Be careful: Ebay ATV Scams » QUADCRAZY ATV Community Forum

quadcrazy · 01-30-2007, 09:16 PM

Here are some complaints from ebay users regarding scams associated with the sale of atvs. http://search.reviews.ebay.com/ATV-Scam_W0QQuqtZg

Here is an example of what someone wrote:

"Quite some time back I was looking for a newer Kawasaki 4 wheeler (ATV). I found one on E-Bay that was just to good to be true. I even checked out the sellers feedback rating (excellent) and then e-mailed him for particulars. I was cautious because the description read just like a perfect copy from a dealer's brochure with all the technical facts. The response e-mail was poorly written with bad grammar and spelling. So now I have 2 red flags. The seller explained the "quad" was in Italy and was cheap because they get them cheap over there and he needed to sell it for the money. He would even ship it by Lufthansa for free because he knew people in that industry. I replied with very a skeptical e-mail saying it all looked much too good to be true. He assured me it was all very legal and above board. I could inspect the " quad" and even return it for free if not satisfied. He even told me that if I was hesitant to back out and that he had plenty of others interested. But my greed got the best of me. After several e-mails, back and forth, we made a deal, out-side of the E-Bay process, by wiring him $2900. He required I send him the name and numbers from the money gram to show proof I'd really sent it. I complied with every request. There were so many red flags I ignored as well as not going through E-bay for my own protection. The 4 wheeler never showed up. After a few days he stopped answering e-mails and disappeared. My last e-mail was a threat I'd vow to get him. I reported it to E-Bay, the FBI, as well as Interpol, and to a contact in Italy who checked out the address. It was all faked. I eventually got a hold of the real seller, who by the way had no ATV, and I found out his E-Bay ID etc had been stolen and used by this scammer. He cautioned me to ignore the listing, it was a fake, and hoped I'd not sent any money. Sorry, too late! To this day I have seen several listings worded so similar to that one. I e-mailed some of them and got very similar responses. All scams. By the way, all of them were in Europe. Legitimate listings won't have "canned" specifications or look like a dealer's brochure. They will be an honest description that you can tell was written by the person who really owns the vehicle just by the wording alone. Look at other listings for the same vehicle to see if someone copied the pictures, etc. So with 20/20 hindsight I am reminded that IF IT'S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE THEN IT IS. LOOK ELSEWHERE. YOU NEVER EVER GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. Also my family will not let me forget this one. We didn't have $2900 to lose. Tough lesson, isn't it!"

Do your research, check fedback ratings, try to contact other buyers, and avoid crazy low prices...If it's new and being sold at an unreal price, there is usually a reason. Happy Bidding!

kidatvs · 02-01-2007, 11:15 AM

Terrible you had to learn that way!!!!!

Hopefully you save someone else by posting this though. Damn shame theres people like that out there.

You stated some great advice.

Do your research, check fedback ratings, try to contact other buyers, and avoid crazy low prices...If it's new and being sold at an unreal price, there is usually a reason. Happy Bidding!

admin · 02-07-2007, 06:58 AM

I agree, just be in tune of what you are buying. CHECK FEEDBACK, MSRP also and compare the prices.