The automobile industry has grown over the years and now has a wide reach. The car shipping industry is a good example of its extension and it is a very profitable venture. As with every other profitable venture, unscrupulous individuals make moves to get involved. Unfortunately, this is especially at the expense of customers.
For example, an auto-related study discovered the rise in victims of car shipping scammers. The report explained that about 10 percent of individuals in need of car shipping services in the UK end up as victims of car shipping scammers. You can read this article to have a better understanding of the situation.
The essence of this piece is to ensure you understand how these unscrupulous individuals operate. This knowledge will ensure that you do not become their victim as some have.
The Tactics of Car Shipping Scammers
Car shipping scammers use a variety of tactics to con you out of your money. It is important that you know these tactics and they include:
Low Price Tactic
There are many companies involved in the business of shipping cars. As a result, competitiveness is intense, and offering low prices to clients is one of the ways some companies stay ahead.
However, this is the same tactic that many scammer companies use as well. It is only that the service prices offered are usually ridiculously low. Many people end up as their victims in the bid to have their automobiles moved at a very cheap price.
Unfortunately, they end up paying a lot more than the advertised price. There are two ways these unscrupulous individuals are known to do this. The first is by introducing other fees besides the shipping fee. This could be the car storage fee, vehicle transport insurance fee, and other ridiculous fees that they can come up with.
The second way these scammers get away with this is by adding a tricky clause in the agreement. This clause permits price change. So, the price of their service can change from the moment the vehicle is in their care. Of course, the price goes up and the client is always at the receiving end.
Counterfeit Company
There are honest and trusted companies in the business of shipping cars within and beyond this country. These companies have made a good name for themselves and it is not even hard to get first-time clients to patronize them.
Some scammers have been known to set up counterfeit companies in the name of such companies. So, clients who patronize these scammers are under the impression that they are dealing with a reputable company they know.
This is why it is not enough to know the right company. Knowledge of how to contact a legitimate and reputable car transportation company for car shipping purposes is equally important.
Other Ways Auto Scammers Operate
There are other ways these scammers operate by indirectly taking advantage of the auto shipping industry. Some of their tactics include:
Acting as a Fake Buyer
There is an active and booming market for used vehicles in the United States and beyond. For example, A little over 40 million US dollars’ worth of sales was made in 2021. This was significantly higher than the sales recorded the previous year.
It is even estimated that more sales will be made over the years. These scammers also have their eyes on this market and have made moves. One way they do this is by acting as fake buyers.
They reach out to people who intend to sell their vehicles. A price is agreed and the fake buyer actually sends the money via check. However, the seller will be charged with the responsibility of covering the shipping cost.
The trick is to make the seller use a fake shipping company set up by the fake buyer. The check sent by the fake buyer will be declared invalid not long after the shipping cost has been paid by the seller.
One key part of this scam operation is to have the seller pay for shipping costs via untraceable payment options. Western Union happens to be a popular option.
Acting as a Fake Seller
The scammer declares intent to sell a vehicle. Usually, the price is ridiculously low. This is a tactic to lure people to show interest.
The trick is to set up a scam website that is supposed to hold the money for the vehicle in escrow. Some scammers even give buyers access to fake trackers. This is to deceive buyers about the movement of the vehicle.
Quite several people have had terrible experiences as victims of these scammers. For more on this, you can visit: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/.
Conclusion
Understanding how auto scammers operate will help you avoid being their victim. This is why some of their tactics have been revealed in this article. Make sure you make informed decisions in light of this information.
