Buying car? READ THIS FIRST!
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Gary: Glad you identified the signs and avoided the scam. If they're good enough to buy, they're good enough to see. Caveat Emptor. Thanks.
Forum Activity for @jon-w-lundberg-sr
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Buying car? READ THIS FIRST!
General
Classic Car Fraud Alert- A New Scam Is Being Used to Lure Buyers to Non-Existent Cars
ALERT! Recently, one of my clients was the victim of a scam, which the classic car community needs to be aware of because the fraud directly implicates this market. While this scam was perpetrated using eBay, it could easily have been used on other classic car sales websites. Following below is his account of what happened and the danger signs you need to pay attention to if considering on-line purchases. Jon W. Lundberg, Sr., ASA.
Recently I bought a 1966 GTO in which the entire transaction turned out to be a fraud. Not only was there no car, the supposed seller did not even know that she was selling something on eBay. eBays insurance company tells me now as part of their investigation that until about six weeks ago, a Romanian gang had been using this scam to sell high-end motorcycles but has now moved on to classic cars.
First, they hack into the account of someone who has a low eBay score. This pretty much ensures that the seller will not notice anything going on in their eBay account because they rarely access it. (First warning sign, a seller with a low score selling a relatively high end item),
Next, they copy an ad for a classic car that is no longer active. Vehicle description, photos, VIN, Data Plate, etc. and paste that ad into the sellers account as a for sale classic car. Now they can see any questions that have been asked by prospective buyers along with any non-eBay emails and the phone numbers you may have put in your question about the item, shipping, etc. Boom! Now they have YOU. (Second warning sign: questions you asked the seller through eBay are not showing up below the item.)
After you win the item, you get a call from someone purporting to be the sellers brother (or whatever) saying he is assisting the relative to sell the car because he/she is too broken up over the recent passing of their husband/child who owned the car and Just wants it out of there so they can move on with their lives. How quickly can you meet me to inspect the car/ take delivery? (Third warning sign: manipulation).
Almost immediately after the email or call from the sellers brother, you will receive a very official looking invoice for the item with detailed instructions about how to pay for the item by bank to bank wire transfer, along with detailed information about eBays Vehicle Protection Plan. This is another (very good) copy/paste of an actual eBay invoice. (Fourth warning sign: the same invoice does not show up in your eBay inbox-which I did not crosscheck: this was my biggest mistake before actually wire transferring the funds).
After I paid for the item, I did not get the usual notification from eBay within three hours of the wire transfer. Panic Button time! I called the bank to stop it-too late. I called eBay, which confirmed that the invoice I got in my gmail was a fraud.
I have now spent the last week trying to recover my money, filling out FBI Economic Crimes reports, reports to multiple law enforcement departments, forms for the banks and eBays insurer. Dont get reeled in like I did. Pay attention to the warning signs above starting with seeing an item from someone with a low eBay score showing up with complete information like the VIN, data plate, engine code, etc. Ask yourself: if this was one of my few experiences selling ANYTHING on eBay-let alone a classic car: Would the seller know enough about selling to include undercarriage shots, the data plate, and all the stuff classic car buyers look for?
Please note. None of this experience was eBays fault. Those of ill-intent have successfully gamed their system. eBay are all over this and will resolve the issue. Other car sales websites may have also been targeted by the same scammers. In the meantime, you have been warned as to the new due diligence level required.
updated by @jon-w-lundberg-sr: 12/05/16 08:53:52AM
The First Time You Smelled NIitro? Where ? When ?
Current Drag Racing
First time I smelled nitro was August of 1954during the NHRA Safety Safari event at a yet-to-be-opened entrance drive to a new GM plant on Eckles Road in Livonia, MI. Ain't been the same since!
Humbling Compliment ...
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I've been at this - in one form or another - for 56 years now. Just this morning, vintage drag racer Stormy Byrd gave me the finest compliment I have ever received, saying, Jon, you were in the tower and made what we saw before us on the track magical, because these were more than just machines, you gave them souls.
That has always been the goal. Thanks Stormy.
updated by @jon-w-lundberg-sr: 12/05/16 08:51:42AM
HELP THE BRITS WIN - Vintage Dragster Project
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Most of you know of the Project 1320 drag racing documentary. A side project is building an engine for the almost-restored Sidney Allard Dragster - the UK's first hemi fueler. The car was built by "that" Sidney Allard in 1961. The new heart for this puppy is almost done.
Many of you are aware of that really cool and outrageous car program "Top Gear" filmed in the UK too. Well, they have a "Cool Car Wall" upon which cars receiving the most email votes find best placement. That contest is now underway and "Ally" is nearing the top. We need 100 votes to put 'er in the prime spot. It'll help the Brits complete their restoration from public support. Voting takes less than a minute and costs nothing.
Here's a note from Ally project head Brian Taylor.
Top Gear Cool Wall Project Latest Oct 3rd 11.00 am
The get Ally voted the coolest car around project has started well thanks to you and many Facebook friends. We now have 165 votes and this has been achieved in less than 3 days. We are now in the Top Twenty coolest cars on the wall. The next target is to get in the Top Ten and this will require about another 60 votes. The situation fluctuates as other cars receive votes. I see this as an important part of raising awareness in the project rather than just a bit of fun. And you can vote more than once providing its not too often and too frequent. If you all voted right now we would get there.
So get voting again and bump this e-mail to your friends and ask them to vote for us. It only takes around 15 seconds to place a vote and you only need to leave your name on the voting form. Vote via the link. Many thanks.
http://thecoolwall.com/entry/342
Thanks for your help!
Jon Lundberg
updated by @jon-w-lundberg-sr: 12/05/16 08:51:12AM
GRUMPY UPDATE
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Bill Jenkins has been in the hospital. He did have an operation to drain excess blood from his brain. Even though the technology is amazing and the success rate impressive, the first 24 hours following this surgery are dicey. He's through that and back in his room. Therapy will start soon. Recovery is a process and let us pray he travels that road as he traveled the quarter-mile, a winner!
updated by @jon-w-lundberg-sr: 12/05/16 08:51:12AM
Da Grump is bad sick
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Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins is in very bad shape. Underwent emergency brain surgery Monday and is very weak. Would appreciate prayers and kind thoughts directed toward his recovery.
updated by @jon-w-lundberg-sr: 12/05/16 08:51:12AM
PROJECT 1320 DRAG RACING DOCUMEENTARY - First interviews complete
Drag Racing History
Spent Friday recording memories of the sport and industry with the Project 1320 Documentary crew in Scottsdale. Neat people. Dave McClelland did the same on Saturday. On Sunday they had us interview each other. Very neat time with "Big Mac".
Apparently they're gonna use us to "bookend" the documentary and do fill-ins. P1320 will be conduting their first racing and industry pioneer interviews during the SEMA Show this year. Goal is to tell the WHOLE story, of the ENTIRE sport and industry, from the BEGINNING. Currently planned is a 25-part documentary presented in the manner of Ken Burn's precedent-setting "Jazz".
As you might imagine, when Dave and I got to talking about how things got started, the conversation became a bit extended. They got it all though. Real fun working and relating to Dave as our careers were mainly congruent timewise but we chose divergent paths. Neat guy this McClelland dude.
Apparently they're gonna use us to "bookend" the documentary and do fill-ins. P1320 will be conduting their first racing and industry pioneer interviews during the SEMA Show this year. Goal is to tell the WHOLE story, of the ENTIRE sport and industry, from the BEGINNING. Currently planned is a 25-part documentary presented in the manner of Ken Burn's precedent-setting "Jazz".
As you might imagine, when Dave and I got to talking about how things got started, the conversation became a bit extended. They got it all though. Real fun working and relating to Dave as our careers were mainly congruent timewise but we chose divergent paths. Neat guy this McClelland dude.
- Posts: 173
- Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:31 pm
- Location: Oro Valley, AZ
updated by @jon-w-lundberg-sr: 12/05/16 08:51:10AM
NHRR - BOWLING GREEN
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Nowmaking appraisal reservations for the NHRR at Bowling Green, June 18-20. Contact me for a quote!
Jon Lundberg, ASA
updated by @jon-w-lundberg-sr: 12/05/16 08:51:05AM
EASTERN RACERS -- Appraising cars at "BEST OF TIMES NOSTALGIA NATIONALS", VMS - Dinwiddie, VA, May 14-16
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Should any of you who are taking cars to the "Best Of Times Nostalgia Nationals" at VMS in 2 weeks, wish to have them appraised for value; please conact me this week. Those appointments need to be scheduled so enough time is available for me to properly catalog and photograph each vehicle. Muscle or collector cars, street rods, race cars - all qualify.
Can be reached through here or direct at: jon@autovaluz.com
Jon Lundberg
updated by @jon-w-lundberg-sr: 12/05/16 08:51:04AM