Buyer wants vehicle report - might be a scam

[Winemaker2]

The other scam I have fended off several times is a,mso called, " interested buyer" texts a link for the seller to "verify their identity".
When refusing to click on anything they usually get belligerent demanding I identify myself as a real person.
I simply reply they can verify I'm real when they come to inspect the item I'm selling.
Next just block the #

[JohnBike]

Search “Is (name of website) a scam?” “ https://getvehreport.com/” returned dozens of hits identifying it as a scam.

Whenever you’re faced with an unknown like this, ask your search engine to do what it does best. I’ve avoided dangerous territory many times with this simple technique.

X2 on canceling the CC.

[SSchultze]

Lots of great responses and thoughts on credit card cancellation and contacting the state attorney general.

Normally I catch the scams as they come in, but this is one that got me and I'm sharing it to prevent others from possibly doing the same.

[Gary RVRoamer]

It may be that the only "scam" here is an agent of the company pretending to be a buyer in order to gain a sale and thus a commission of some sort. Unethical, but not necessarily a phony product or financially risky. The actual report may be legit; as the vehicle owner you should know if the info was accurate, right?

[F4Gary]

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

It may be that the only "scam" here is an agent of the company pretending to be a buyer in order to gain a sale and thus a commission of some sort. Unethical, but not necessarily a phony product or financially risky. The actual report may be legit; as the vehicle owner you should know if the info was accurate, right?

Seems like an awful lot of work for the $30.
In hindsight, I'd say get it yourself and I will reimburse you if you buy the coach.

[hohenwald48]

Watch your CC statement. Most of those vehicle report sites contain a statement somewhere in their information that you are purchasing an auto renewing membership with a monthly charge to your card. Usually at considerably more than the original charge.

Trying to reach the vehicle report company to cancel your "subscription" is hopeless. Cancelling the card is the only way to stop the recurring charges. The sooner you do it they less it will cost you.

[SJ-Chris]

Originally Posted by bigb56

Here's an explanation of how one of the scams work, this one is commission based. Others could compromise your CC info.
https://computertutorflorida.com/202...e-report-scam/

A good reason to stick with Carfax. Thanks for the heads up.

^^^THIS


Well known scam. Two possible scams...
1) Fake website that steals your CC info
or
2) Scammer is affiliate marketing for the real/legit car report website and they get a % of the $30 fee.


Note: This is also very common with apartment/home rentals where they ask you to get a credit report from a specific website or background check.


Stay safe out there!
Chris

[Ray,IN]

Thankfully it was only $30, BUT call your CC issuer now and explain what happened.

Originally Posted by Mark_K5LXP

I'm wondering what's in this report? I've seen carfax reports but even those don't have much detail in the way of information unless the car was either in a wreck or dealer serviced. Last car I had for 10 years and when the dealer pulled up the carfax for it the only information there was that I was the owner. I did all my own service so the report was basically blank. So it would seem for carfax or any other history tracing it would be limited to public records, which for an RV would likely be very little.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Getting off-topic here, but Carfax reporting is entirely voluntary, if a body shop does not sign-up with Carfax and does not report working on a vehicle, there is nothing for Carfax to report.
reference: https://www.carfaxserviceshops.com/

[Tachdriver]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Thankfully it was only $30, BUT call your CC issuer now and explain what happened.




Getting off-topic here, but Carfax reporting is entirely voluntary, if a body shop does not sign-up with Carfax and does not report working on a vehicle, there is nothing for Carfax to report.
reference: https://www.carfaxserviceshops.com/

CARFAX does not report everything. I bought a used car from a dealer which had a printed CARFAX. After getting car home I noticed a few anomalies on the RH side of the car. The rear view mirror was not painted but only primered. I never noticed it on my walk around. Car was dark blue. Primer was dark gray. I had to replace an out of round wheel, as if previous owner ran over curb as I never did myself. Paint was chipping off a few years later and rust developing between panels on RH side, LH side was perfect. Doors on that side only weren't completely faired well if you look really closely. Realized car was in a pretty good accident and it never showed up on CARFAX.

CARFAX is okay but I will never fully trust it. From here on any used auto I will inspect it a lot more.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Originally Posted by Tachdriver

CARFAX does not report everything. I bought a used car from a dealer which had a printed CARFAX. After getting car home I noticed a few anomalies on the RH side of the car. The rear view mirror was not painted but only primered. I never noticed it on my walk around. Car was dark blue. Primer was dark gray. I had to replace an out of round wheel, as if previous owner ran over curb as I never did myself. Paint was chipping off a few years later and rust developing between panels on RH side, LH side was perfect. Doors on that side only weren't completely faired well if you look really closely. Realized car was in a pretty good accident and it never showed up on CARFAX.

CARFAX is okay but I will never fully trust it. From here on any used auto I will inspect it a lot more.

Carfax reports everything that has been reported to it, but that is often somewhat less than everything. Many shops do not participate at all, or only report major repairs. Even some insurers do not report everything. And reporting is much less common for RVs than for cars & trucks.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Originally Posted by F4Gary

Seems like an awful lot of work for the $30.
In hindsight, I'd say get it yourself and I will reimburse you if you buy the coach.

The sales commission is probably $5-$10 and after dinner a guy can easily knock out a half dozen inquiries to sellers. As a side-hustle, might pick up an extra $20-$30 per evening without leaving home. Not a get rich quick scheme, just some extra money.

[SSchultze]

Update on my post.

Reading more of your comments on my post here, I think the posts on a person working for the website appears to be likely.

I contacted my credit card company and luckily the transaction was through a website called Payoneer. Payoneer comes up as safe on a variety of reviews. No need to cancel my card, I’ll just keep an eye on it. I also went on Payoneer’s website and there is not a recurring plan on the account, nor is my credit card data saved to my account. I am waiting to hear back from Payoneer about the seller of the report.

I also notice I can no longer reach the getvehreport.com website.

[kendall69]

A few years ago I had a buyer make me jump through dozens of hoops before she purchased the RV that I was selling.



It was a ford chassis, she first had me go the Ford dealership and send her a complete inspection report. Then she had me go to the smog station and send her a certified smog certificate. Next she made me go to a certified TV repair facility and have the entire coach inspected my a certified RV repair person. She wanted every system on the coach tested and signed off on.



It took weeks to comply with all her demands. One of the reasons I complied with her is even if she didn't purchase the coach all the documents would be good for the next potential buyer.



Later I found out she was an attorney so it all made sense why she was doing this type of due diligence.



My wife was livid every time I jumped through her hoops, many times she said would never do what I did.


The good news is she did buy the coach.



Actually, in the long run, she taught me what to do next time I would buy a coach.

[BayRunner]

Originally Posted by kendall69

A few years ago I had a buyer make me jump through dozens of hoops before she purchased the RV that I was selling.



It was a ford chassis, she first had me go the Ford dealership and send her a complete inspection report. Then she had me go to the smog station and send her a certified smog certificate. Next she made me go to a certified TV repair facility and have the entire coach inspected my a certified RV repair person. She wanted every system on the coach tested and signed off on.



It took weeks to comply with all her demands. One of the reasons I complied with her is even if she didn't purchase the coach all the documents would be good for the next potential buyer.



Later I found out she was an attorney so it all made sense why she was doing this type of due diligence.



My wife was livid every time I jumped through her hoops, many times she said would never do what I did.


The good news is she did buy the coach.



Actually, in the long run, she taught me what to do next time I would buy a coach.

Inspections are typically buyers responsibility. I would have told her that an inspection is fine, but it’s on your dime.