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Home » How to Protect
Yourself - *NEW* ClassicCars.com Phishing Scam
In March, 2010, a new and
elaborate
phishing scam was brought to my attention. The scam targets people
advertising their vehicles for sale though online websites such as
AutoTraderClassics.com,
CarsOnline.com,
ClassicCars.com, and
OldRide.com.
The scam is initiated with a
buyer inquiry from a buyer identifying himself as "William" or "Paul" or
anything similar from "Hilton Group Design" or "Manager of Geoscience Technical
Development Exploration and Producing Operations - www.exxonmobile.com " or
again something similar.
This is NOT a legitimate buyer.
After an email exchange between buyer and seller, the scammer insists on having
the vehicle inspected before making the purchase. He then refers the seller to a
fraudulent website ( www.auto-chex.com , www.dvcar.com ), where the seller must
register. The purpose of this phony website is to get the seller's personal
information (password, mother's maiden name, etc.). Once the scammers have that
information they attempt to login to your email account and retrieve additional
private information.
If you have been contacted by
this person or have received a similar email, stop all communications with that
person immediately.
This is NOT a legitimate buyer.
If you have filled out the
registration form at auto-chex.com, take the following precautionary measures
right away:
- Log in to your email
account and change your password.
- Check with any financial
institutions that send you email and see if there has been any unauthorized
activity and then change your password.
- Login to your online
for-sale listing account and make sure nothing on your ad has been modified
and then change your password.
As always, we recommend you
refer to our Safe-n-Secure tips when entering into any transaction with a buyer
and always insist on speaking to a prospective buyer by telephone.
Safe-n-Secure tips:
http://classiccars.com/SafeAndSecure.aspx
Safe-n-Secure Known Scams:
http://classiccars.com/knownscams.aspx
What happens if I do get ripped off?
Contact your local police department and file a
report; hire a lawyer; don't give up and above all don't let the crooks get away
with it!
Suggestions for this page? Please feel free
to let me know!
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