Fake Classic Car Dealer Scammed Buyers

[WhatExit?]

Fake Classic Car Dealer Scammed Buyers Out of Thousands in Deposits
Buyers tried to snap up old Blazers, Buicks, and JDM classics only to find out they were from a fake dealership.

Classic car buyers say they were bilked out of thousands of dollars after a purported dealer in Maine ended up being completely bogus. The Bangor Daily News reported last week the Houlton Chamber of Commerce in Houlton, Maine, received phone calls from people who wondered whether VNKC was a legitimate business based in the town. The director of the chamber of commerce drove down to the address listed on the dealer’s website only to find that it didn’t exist.

Buyers said they were conned by the dealer, who provided VINs and phony titles for the cars. After receiving the alleged paperwork, interested buyers deposited money into a bank account to await delivery of the vehicle. When those vehicles never showed up, the buyers started asking questions.

“I talked to them for over five weeks. I have a copy of the title, the bill of lading, the bill of sale, the VIN number,” an Oklahoma man trying to buy a 1987 Chevy Blazer told the Bangor Daily News. “It never arrived. After the shipping date, the number I had been calling went dead.”

That same Blazer appeared on another website for sale in Naples, Florida. A woman from South Carolina said she tried to buy a Nissan Figaro from the dealer in Maine as well, deposited money into an escrow account to await delivery, and nothing ever showed. A Florida man said he sent $35,000 for a yellow 1970 Buick GSX but stopped payment on his check after that car was listed for sale in Philadelphia.

The ISP for the now-defunct dealer site is registered as a radio and TV company in Lithuania and a U.S. address listed for the domain returns to a law office in Virginia claiming to have no affiliation with the bogus dealership. For now, it’s unclear what, if any, recourse the cheated buyers will have. Other potential victims are encouraged to contact the Maine Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division if they’ve also been duped.

 

[wzuber]

Wow, what a bummer for those peeps...
Buy an expensive item like that online does not sit well w/me. I hope they can recover their $$.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I'm too old school. Even buying a shitbox, rusted out, rat rod donor, I have to do it in person. I have to feel the rust and dents with my own hands

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

I love how the scam comes back to Lithuania but the article says the address comes back to a law office in Virginia. Probably should have double checked to make sure the bogus address isn't attached to an attorney

 

[77charger]

So common these days. Even on fb pages cr500 group and jet ski groups scammers are in action.

I only buy from known sellers if I do or face to face. If I sell something I’d better know you if I ship or know someone I know otherwise face to face sale.

People that are lazy to go look and fall for these scams usually get scammed.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

How do you buy a car sight unseen and just hope for the best?

 

[H20 Toie]

Place did that in Montana years ago but with motorhomes, the would take deposits and then disappeared

 

[rivermobster]

Probably the same people that put up the fake Brummetts website.

Professional thieves.

 

[Shlbyntro]

I bought my Mustang from PA sight unseen, sometimes you just have to use a little common sense and trust your gut.

 

[TPC]

I was cued up to buy a ‘63 409.
Looked amazing. 100 point car.

Had an expert go over it. His take:
“Best fake I’ve ever come across.”

 

[monkeyswrench]

I was cued up to buy a ‘63 409.
Looked amazing. 100 point car.

Had an expert go over it. His take:
“Best fake I’ve ever come across.”

With something like that, sometimes the person selling doesn't know they overpaid for a fake. I've seen that a bunch with early "survivors". Sucks for everyone downstream of the creator.