Scam

[aliperr-93]

There is a "female" on Craig's List that is offering a sell of a 2014 16' Scamp camper for $1500. Said that she lives in Michigan (gave initially a "586" area code, which is suburbs of Detroit but responded with a "424") and said that her husband was killed in an accident two months ago and that he "gifted" it as an anniversary present. She travels a lot . I sent my information to her (name, address, etc.) and now that I have started researching--I think this is a scam. I am very concerned that this person has my name and address and email--but I also want you to be concerned as well. This seems pretty fishy to me after I have done research on this.  I will not be contacting this person again

[aliperr-93]

I meant to add this as well....only wants ebay cards to purchase. Sent an email from eBay that states that they will not accept credit/debit over $500. It would be shipped and received within 1-2 days and I have the opportunity for 5 days to look over it before she can receive the money. Has anyone else experienced this?

[japan-treazures]

@aliperr-93 

This is one of the oldest scams here on eBay. Avoid this at all costs or it will end up costing you!

This is not standard operating procedures on eBay. eBay does not rely on its users finding ads on Facebook or Craigslist and sending contact information to a seller. The seller will eventually send you a dummy "invoice" that will really look like it came from eBay, asking you to pay with gift cards to have the vehicle/trailer shipped to you for a free evaluation period. The seller will take the numbers from them and cash out and you will not be able to get you money back! Anyone that asks you to purchase gift cards or to send card codes to them to complete a transaction is trying to take advantage of you. Anyone asking for a gift card is looking for a gift at your expense.

Often a seller will state that ebay will send it from their warehouse. eBay has no warehouse and does not ship vehicles. eBay does not handle such transactions or provide "vehicle protection orders". Scammers often promise those things, though. Any phone number you may receive on such an "invoice" does not connect to eBay, but to the scammer.

The only safe way to purchase a vehicle on eBay is to make the purchase here on eBay.com. Once you find a vehicle on eBay, you should always complete the checkout process on eBay. You may have to pay a deposit. Then you typically meet the seller to inspect the vehicle and pay the seller the remaining amount. I recommend that you never pay for the vehicle in full until you have eyes on it.

If you encountered an ad on another site, contact that site to have the ad potentially removed. eBay is not involved with any ads listed on sites other than eBay itself.

See here for some info about such scams:

https://pages.motors.ebay.com/buy/security/index.html

https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-fraud-schemes/online-vehicle-sale-fraud

Hope this helps!

[japan-treazures]

@aliperr-93 

It didn't happen to me, but, it happened to one of my friends! TOTAL SCAM!

Any time someone asks you to pay with gift cards, it is a scam.  This gift card scam has been happening on lots of other sites also. 

So glad you didn't fall for it!

[long-gone]

I just did a quick search for 2014 16' Scamp camper and they are going for 11-15k.

Do you really think that you are going to get one shipped to you for free with a 5 day look it over period for $1500?

Of course its a scam.

[Anonymous]

Signs that it's a scam:

1.  A price well below normal price (so you think, "I'd better jump on this before someone else does").

2.  Being sold by a woman with a sob story ("poor woman in her grief doesn't know the true value, so I'd better jump on it before someone else does").  Sometimes the "lady" lost a child in accident and the vehicle reminds her of her son and she just wants it gone.  Sometimes she is going through a divorce and just wants the item.  Sometimes she is in military and being deployed and needs to sell it but not to worry, it's already at eBay shipping center in a container ready to ship.  

3.  Begins on any site other than eBay (craigslist, facebook marketplace, offerup, letgo, etc) but "seller" wants to "complete sale" on eBay.  NO legitimate deal begins on another site and ends on eBay.  Ever.

4.  Wants you to pay with gift cards.  Once you give the card numbers, your money is gone and cannot be traced.

5.  Free shipping to your house, five days to look it over, and free shipping back if you don't want it (uh, the shipping would be more than what the asking price is, do the math).

I am glad your scam radar went off and you're no longer in contact with the person.  Report the ad on craigslist (flag it).  

[nkmipgolf]

Don't forget , " I'm a woman and I don't need a car."    Yes, it's been said. Wonder where this scammer is from?   LOL