alrefai

Hello everyone. I just want to share my sad eBay story with all you. Item number: 2483580616

I contacted the seller (Jason), by phone immediately after the auction ended on 07/01/2004. I requested him to fax a copy of the car title and hand written bill of sale before mailing the funds. I then mailed a cashier’s check in the amount of $15,000 on that same day. I spoke with Jason one more time after sending the check to arrange for the deal after the weekend holiday.

I spoke with Jason again on 07/06/2004 and he confirmed receiving the check. Then, I purchased my airfare to fly down to Minneapolis, MN on 07/08/04. I called the Jason again on 07/07/04 to confirm my flight plan. Jason insisted that we must wait until Monday 07/12/2004 before we can complete the deal. He said the car was already sold once before on eBay but the buyer did not come through. He claims that he was instructed by eBay Safe Harbor to wait thirty days before he can sell the car to another buyer in order to avoid any possible penalties.

I believed him at first but later I decided to call eBay to verify Jason's story. On 07/08/04 I was told by an eBay representative that this is not true and I should contact eBay safe harbor by email which I did on the same day. EBay safe harbor responded to my email on Sunday July 11th. I was instructed to file my insurance claim after 14 days from the auction ending date if the issue is not resolved. I also learned that this eBay account does not belong to Jason.

Meanwhile, Jason stopped his communication with me immediately after the payment cleared my account on 07/07/04. I made several attempts to reach him over the past few days but it’s seems that he was deliberately ignoring all my calls. I also learned from my bank (Wells Fargo) that the check was deposited to joint Wells Fargo OVER DRAFTED business account, then the check was cashed out and the account got closed.

On July 14, 2004, Jason called me to explain the situation. He said that he deposited the funds into a joint account with his mother’s ex-husband and also business partner (Robert). He claims that Robert removed all funds from the account and closed it.

Jason told me that he still has possession of the car and he refused to give me the car or refund my money. He told me that the only way to get my money back is to call Robert and ask him to refund the funds. I called Robert the following day to demand my money and he refused to refund the cash claiming that he didn't take any money from me. I filed my complaint with FBI internet fraud division and luckily I was able to obtain theft report on both of them from Rochester MN police department.

Unfortunately I was informed by eBay auction insurance agency today that I am not eligible for “purchase protection program” because I have made previous claim within the past six months. I am very disappointed that someone would steal my money using eBay as a front and it seems that he can get a way with it. Please advice me with any possible ways to recover my loss. Thank you for reading my long story.

M. alrefai

kort677

you need to contact the police

FIXEDupW209

seems like you have done everytihng you can. I would probably hire a lawyer as well to investigate and go after these guys or ebay even.

ViKTORiOUS

Ebay scammers, contact the police or hire a lawyer, 15 grand is a lot, you cant let that much go to these scumbags... sorry man and best of luck to you! Please keep us all updated....

Josh K

That's grand theft and it's across state lines so you need to contact the FBI

Sam 325i

definately agree. on these matters, waiting too long is not good.

best of luck

alrefai

I will file law suit as soon as get a copy of that police report.

KevinV

Question: Why did you send him the full amount $15,000 by mail if you are planning to go down and complete the deal anyway? Why didn't you just give him the check when you pick up the car?

alrefai

Some of you is wondering why I paid for the car in full while I was planning to fly and get it. Indeed it seems stupid to do so but this wasn’t the case. In the beginning Jason assured to me that he knows somebody who can ship the car fully insured for $500-$700. Later he told me that this guy takes only cash and he needs to get paid first before taking the car. I became suspicious about the situation and decided to fly down to pickup the car. Unfortunately, it was too late, I purchased my airfare on 07/06/04 the same day he received the check.

RedSLKChic

I hope everything works out for you!

alrefai

Thank you lady

dinko

Don't get me wrong, but if you flew there 2 days after you gave him the check, you should have handed him the check in exchange for the car on-hand when you flew down... or sent him a $1000 deposit before you flew down.

Sorry to hear what happened, and good luck getting your money back!

mtimmy

Damn thats extremely sad.,!


Good luck on getting your money back.,, but I would never send 150k to EMAIL address or a VOICE over the phone ... good luck man

Neicey59

Hopefully you can get your money back - because that is indeed a lot of miles on that engine (210000+) for a 2001. Also, it's my guess that safe harbor wouldn't let him post that car again because they pulled the same scam on another unsuspecting buyer, and then told safe harbor the buyer didn't pay.

I've researched used 2001 models for over a year, and in many cases we've came upon 2001 models for $22-$24000 with only 60,000 miles on them. Try using autotrader.com

and by all means press charges against that creep!

2SEATR

The guy is not even the original owner as he stated in the ad!!!
I ran a carfax on the VIN and it shows a sale in May 2004.
I printed the CARFAX results below....(at least it was serviced regularly)


CARFAX searched more than 3 billion records from over 5,300 sources and found 19 record(s) for this 2001 MERCEDES BENZ SLK320 (WDBKK65F41F197514).

10/01/2000 Wisconsin
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Cottage Grove, WI
Registered as
personal vehicle


11/24/2000 14,850 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Recommended maintenance service performed
Maintenance inspection completed


01/31/2001 15,200 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced


03/05/2001 29,873 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Recommended maintenance service performed
Maintenance inspection completed


05/24/2001 45,540 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Recommended maintenance service performed
Maintenance inspection completed


07/02/2001 52,931 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced


08/15/2001 61,128 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Recommended maintenance service performed
Maintenance inspection completed


11/08/2001 76,375 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Recommended maintenance service performed
Maintenance inspection completed


12/28/2001 84,632 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Two tires mounted and balanced


02/08/2002 91,419 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Recommended maintenance service performed
Maintenance inspection completed


03/29/2002 99,316 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced


05/10/2002 107,195 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Recommended maintenance service performed
Maintenance inspection completed


08/14/2002 122,325 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Recommended maintenance service performed
Maintenance inspection completed
Brake fluid flushed/changed


11/15/2002 137,538 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Recommended maintenance service performed
Maintenance inspection completed


02/19/2003 152,095 Service Facility
Vehicle serviced
Recommended maintenance service performed
Maintenance inspection completed
Blower motor replaced
Antifreeze/coolant flushed/changed


05/27/2004 216,200 Minnesota
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Rochester, MN
Title #C1480S149
Title or registration issued
New owner reported

Neicey59

Did you ever get your money or the car?

alrefai

No I didn't get my money or the car. The seller claims that he already sold the car to someone else in Rhode inland.
I already filed theft report with the Rochester, MN Police. I was told by the investigation police officer that he will submit this case for criminal prosecution against the seller (Jason) and his Mother Ex-husband (Robert). I don’t know how long this process is going take but I am sure someone is going to jail if he doesn’t pay.
Meanwhile I wanna file civil law suit but far I couldn’t find decent lawyer in the seller home town. Any feedback will be appreciated.

69chevelle

I never buy something from someone with a zero feedback rating on Ebay. I would hesitate even if the seller has ten positives.

Hope you get your money back....

Kirill

alrefai,

Check "other" Benz forum - guys put some more replies to your post.

Also check with your homeowner insurance they may cover that kind of theft.

alrefai

I will check. thanks

sawloo

Hope you will get your money back.

I also had few bad experience buying stuff on eBay I paid but never receive the items. Both eBay and Paypal refused to pay me back. They said their protection program "does not guarantee recovery of your funds"!!!!! I was very upset with them and now I don't buy anything expensive from there anymore.

S_kLaSse

alrefai,
find a lawyer to take care of it.
My point of view:
- you won the auction.
- winning bidder should follow the seller's payment instuction. WHICH YOU DID.
- he comfirmed that he received it.
- no matter where he deposited the fund is up to him. As long as you PAID.
- So, GO AND CLAIM YOUR MONEY.

Goodluck bro....

MadDawg

that is so gay, im sorry dude! ya, seller ratings is a must, dont buy inless their rating is above 98%, seems strange? for all those 96% and below, usually sell hundreds apon hundreds of things on ebay, and you will find if you set it to 200 replys from buyers, there will usually be 10-50 bad (red) complaints about a certain bid that didnt go as planned. i have had 1 bad ebay experince, but it was 20$, but they didnt except payment cuz they didnt have any in stock (even tho it said 998 in stock on its first day of opening!!!)

MrSpace

Even if he was to deliver, I still don't understand why you sent everything...

Etienne

alrefai

I decided to take few days off from work to fly and pickup the car because the seller stopped cooperating with shipping arrangements. The seller disappeared for few days after the payment was received.


Last week I learned from the police investigation officer that the seller already collected another $15000 from someone else in Rhode Island prior my incident. The other victim did not get the car or his money back as well.