Trailer scammers

[anon38350891]

Just started looking for a used 2-horse in Texas. Should be easy right?

First email inquiry I sent was to this ad supposedly from Jones Creek TX:

http://www.equinenow.com/trailer-ad-28527

Which later today turned out to have an uncanny resemblance to this ad, Green Bay Wisconsin:

http://featherliteusedhorsetrailerdealer.com/detail.asp?ID=1048281

I requested additional photos from the Jones Creek ad, and got photos identical to those in the Green Bay ad.

Fun times ahead!

How to avoid these issues??!

[GoForAGallop]

They are typically pretty easy to spot. Although within the realm of reason, that is a “too good to be true” deal. You’ll note that the next comparable Featherlite trailer is in the $8k+ range.

[anon38350891]

Yes, I was momentarily (well, for half the day) fooled by the deceased husband notice included in the emailed photos from the cheaper trailer. He only used it to take horse to vet, and has now passed away, creating situation of financial need. OK.

[js]

I’m guessing the Greenbay was the real seller and the TX a scammer? I’ve seen photos from real ads stolen and used for scams. Buyer beware for just about anything now days.

[anon38350891]

Yes js, I think the Green Bay seller was authentic. Many more photos (from which the south TX “seller” culled a subset). And a more realistic price than the TX bargain basement price.

[tangledweb]

That one’s harder to spot than average. Generally good grammar and spelling. No quirky stories in the initial ad about it being in storage so needs to be shipped. No offer of free shipping anywhere in the country. No email address in the copy trying to get you to contact them outside the platform’s messaging system so you don’t get cut off halfway through.

The price is the most obvious tell. I got a “too good to be true” trailer price recently, but by 25% not 50% so it certainly can happen that people underprice used items. You can always google for the text in the add as often it’s stolen. You can also google image search for the photos as they are always stolen. On that one also not that it’s been for sale for a week. If you put something up at half price it’s sold in a day.

As soon as you start talking to them, the biggest giveaway is always the logistics. Somebody selling something who genuinely does not know the value or wants a very quick sale wants a local there with cash today. Scammers always have a great deal of expertise in PayPal, escrow services, shipping companies and whatever and want a deposit sent urgently from far away.

[anon38350891]

Thanks Tangledweb. Great tips about how to be more vigilant.

[Jim_in_PA]

“When can I come and see it in person”" is a good way to help weed out scammers. Of course, you’ll want to be shopping “reasonably local” enough that it’s worth going to look at something. Never buy a trailer or anything like that sight-unseen.

[anon38350891]

[QUOTE=tangledweb;8774810]
That one’s harder to spot than average. Generally good grammar and spelling. [/QUOTE]

Right?! This was the reply to my request for photos:

"Hi,
Trailer is in excellent condition,very well maintained.Only used this trailer to go to local horse shows and to riding lessons that were usually within a thirty mile radius. We have had the trailer serviced regularly and the tires are in very good condition.
This is a very clean, one owner unit.
This trailer has been VERY gently used. Tires are in great shape,no rust,no damages,no dents,no hidden defects,never been involved in accidents.It’s in an exceptional shape.This is a very reliable trailer that has never given us any problems.This trailer was used mostly by my husband who died 4 months ago and I dropped the price to $ 5,000 due financial issues
Thanks!

For additional PICTURES see: http://pix.sfly.com/Jz9zAB3D"

Like somebody went to college for a degree in Scamology.

I emailed the Michigan seller and sent the link to the Texas trailer ad. Michigan wrote back “Yes that is my trailer and it is a scam”.

The internet giveth and the internet taketh away.

[ladymcts]

Granted, that was one of the more sophisticated ones out there. But yeah it’s usually the price that offers the best clue. Come on, we’re all horse people. IF we’re going to get rid of something for $3K less than its value we’re either going to find some local acquaintance or rescue to benefit from our generosity rather than putting an ad out on the web. Otherwise $3K can buy a horse or a few saddles!

Anyhoo, some of the easier to spot ones on Craigslist are for some reason always priced at $2000. I can usually go search for my price min\max of $1950-$2050 and find a few. They are usually some really nice looking item that makes you think WOW! and includes a (hacked) email address either in the text of hte message or burned into the photo. The email address usually sounds legitimate, but it’s just an account where they hacked the password.

Here are three examples of these more obvious ones. I’m going to flag them after posting this, so feel free to be a good CL citizen and do the same.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/for/5712023745.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/for/5712391393.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/for/5711481564.html

edited to add: I thought of these because the first time I noticed them, it was always for a nice Sundowner trailer. The ones I’ve linked here are not horse trailers, but they do frequently exist with horse trailers as the topic.

[anon38350891]

[QUOTE=ladymcts;8775403]
Granted, that was one of the more sophisticated ones out there. But yeah it’s usually the price that offers the best clue. Come on, we’re all horse people. IF we’re going to get rid of something for $3K less than its value we’re either going to find some local acquaintance or rescue to benefit from our generosity rather than putting an ad out on the web. Otherwise $3K can buy a horse or a few saddles!

Anyhoo, some of the easier to spot ones on Craigslist are for some reason always priced at $2000. I can usually go search for my price min\max of $1950-$2050 and find a few. They are usually some really nice looking item that makes you think WOW! and includes a (hacked) email address either in the text of hte message or burned into the photo. The email address usually sounds legitimate, but it’s just an account where they hacked the password.

Here are three examples of these more obvious ones. I’m going to flag them after posting this, so feel free to be a good CL citizen and do the same.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/for/5712023745.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/for/5712391393.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/for/5711481564.html

edited to add: I thought of these because the first time I noticed them, it was always for a nice Sundowner trailer. The ones I’ve linked here are not horse trailers, but they do frequently exist with horse trailers as the topic.[/QUOTE]

Wow! I want that $2000 Acura with 87 miles.

[SonnysMom]

The other give away on many of these ads is the weird amounts $11,495, $4,396. The scammers rarely use numbers like $5,000, $5,500, $5,250. Although they did in this case. The ones that I see on my local Craigslist are all weird numbers.
Sometimes the description of the trailer doesn’t match the pictures. We had one locally that showed pictures of a really nice bumper pull but the description was for a gooseneck. Hmmmm…

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

[QUOTE=thoroughbred21;8774730]
Yes, I was momentarily (well, for half the day) fooled by the deceased husband notice included in the emailed photos from the cheaper trailer. He only used it to take horse to vet, and has now passed away, creating situation of financial need. OK.[/QUOTE]

Ha. I remember that exact same story from when I was trailer shopping several years ago.:lol:

@Jim_in_PA;8774975

“When can I come and see it in person”" is a good way to help weed out scammers. Of course, you’ll want to be shopping “reasonably local” enough that it’s worth going to look at something. Never buy a trailer or anything like that sight-unseen.

:yes: That’s what I asked the “widder lady” with the trailer. She said I didn’t need to come see it, she’d have it shipped - it was pretty far away but at the advertised price it would’ve been worth a road trip. So I said what you said about never buying anything sight unseen and that was the last I heard from “her.”

[wireweiners]

Are you in Texas? If you are in east Texas , Big TeX trailers in Sulfur Springs usually has a nice selection of new and used trailers for reasonable prices.

[anon38350891]

[QUOTE=wireweiners;8776123]
Are you in Texas? If you are in east Texas , Big TeX trailers in Sulfur Springs usually has a nice selection of new and used trailers for reasonable prices.[/QUOTE]

Thanks I will check them out. They also have a branch just north of San Antonio where I am.

[Jim_in_PA]

[QUOTE=pAin’t_Misbehavin’;8775704]
She said I didn’t need to come see it, she’d have it shipped - it was pretty far away but at the advertised price it would’ve been worth a road trip. [/QUOTE]

That’s a classic “tell”, too…

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=tangledweb;8774810]
That one’s harder to spot than average. Generally good grammar and spelling. No quirky stories in the initial ad about it being in storage so needs to be shipped. No offer of free shipping anywhere in the country. No email address in the copy trying to get you to contact them outside the platform’s messaging system so you don’t get cut off halfway through.

The price is the most obvious tell. I got a “too good to be true” trailer price recently, but by 25% not 50% so it certainly can happen that people underprice used items. You can always google for the text in the add as often it’s stolen. You can also google image search for the photos as they are always stolen. On that one also not that it’s been for sale for a week. If you put something up at half price it’s sold in a day.

As soon as you start talking to them, the biggest giveaway is always the logistics. Somebody selling something who genuinely does not know the value or wants a very quick sale wants a local there with cash today. Scammers always have a great deal of expertise in PayPal, escrow services, shipping companies and whatever and want a deposit sent urgently from far away.[/QUOTE]

You must have called the same adds that I did, lol.

seller; “I was transferred to Germany and the trailer is in storage”

me; “Where is the storage facility located so I can go and look at it?”

seller: “The storage company doesn’t allow people on the property to look at it. You can make payment to my escrow account. If you don’t want to buy it I will refund the money”

me; “I would rather deposit the funds in my attorney’s escrow account. This is their contact information and website address. Where is the title and how is it going to be transferred and notarized if you are in Germany? Please give you phone number”.

End of communication never heard back. Yes, the price was too good to be true so I figured it was a scam. There were several trailers on Trailer-World that were suspect. I forwarded the emails to Trailer-World and said they should flag and or take down the add. Never heard back from them.

The scammers I have come across always seem to use stock manufacturer photos of brand new trailers.