Earlier today, it was quite an exciting and disappointing day. If you read the post, you know the story. Now, the evidence.
The person claiming to be selling the Tesla gave the name “Major Audreanna Batts.” Her address was given as 13901 Walney Lane, Chantilly, VA 20151, which is a real address (I checked Google Maps). Using Street View, I could tell that the street was paved like the one in the car photos, but I could not locate the house in the photo. I also Googled the seller’s name and got NO results, which seemed odd to me.
As mentioned in the email dialog yesterday, the seller was handing me off to eBay Motors to complete the transaction. I started getting eBay branded emails with instructions.
One odd thing I noticed about the email was the address: ebay.motors@protection-customer.com. The domain appeared to be incorrect. Shouldn’t it end in @ebay.com or @ebaymotors.com?
Also, the attached invoice was unlike any invoice I’d ever seen, but I’ve only seen General Motors invoices. (I did find the fine print at the end somewhat convincing.)
I replied to one of the emails asking about tax, title & license fees. They responded with:
Again, it seemed like a normal Customer Service interaction, except for the last question. That seemed sort of pushy and made me uneasy. Then I received the wiring instructions for the money. This is when things really started looking wrong. Who the hell am I wiring money to???
Right about then Steve, a Facebook friend, commented on several things he’d noticed on the provided “eBay” materials that conflicted with information on the eBay site. Specifically, he mentioned if it isn’t listed on eBay, it’s not ON eBay. You cannot just hire eBay to ship the vehicle and handle the cash transfer. Thanks, Steve!
Based on Steve’s comments on Facebook and the suspicions that were building up inside me, I went to eBay Motor’s website and found a contact phone number and called them. They confirmed they have no knowledge of the vehicle and they NEVER use wire transfers.
Now, it would seem somebody can take the wiring instructions and start to trace back to the scammers…
I ended up emailing the seller one last time to say that eBay Motors had told me they had no such vehicle in their system. As of yet, there’s been no response, but I’m not really expecting there to be one.
Live, learn and practice due diligence!
I have to admit, I thought about just deleting the earlier post and saving face, but I thought it better to spread the word. Now, if someone Googles the name or VIN (5YJSA1AC4DFP10644), they’ll find this and avoid getting ripped off. The VIN, as I stated earlier, is a real Tesla Model S. Just because you’re looking at a car with that VIN doesn’t mean it’s the scam.
Buzz, I am just curious (because we have one of our Tesla’s for sale) and I was wondering when you searched for a used Tesla and you found that 40 kwh at a dealer, what site did that take you to?
I have been all over the web over the last couple of months looking at Tesla inventory and pricing, etc.
Your experience is quite interesting and I never amazed at the lengths that people will go to in order to scam. I love that you posted your entire experience for others to see just how legit it cam seem initially.
I was all excited for you to become a Tesla owner and share your perspective on that within your blog!
We have our Tesla consigned with a dealer in Dallas and they are great to do business with.
Regards..
Teresa Rickerson Schaefer
Teresa, I was just surfing Cars.com when I located the Tesla. The dealership it indicated was Eagleville Motors in Storrs, CT. I sent a message to the dealership on a Sunday. Monday they promptly replied, “website hacked don’t have this vehicle THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME”
Amazing. Thanks for the reply
Teresa,
Why are you selling your Tesla?
Had any trouble with it?
Did you enjoy owning it?
Would you buy another Tesla?
Thanks.
I wouldn’t be too confident about that address, either. I live right in that area. There’s a Walney Road, which is a good-sized secondary road, and some close variations back in the neighborhoods (Walney Way, Walney Park Drive, etc.), but there’s no Walney Lane.
Buzz,
Thanks for posting this. My husband was looking at a Cadillagc XLR from the same seller. Things were not quite adding up. When I googled her name you site came up and confirmed our suspicions. Thanks for helping us avoid a costly mistake.
Thanks for letting me know. I feel a little less foolish. Now, we need to come up with a sting operation to get these crooks!
FYI: They “Audreanna Batts” are still out there using same tatics! Beware! Looking at a BMW online… they hacked a card dealer site in North Carolina this past weekend. Get the word out!!
What I don’t understand, is why don’t they switch names. “Audreanna Batts” is known and several Googlers have found this blog. If they used a different name, it seems they’d be more immune to detection. This makes me think they might not know we’re onto them. The next person poised to buy from Audreanna, should take the wire transfer information to the FBI. This seems like a federal offense in that the crime would employ a fraudulent wire transfer and cross state lines.
Had the same experience with “Major” Audreanna Batts. Said she is shipping out to Iraq August 10 to “replace our troops over there”. Found a 2003 Porsche Boxster S with 26,000 miles for $15,000 on PowerOn Auto. When I responded to their web site for the VIN # , Audreanna emailed back with a VIN #. After checking that VIN with CARFAX, CARFAX reported no such vehicle existed with that VIN. After asking Audreanna to explain that discrepancy, she gave me the “song and dance” about the Boxster being “packed and sealed” at EBay ready for shipping. EBay will ship and return the car at her expense. When I asked why the Boxster was not listed on EBay, have had no response from the “Major”. Glad you are exposing this fraud so other may not get taken in a “Major” way.