Community Forums

BSWS · 10-25-2024, 09:46 AM

I have a motorhome listed for sale in the classifieds of this forum and was contacted by a possible buyer yesterday. It seemed like I had an interested buyer until she asked me to provide a history report.

She sent me to a link for a company called The Auto Clearance. Their page looked somewhat believable but I saw a few suspicious things. I contacted the "buyer" again with a few questions and offered my VIN so she could pull the report if she wanted to. Then she explained that they will only sell them to sellers. That was all the red flags I needed.

I found a warning from the FTC today about this scam.

I was lucky and didn't get scammed so I wanted to warn anyone here who might be selling to watch out for the "History Report" scam.

jcrrv · 10-25-2024, 09:57 AM

Same happened to me on the sale of a truck. I figured it was a scam to get sales for the "reports." ... and of course more of your info...

BSWS · 10-25-2024, 10:04 AM

Originally I thought it was just for selling the reports but I have reread their web page many times and they try to make it sound as though their "technicians' are doing a complete evaluation of your RV. I know that's not true so I suspect the whole "company" is a scam that is phishing for credit card info.

leei · 10-25-2024, 05:46 PM

Tried it on me today as well. Got a little snippy when I said that I went with a report from CarFax. :-) I reported the website to the BBB, for what that's worth.

glwinger · 10-25-2024, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leei

Tried it on me today as well. Got a little snippy when I said that I went with a report from CarFax. :-) I reported the website to the BBB, for what that's worth.

All BBB does is record and publish complaints. They will try to contact the offender, but usually the company doesn't respond, and the go no further. They do not take any legal action. I've had this happen numerous times. Your only other consideration is contacting the Attorney Generals office.

DRM901 · 10-25-2024, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSWS

I have a motorhome listed for sale in the classifieds of this forum and was contacted by a possible buyer yesterday. It seemed like I had an interested buyer until she asked me to provide a history report.

She sent me to a link for a company called The Auto Clearance. Their page looked somewhat believable but I saw a few suspicious things. I contacted the "buyer" again with a few questions and offered my VIN so she could pull the report if she wanted to. Then she explained that they will only sell them to sellers. That was all the red flags I needed.

I found a warning from the FTC today about this scam.

I was lucky and didn't get scammed so I wanted to warn anyone here who might be selling to watch out for the "History Report" scam.

Report it to the administrators here. They will delete their user ID. I had a problem with a sofa we listed here. It took a few days for them to respond, but they did the right thing by suspending the user.

mokurt · 10-26-2024, 04:12 AM

Their out there!

Had my 2001 dodge ram for sale listed on FB.
Had someone contact me and asked the normal questions until he ask me to provide a history report from a company he provided which would have cost $30.
I said if he wants a report he can pay for it.
We went back and forth on who would pay for it.

I finally stopped contact with him
I looked on FB for his info and he was located in the Middle East!

oldenavy · 10-26-2024, 04:50 AM

Had the same scam attempted on me last year when selling an RV and a car. It’s too bad all their inventiveness doesn’t go into something productive.

TC Johnson · 11-03-2024, 03:48 PM

I am also being chased by a "buyer" who saw my ad here for our Newmar KSDP. Gave me two sites to get reports from, but would not lock down a time to see the RV. Said they are ready to buy once they have the report.

Right. Sight unseen?

I will not be responding to them any longer. I hate scammers!

TC

SnowG · 11-03-2024, 11:42 PM

What is the scam? they are saying they want to buy an RV to sell reports? Or you think they are trying to scrape credit card info or owner info?

mokurt · 11-04-2024, 03:46 AM

At the minimum they get your credit card info from the seller ordering the history report.

Who knows what they can do with it after that.

BSWS · 11-05-2024, 08:21 AM

I would say that it's very likely that they get your CC info. When I told the "buyer" that I didn't want to give that company my CC info she told me to call them and they will send me a secure link that will protect my information. That was a red flag. She also said that they will not sell the report to a buyer, that's exactly what Carfax does. that was a red flag. When I told her that I was on to the scam she immediately stopped ant contact with me. I didn't need any more information to see that this was a scam.

Donskiman · 11-05-2024, 08:38 AM

Just tell them you'll give them the VIN and then deduct their cost of the report they want from the price of your RV if they buy it from you. That will likely end negotiations immediately if it's a scammer.

Under no circumstances should a buyer be requesting a seller to pay for anything the buyer wants.

**Lt Dan** · 11-05-2024, 11:22 AM

IMPORTANT

Any time you receive a message that you think is a scam, use the Contact Us link at the bottom of every web page and notify the Help Desk. Let us know the email address it came from so it can be investigated and we can stop this sort of activity by possibly removing them from the site.

Thank you

Site Team