJeep1998]

@@AiOinc1 My first car was $2300, worked for every penny of it.

[@xykarijehywat0814]

In this case, they didn't 😂

[@iambiggus]

If I was making a sight-unseen purchase of a car I'd ask to Facetime with them; show me the car and the documentation in real time, please and thank you. It won't stop every scam, but it would've stopped this one.

[@Shawn-Leider]

Ya it’s weird a lot of things on ebay they want all communication thru them to make sure scams don’t happen and to make sure if a sale happens they get there cut

[@MrMrsregor]

Yes. But then that communication is not through eBay and therefore would no longer be covered by eBay motors guarantee (if I understand correctly)

[@iambiggus]

@@MrMrsregor Yeah, you would definitely want to continue any other communication through official channels. Anyone legit is probably going to be willing to work with you, though. Not willing to verify documents is a giant red flag

[@z4dude131]

My thought is that it’s in eBays best interest to offer the vehicle purchase protection. If eBay becomes known as a “Scammers Paradise” potential buyers will look elsewhere.

[@sgttombailes3380]

Watch Out for scammers pretending to be in the Military and having to deploy soon. BUST THEM !! I've busted several..

[@matthewmuellner]

Somewhere Pitts is counting his 41k

[@shoobidyboop8634]

Ask if they have a problem using an escrow service. Some legit sellers don't like it. All scammers will refuse it.

[@XVXC-M8]

What’s an escrow service?

[@jasonhudock3225]

​@@XVXC-M8 I need to give shoobidy 1 million dollars for a "PSA 10 shiny Pikachu card". But giving someone a million dollars is a bad idea before you get your items. So I give you the 1 million dollars +Some for your time..When I get the card you give the money to Shoob

[@TheCobruhAlienat0r]

@@XVXC-M8 If I had to guess it's where you wire the money into an account but the seller can't access the money until the buyer receives the car. So they have the money technically but they can't run off with it until you actually produce a car.

[@bwofficial1776]

@@XVXC-M8 A trusted 3rd party handles the money. You pay the escrow the money, the seller ships you the goods, and when the buyer is satisfied that they received what was advertised the escrow will release the money to the seller. It's an incentive to the seller to deliver what was promised because they don't get paid if they try to pull a scam.

[@smooth_ops2942]

@@XVXC-M8 a third party would hold the money until both parties are satisfied with the deal to which the money would be released to the seller.

[@RyanBellMusic]

Why can they not just see who owns the account where the money was wired? If it's on-shore, I don't understand how it's not traceable directly to the account owner.

[@rwsavory]

They use unwitting strawmen who are paid a few bucks for the use of their bank account. The funds are then sent overseas.

[@MichaelP-ns]

You've seen the signs on the street corner or median "Work from home, earn $$$" - it's likely a mule job like this, collect checks/wires/giftcards and mail 'em to Pakistan.

[@FlightX101]

You can setup shell accounts that “look” legit but the money ends up going to a 3rd party bank which may be in a poorly regulated country that may ignore requests from the US gov to look into a case etc. Then the scammer can make it look “normal” by withdrawing the money in fractions instead of the full amount

[@jordanciaramitaro6351]

The best eBay scam is the purchase protection. If you sell a legit working item, the purchaser just has to file a claim saying it doesn’t work as expected or it’s damaged in any way and eBay will take the money back from you and refund the purchaser and they keep your item no questions asked. It’s happened the last 3 times I have sold something. So I quit selling on eBay, there is no seller protection unfortunately. Technically if your a dishonest person you can buy as much as you want on eBay and never have to pay for any of it.

[@hellocollegejason198]

It's ridiculous if you are a real person and not a business. So many buyers are scammers. You have to include buyers stealing items as a cost of business.

[@thewatchersofthewood3530]

Retuns fraud is a real thing!!!

[@elliotoliver8679]

That happened to me, I contested and they 'let me keep the money' but ebay refunded the buyer and he got to keep the item (iphone) for free, what an ass. I thought ebay was good up to that point

[@captainevenslower4400]

To the police saying they "have better things to do" This is plain and simple theft. So this should be right up the polices ballpark. I appreciate them dealing with important things, but this is important. It happening online doesn't make it less of a crime. Too bad the internet is still treated as an afterthought by too many regulating bodys.

[@511stunnaaa]

Wazzawazza

[@thomasthetrain19]

It's not even just the internet. Someone can break into your house and they will just come file a report and tell you do deal with your insurance. They simply do not care.

[@hellocollegejason198]

You could have a GPS location of the stolen item and they won't ever investigate.

[@TheCarpenterUnion]

​@@hellocollegejason198if that's the case, you can basically "threaten" to go take care of this yourself and from what I've seen that will spur them to take care of it with/for you

[@Remas20007]

They have better things to do, like hiding behind the curb all day, in the same spot, waiting to pull someone going to work over, and ruin their day

[@slvr1slvr1]

If the deal goes through eBay, scam or not, eBay is still getting their $ cut.

[@shawnsee2688]

I got scammed on ebay back in like 02. Bought a lamborghini door kit for a dodge stealth. Got a bunch of galvanized hinges and sheet metal screws and 2 gas struts. Then the entire north east had a blackout, and by time i got the package it was too late to file fraud claims. Cost me 1500 bucks when i was only like 17. Still pissed about that

[@krazy2094]

I think you’re better off having this cool story bout a vendetta than lambo doors on your stealth💯💀💀💀😂😂😂

[@AiOinc1]

if these people put half as much work into something reasonable as they do into scamming they might make something out of themselves

[@Semper_Iratus]

Trust no one.

[@fluntblunt]

If he's buying it for $41k, imagine what he's selling it for. 😮

[@MrMrsregor]

$82k

[@cadman10000]

Most of the people that I have seen that have been scammed using ebay or paypal and never got their money back did not follow the rules. They shipped with no tracking, communicated outside of the respective websites, did a transaction as friends and family or some other thing that is not protected.

[@FVPS904]

eBay does the same thing with high end watches. It is authenticated by a third party before you ever get it in your hands.

[@simonaldridge4099]

Indeed they do! Only good experiences with them over several purchases. Had a couple that failed authentication too/was immediately refunded.

[@jwarchild7072]

I've bought cars in other states and came very close to being scammed. One quick way that may help the buyer is to tell the seller you'd like to arrange a time to go see the vehicle to do an inspection (whether you're bluffing or not). I've found this to be a quick way to weed out some, but not all, scams.

[@zaremol2779]

$40K is leg breaking money, I honestly can't believe that out of the other 6 people, none of them thought to actually take "action" against the scammer, that's got to be some luck on the scammer's part to not run into someone crazy enough.

[@AnonyMous-jf4lc]

No kidding. I’ll cripple someone for life if they steal 40k from me.

[@ssnerd583]

@@AnonyMous-jf4lc ...yep. no doubt.

[@AiOinc1]

41k is enough that I would be making a road trip out with some friends to get my 41k back with interest and travel compensation +bonus for my friends

[@ssnerd583]

@@AiOinc1 ...yeah....for $41k, I'd be taking direct action.

[@andrewallen9993]

For 40k I would want to drive out and actually touch the car and title before parting with the money. Air travel in the US is cheap.

[@sinewave999]

3:22 what the hell kind of submodel is that, it has to be the ugliest thing porsche has ever made behind the fist generation panamera

[@pauls5745]

I always assert I'll come down to witness loading up on my flatbed and pay when I see the car

[@FVPS904]

And I get mad when I get scammed on a 75 dollar part on eBay

[@milescarter7803]

Knew he got reimbursed, he would have been a lot saltier with a 41k loss under his belt.

[@clintmiller88]

eBay isn’t gonna protect you if you don’t do it through eBay but they actually do what they say which is surprising

[@chk2711]

I bought a car off ebay from a seller in Canada. I wired the money, I received the car, but I did not receive all of the necessary paperwork required to title the car in my state. After a couple months I filed a claim, eBay offered me a full refund minus shipping/ import fees.

[@taylormullis4942]

Did you get to keep the car?

[@chk2711]

@@taylormullis4942 eBay said I could keep the car and they would refund me 20%. After a shrewd negotiation I was able to get 50%. It was a gamble on whether or not I could title/ register the car. I took the gamble, I kept the car and was finally able to get a title after about 6 months. It worked out in the end.

[@kfirby9066]

What paperwork was missing?

[@SL-pg4dh]

So you had to send the car back?

[@SL-pg4dh]

​@@kfirby9066Title and bill of sale probably

[@clintmiller88]

Bro no worse feeling than getting robbed

[@Raynl1978]

My technique is to find a spot in the photos that looks perfect or undamaged and say "I think I see a scratch on the picture in this spot. Can I get a close up from a different angle of this spot. Scammers who are prepared don't normally have close ups of any spots that are not damaged

[@mrdilengence6884]

Thanks for the information. When I buy cars on ebay now, I tell them cash in person and I have one of my cop friends run the vin and the sellers license before I hand over the cash

[@ksteak27]

"I need to see a photo with you by the car giving a peace sign and holding today's newspaper." Weird request, but if you're dealing with a legitimate seller, it's not too big of an ask.

[@terrylessmann2274]

Thieves work on greed, plain and simple. You think this is a once in a lifetime great deal and you have to act fast or it'll be gone. You lower your defenses so you don't miss out. The hook is set and all they have to do is reel you in and separate you from your $$$.

[@SL-pg4dh]

Yup. Would be Scammer gets scammed. Trying to buy something of value at such a low price is to be trying to take advantage of the seller's circumstances. Your greed is what got you

[@JGRaviKumar]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@hughmann1908]

Great story telling!

[@Ramsdestroy]

Wow insane. Thanks for the advice dudem

[@Graves-81_69]

I’ve noticed that sometimes in a bid that the “buy it now” option comes in handy. Not always, but it’s helped me acquire something without trouble

[@raboldrt]

Thank you. That’s solid as heck advice 🖖🏻😎

[@throughmylens5127]

Marketplace will let Scammers run adds with the same vehicle for sale all over the country. When I first seen them they gave addresses and I would go check if they were close by usually a abandoned house or no such place.

[@Billyspacerocket]

Those clowns are not sailors

[@joshuagibson2520]

Ebay, Cars and Bids, and Bring a trailer are the WORST to make any kind of purchase.

[@joshuagibson2520]

Unless you don't mind significantly overpaying because of your personal emotions to a listed item. Or getting ripped off any number of other ways.

[@mclarenjohnf1]

I did a deal with a chap for a car he had my van with over 300 thousand miles on it. the car shoved a piston through the block on my way home and the chap didn't live at the house I met him at and wouldn't answer the phone. 2 days later my van is advertised on EBAY I spoke to them as he was saying the van had a new engine, I told him he said. I told ebay to cancel the add and the police wanted to talk with him. They let the add run and he sold it.

[@darrensanimalsreptilesfish30]

I’ve been using eBay for 23 years. I’ve been scammed twice. Both times I was refunded promptly. I probably have around a thousand purchases

[@TheCarpenterUnion]

Same, I'm getting up there too

[@darrensanimalsreptilesfish30]

@@TheCarpenterUnion I should be accountable for the last one. One stock picture of the item no feedback and ten off the list price. The zero feedback is the massive red flag

[@TheCarpenterUnion]

@@darrensanimalsreptilesfish30 similar, I knew I was taking a risk when I ordered based on the limited feedback and country of origin, but specifically asked the dude if the items were authentic and they said yes. Counterfeit. Then tried to do some wonky shit with the Ebay returns system that took them 4 weeks and 2 phone calls to resolve.

[@Sk1m_Beeble]

Best method of avoidance of a scam like this is buy shitboxes and only give the *cash* when you have the keys 😉

[@xykarijehywat0814]

I'm in the market for a car right now. Saw one on Facebook, contacted the lady and she sent me her email. Through there she gave more info on the vehicle (who's it was, it's condition, more photos, etc) then explained that she and her husband travel a lot for work and would rather conduct business via eBay. I forward the message to my s/o and he advised me to leave it be but I'd already sent her some basic info to "open a claim" in ebay. Neither of us had ever heard of this before and assumed it's a scam... Maybe she wants to do it that way _because_ of the purchase protection 🤔 I have no idea but I'm also not sending any money until something makes sense. Or just find a different car where I can buy in person. What would you guys do?

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

Never buy a car without actually seeing it in the flesh. Lots of stolen pics of vehicles, demands for deposits, payments etc.

[@johnsanko4136]

When I was a young idiot looking to get my first cool car, I almost got scammed looking to buy a '72 Skylark convertible. Luckily I got out okay, but you gotta be careful. I'll never wire anyone money if I don't know them personally, because you have to protect yourself from con men.

[@orrmmuzulu]

Wanted to buy on eBay, now deleting my account..!! Not ready to deal with loss

[@jeffpitzer8521]

Ànybody that buys a car on line without seeing it in person with the title in hand is extremely naive....

[@jmhouck]

I'm about to go HAM.

[@Bnguyen276]

eBay doesn’t pay out immediately anymore. Once the car is sold eBay holds the money for a certain amount of time before paying out. I believe it’s 5-7 days the customer has to return the vehicle.

[@samueldeter9735]

How would a dealer (especially Lamborghini) not figure out a car was stolen??

[@tjmmcd1]

The most interesting part about being scammed for 10's of thousands of dollars is that police will make a report, but treat it more like a civil matter and refuse to conduct an actual investigation. Why spend time investigating criminal fraud cases, when time is better spent writing traffic tickets, bringing them instant income. ALL police departments receive massive taxpayer funding, but are also, FOR-PROFIT CORPERATIONS!

[@JobyJoby-iw2wr]

I fell for a home repair scam - my inner voice told me not to do it. Paid with Cashapp - there was nothing they could do despite the guy using 2 phony names while working for a legitimate, yet disreputable national company. Filed a police report - nothing happened. 2 years later - same guy (somewhat disguised) shows up for another job, sent out by what also turned out to be another legitimate, yet disreputable national company. The guy used a third name and the businesses he contracted with are national clearing houses that match local contractors with area customers. Updated the police report - still nothing.

[@garsimmulholland4984]

I had someone from eBay turn up and low ball me. I rejected his bid and his friend held a knife at me while he coined every panel. £25,000 Porsche respray😭

[@sw4841]

Here’s how you determine if it’s a scam tell them you’re somewhere local you like to come see the car first boom they’ll give you 1 million excuses of why it’s not available traveling etc. etc. that’s how you know

[@frequencywatchers]

The Second Scam He Talked ABout The REAL OWNER Was IN ON IT By The WAY. I Know That Type Of The Scam , Owner Givevs Another Guy Hes Expensive Car, He "Sells" It And Then When The New Owner Gets Hes Hands On It, Boom, Police Are There ANd Everything, Yoou Just Lost All Your Mooney And Noone Is Wiser

[@TDRE88]

Every Tim I see this guy he just oozes dirt bag 😅

[@peanutbutterisfu]

Better off paying more money buying locally there is always a dealer or broker that can get whatever car u want. If you absolutely need to buy from a different state or whatever go fly out. If someone is selling a really expensive car and won’t let u see it and wants the payment sent by cash app or something it’s a scam nobody that is selling a car for big money is gonna make it harder for them to sell it.

[@caswinson]

When saying $41k was irrelevant to lost opportunity is bogus.

[@thomaspavelko9412]

Maybe it's just me but while it really sucks anyone getting ripped off I'm not really feeling sympathetic for this guy,maybe it's the " while I'm driving in my 80k car to pick up a 60k car I get a deal on" thing. I'm pretty sure his business was not going to go under and being evicted from his home.

[@thewhitedread7572]

😂😂😂 "the police have more important things" no dude they just dont give a fuck lol

[@jeffomalley6015]

How many more people u think will try to pull this off now after watching this? lol.

[@kerrykelly9591]

my dude looks like mike escimilla lol

[@keithstringer1140]

I cannot fathom how people buy cars purely over the internet. Fly there. Test drive the car first.

[@_Clem_H_Fandango_]

How do you put a price on "opportunity costs"? When did that become a thing? How do you know there were any "opportunities" to be had, crystal ball?

[@ryansmithc]

Damn, ebay for the win.

[@Kraken5150]

So you don't go see it first and meet the person before giving them 40k????? Whattttt 😭😭😭

[@timothymccullough889]

'Experts' buy their cars off of Ebay?

[@Kachow_McQueen69]

Lol this guys back again? We all remember he’s the one jacking up prices on Porches right?

[@TDRE88]

Exactly pure sleez

[@oshkoshbegone]

6 people losing 40k each is kind of a big deal to the police. They just suck at vehicle theft.

[@sparty94]

it sucks that police don't take these things seriously. i don't buy the explanation that they have more important things to work on. a $41k theft should be pretty high up the list.

[@ineedapharmists]

"I bought a car off ebay and i got scammed." I can see where you first fucked up

[@raymondfrank9202]

good one

[@519_jackpot_scottie]

You mean you’re more knowledgeable NOW than the average person

[@3316xtendedmedia]

Everybody got scammed,because our ego wants more and more.Than you meet the guy who says:i am going to give you a life lesson you will never forget! Learn from it. Take in every purchase(even a cheap watch from Ali) a 3 week pause,if it comes back to you,buy it..

[@zhenhuang536]

This feels like what you would see in GTA RP

[@dzapper7]

In the video he states that the cops have much more important things to do than hunt down some scammer. Then he states the scammer did this 6 more time s the same week. That's over a quarter of a million dollars! That's where US law enforcement really fails IMHO lots of these scammers do this stuff in bulk and they don't just victimize one person. It's racketeering.

[@johnreed1268]

"long story short.."

[@nickbakey9188]

i miss when they would only scam you for uber ride or little charges ppp got everyone wanting that big fast money

[@thehandleishothott]

Ebay is no longer legit. Its all about CARS AND BIDS! (DOUG VOICE)

[@sct913]

eBay has not been legit for a long time, and not just regarding cars.

[@thehandleishothott]

I haven't bought from ebay in over 10 years. Cloud services made it easier for businesses to offer products direct to customers. It's easier to buy directly cars, parts, products, from legitimate companies.

[@rahulsudhir666]

And *Collecting Cars*

[@joemama38]

@@sct913eBay is legit if you know what to look for…

[@clintmiller88]

I mean it’s 41k scan he did his homework

[@cnw8891]

What is "quast"?

[@manasseh7]

😂 Long Island accent

[@leastcoast3978]

dumb story, feels like a paid ebay advertisment

[@qwertykeyboardwarrior]

No one cares when your car is stolen but when you steal a car everyone cares

[@steve-on3234]

Wow. Wire money without meeting up and looking at car and without title being handed over? And you are a car dealer. Lol

[@Aquarium-Downunder]

A guy in Australia sold a $50,000 car on ebay for $1 buy it now and a house for $5 buy it now. Sounds to good to be true......... no the court made him sell them and give his ex-wife 1/2. I say if you can take the hit, Stuff the b!tch and go for it.

[@harrywright5793]

I’m in!!

[@tallbrian100]

Flea Bay

[@MrEsPlace]

Watch enough car shows and you'll learn to never buy a car online.

[@matthewmclean7471]

terrible experience? you got paid back by ebay, imagine if they would have stiffed you too, then it would be a terrible experience.

[@pjbuma13]

This felt more like an advertisement for eBay motors than a vinwiki story. Thumbs down.

Very good video.

[@notPepeTho]

ok so morale of the story is everything worked out fine for you lmao what amazing click bait bro

[@elmayimbe5094]

Kinda wish this was Doug Tabbutt. This would have then been an epic story 😂😂😂

[@HR-wd6cw]

Why do people buy cars on eBay? CL is at least a little better because you can see the car and ask to see the title before plopping down any money.

[@Crono454]

The police actually don’t care no matter the crime. Don’t need to walk the comment bad. If they don’t care about 40k in wire fraud idk what else you would expect them to care about.

[@nbaumg]

all im hearing is an excellent and easy way to make lots of money

[@RyanHollis]

Just go by this simple rule: "If something's too good to be true, it probably is"