1. WE DON'T OWN, BUY OR SELL VEHICLES LISTED ON OUR SITE.
Carvelocity.com is an online car listing service that connects
car buyers with sellers. We are not car dealers. Any listing information about a
particular car comes directly from the seller-not us. If you receive an email that
implies we're selling or buying a vehicle, please report it to
us and to law enforcement. It's most certainly a scam.
2. WE DON'T OFFER AUTOMOTIVE WAREHOUSING OR SHIPPING SERVICES.
Any email that requests a deposit or payment for a shipment of a car stored in an
Carvelocity.com warehouse is a scam. Carvelocity.com
doesn't own a warehouse, and we don't ship cars.
We don't get involved in transactions between buyers and sellers. There are many
reputable warehousing and shipping services that can make long-distance transactions
easy. Just be sure to check out the services proposed on your own. If a seller recommends
a bogus warehousing or shipping service, report the seller to us
and to law enforcement.
3. WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IN TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN BUYERS AND SELLERS.
Don't respond to any email that appears to come from Carvelocity.com
(for example, by displaying our logo) and urges you to complete the sale or purchase
of a car listed on our site. Such emails are a sure sign of a scam.
Other signs of fraud are emails that:
- Claim the security of a transaction is guaranteed by Carvelocity.com.
- Imply we've verified information about a particular buyer, seller or listing.
- Describe a "preferred" or "pre-approved" buyer or seller program.
Carvelocity.com doesn't guarantee or endorse transactions, and
we don't have preferred or pre-approved buyers or sellers. We'll never encourage
you to buy any particular vehicle listed on Carvelocity.com or
to sell your vehicle to any particular buyer. If you receive a suspicious email
such as the ones described above, report it to us and to law enforcement.
4. WE DON'T ASK YOU FOR PERSONAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION VIA EMAIL.
Online fraud often begins with a spoof email requesting financial information. These
spoof, or scam, emails often impersonate a reputable company such as Carvelocity.com
by illegally displaying a company's name, logo or trademark. The intent is to deceive
customers into revealing information such as: Username Password Social security
number Bank account number Bank routing number Credit card number The only time
we'll ever request your credit card information is when you're in the process of
purchasing an ad on our website. We will not take down your listing because you
don't provide account information. If you receive an email that asks for the kinds
of information listed above, don't respond. Instead, report the
email to us and to law enforcement.
5. WE DON'T INSPECT VEHICLES LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE FOR FLOOD DAMAGE.
Hurricane Katrina flooded an estimated half a million cars. These damaged vehicles
may make it into the used car market all over the U.S. and may be sold to unsuspecting
buyers. Be aware that flood-damaged vehicles may have been: Submerged in water and
covered in mud. Contaminated with toxic chemicals. Carrying large amounts of harmful
residue. Corroded, causing damage to electronic components.
6. TO AVOID PURCHASING A FLOOD-DAMAGED VEHICLE:
Inspect the car Schedule an inspection with a professional, mechanic who
is trained in handling flood-damaged vehicles. Look for mud or mildew under the
carpets, in low areas such as the trunk floor, and in enclosed areas such as doors,
panels and gas tanks. Inspect headlights and door panels for a water line. Avoid
skin contact with fluids, and use protective nitrile-membrane gloves when possible.
Verify the title Don't just look for Louisiana titles. Damaged vehicles may
have been registered out of state. Also, keep in mind that titles can be altered
and transferred to different states, and not all states require that a vehicle's
title indicate whether or not it has been salvaged.
Check the VIN in the national database
The National Insurance Crime Bureauhttps compiled a database of
vehicles involved in recent hurricanes. Check the VIN free of charge to help determine
if the vehicle was involved in either Hurricane Katrina or Rita. Keep in mind that
there may be vehicles affected by the hurricanes that are not included in this database.
Obtain a vehicle history report as such as who holds the title, whether the
car has been in an accident and if it was ever reported stolen, salvaged or damaged.
If you own a flood-damaged vehicle, contact your insurance company. Your
insurance company can work with vendors to determine if your car is worth repairing
or if it needs to be declared a total loss.
7. BEWARE OF FRAUDULENT ESCROW SERVICES AND PROTECT YOURSELF WITH SECURED PAYMENT.
For a fee, an escrow service holds the buyer's payment until the seller has delivered
the item purchased. Such a third-party service can protect both parties from fraud.
However, scammers often set up fake escrow services. They claim an affiliation with
well-known companies like Carvelocity.com and TRUSTe, for example,
to create a sense of security. Carvelocity.com does not endorse
all escrow services and TRUSTe does not operate an escrow service.
Remember these tips before you agree to use an escrow service: Avoid any service
that implies an affiliation or partnership with Carvelocity.com.
Avoid any service that claims to be operated by TRUSTe. TRUSTe doesn't operate an
escrow service. Verify an escrow service's legitimacy by checking with state regulators.
Research the escrow service Decline the transaction if the other party insists on
using an escrow service that you’re not sure about. Use a search engine to open
the website in a different browser-don’t click on a link the seller provides Dial
the contact number listed Search for the company on the BBB website.
And once you find an escrow service you're comfortable with, be sure you understand:
What conditions must be met before the payment is released to the seller. What the
escrow service charges. Which party is expected to pay the fee. If any escrow-related
email or website implies an affiliation with us by displaying our logo or by other
means, report it to us and law enforcement. Check our Internet
fraud resources section for more advice on escrow services.
8. COMMON-SENSE ADVICE FOR BUYERS
Buying a car you find online is a lot like buying a car through a classified ad
in the newspaper. In either case, use your best judgment.
Know the car's market value Be suspicious of a vehicle priced significantly
below market value. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Obtain a vehicle history report A vehicle history report can provide useful
information, such as who holds the title to the car and whether the car has been
in an accident reported to authorities. You'll also find out whether the car was
ever reported stolen, salvaged or damaged.
Inspect the car Schedule an inspection with a professional mechanic or an
inspection service if the car is not in your area. An early inspection can help
you identify problems. However, keep in mind that an inspection isn't a warranty
and won't guarantee a car is free from defects or that inspectors have identified
all existing problems.
Confirm contact information Before you send payment, verify the seller's
street address and phone number an email address is not enough. ZIP codes, area
codes and addresses should match up. Be wary if the seller is located overseas.
Use email wisely Avoid sending sensitive personal or financial information
(such as your social security number, credit card number or checking account number)
to a seller via email. Remember that email communications are not secure and can
be easily forwarded to others.
Get a detailed receipt Ask the seller for a receipt that states whether the
vehicle is being sold with a warranty or "as is."
Get title to the vehicle Make sure you know what's required in your state
to transfer title to the vehicle you're buying.
9. COMMON-SENSE ADVICE FOR SELLERS
Selling a car you find online is a lot like selling a car through a classified ad
in the newspaper. In either case, use your best judgment.
Confirm contact information Be particularly wary of buyers willing to purchase
your car sight-unseen, especially buyers located overseas. Always verify the buyer's
street address and phone number.
Secure payment first Do not transfer the title until you have payment in
hand at the agreed upon price.
Verify that a certified check is genuine Before you deposit a certified check,
verify authenticity with the issuing bank-not just your bank. Make sure the account
contains sufficient funds and the issuing bank guarantees payment on the check.
It may take a week or more for the check to clear. It hasn't cleared just because
your bank has accepted it and credited your account.
Beware of overpayment or other complicated payment schemes Don't agree to
any plan where the buyer asks to send a check for more than the sale price and requests
that the seller refund the difference. And be suspicious of any buyer who proposes
making payment through a friend or agent of the buyer.
10. INTERNET FRAUD RESOURCES
Visit the sites below to learn more about Internet fraud.