Too good to be true? Wary online mustang purchase... - Ford Forums

scott-351 · 12-07-2004, 00:07

Hi guys,
Thought I would ask this question in here as I thought some of you out there may have purchased a vehicle via the internet from overseas before.
To cut a long story short, I found via ebay a "Shelby GT500" for sale, located in Rome, Italy (See attached pics). Now ive never owned a mustang before and don't know alot about them but have always loved them. I *do* know that a Shelby GT500 is a very rare and expensive car, so when the bloke told me it was going for $7000 I was quite surprised and assumed it would be a replica.
I contacted him via email saying I was interested and got the specs of the car, he told me it is a 428 4v in great condition etc etc.
Next thing I know he has taken the car off ebay because he is "talking now with few possible buyers and still want for the best price that i have to sell the car"... So my suspicion builds.
I tell him that I am willing to do business with him but only through a reputable 3rd party organisation such as Escrow Australia...just got an email back then telling me this would not be acceptable, and insisting that the Ebay Squaretrade rules would still apply to this transaction (Even though it is not on the ebay site anymore)....
Does anybody know how the Squaretrade system works? I assumed that outside of the Ebay trading area it would be null and void.

So it looks to me like a fairly obvious case of internet fraud...

Has anybody else heard of anything like this, or have any suggestions or other ideas?

See the attachments for the car in question :

**Big Block Ford** · 12-07-2004, 01:56

I'm afraid this kind of fraud is all too common. There are numerous threads on here with others that have been confronted with the same dodgy people. Don't go any further because it is certain to be fraud. If you are really keen to go further then make absolutely sure you don't part with any money until you or someone trustworthy has veiwed the car and all the paperwork.

**Big Block Ford** · 12-07-2004, 02:00

Because this seems so common at the moment I have made the thread concerning this a "sticky" .

GreenMachine · 12-07-2004, 02:01

That mustang has been ebayed a hundred times - stay away!!!

scott-351 · 12-07-2004, 03:59

Thanks for the replies guys!

I thought as much myself, just wanted to see if many other people had had similar problems.

Have reported the person to ebay, whether this will do anything or not I dont know.

Thanks again

Scott

automanpaul · 03-30-2005, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott-351

Hi guys,
Thought I would ask this question in here as I thought some of you out there may have purchased a vehicle via the internet from overseas before.
To cut a long story short, I found via ebay a "Shelby GT500" for sale, located in Rome, Italy (See attached pics). Now ive never owned a mustang before and don't know alot about them but have always loved them. I *do* know that a Shelby GT500 is a very rare and expensive car, so when the bloke told me it was going for $7000 I was quite surprised and assumed it would be a replica.
I contacted him via email saying I was interested and got the specs of the car, he told me it is a 428 4v in great condition etc etc.
Next thing I know he has taken the car off ebay because he is "talking now with few possible buyers and still want for the best price that i have to sell the car"... So my suspicion builds.
I tell him that I am willing to do business with him but only through a reputable 3rd party organisation such as Escrow Australia...just got an email back then telling me this would not be acceptable, and insisting that the Ebay Squaretrade rules would still apply to this transaction (Even though it is not on the ebay site anymore)....
Does anybody know how the Squaretrade system works? I assumed that outside of the Ebay trading area it would be null and void.

So it looks to me like a fairly obvious case of internet fraud...

Has anybody else heard of anything like this, or have any suggestions or other ideas?

See the attachments for the car in question :

If the overseas seller won't use a third party and split their comission in the sale, then dump the buy! You have zero legal protections in that setting! Look for another car. Seen many of these types of shows go very south. Once your money is gone, its GONE forever. What car is worth that I've no idea. Good luck.