99A8Q

I'm looking at one of those Craigslist "too good to be true" deals, and the seller wants to close through a 3rd party escrow service called BuyerProtector. I've received an invoice from them and they want me to Western Union cash to a guy (their agent) in Detroit, the car will ship and I will approve or reject it before they release the funds to the seller. It feels pretty damn fishy. The VIN checked out okay on carfax, but the car is about half of KBB for a "quick sale." So, anyone use/hear of Buyer Protector? I've got the "if it seems too good to be true it probably is" feeling.

tozoM8

I would go to pick it up and pay there.

ricoblanco

Tozo's right, use cash. Craigslist has a warning for this in the listing too: "Avoid scams and fraud by dealing locally! Beware any deal involving <b><i>Western Union</i></b>, Moneygram, wire transfer, cashier check, money order, shipping, escrow, or <b><font color="red">any promise of transaction protection/certification/guarantee.</font></b>"

PaulW

Can you say SCAM?

Bruce M

OHMYGOD....RUN!!! RUN!!!! IT'S A SCAM!!!

99A8Q

A damn sophisticated one, too. They've got a website that looks pretty official (read it and you'll find misspellings, etc.). But the kicker is you're supposed to wire to an individual "representative" of the escrow service, who's got a different address than the one listed for the company! The car's here supposedly, in Northbrook, but the price includes DAS shipping. Can I look at it and pay cash on the spot? No, the seller is too "busy". It's the old "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is."

eCoastAudi

Known Scam...all over Craigslist in the last few months.