Roadfaxit VIN check scam?

[flyday58]

I almost bit on this one. Well I did partly bite. Got this email:
How’s it going.. Idk if your getting my msgs so this would be the 4th time. Im the same person that tried to msg
you earlier so.. resending:
My son saw the ad for your bike. He is located in Lordsburg, NM and he is considering getting her. You can msg him at michaelrrodriguezz71 (at) gmail
Warmest!
Anya Rodriguez
I thought, hey, interest at last, so I sent an email to him. Got this back after initial contact:
I have the money and I'm planning to purchase your motorcycle if
everything looks good, but before driving to you I would like to see a
vin fax report that you can run it at https://roadfaxit.com. I'm
asking you as a precaution. Don't get me wrong, I'd buy it but in the
last two weeks, I've driven hundreds of miles and bought three reports
just to see some motorcycle crap. I'm not a perfectionist, but I don't
want to buy junk like others can you feel me? And, I'll give you the
money back if there's nothing serious like frame damage for example.
Please notify me when you can send me a copy.
I bought the report, but as soon as I clicked "pay now" I got that sick feeling in my stomach, the "OMG, why didn't you see this for what it is BEFORE you sent a payment??"

I actually got a VIN report (clean bike, duh) but I've been watching my bank account ever since; I even called the bank 10 minutes after sending the money because I've been down the stolen CC route before. So far I've dodged the bullet.

I bit because the first feeler email from "mom" claimed her son was in Lordsburg, which is fairly local. I drive two and three hundred miles to buy bikes myself, so seemed legit. But the de-identified note from the guy himself should have stopped me dead in my tracks. Idiot.

So far I'm only out the $24 for the VIN check. A search says Roadfaxit is a US company but the money went to the UK, along with a foreign transaction fee to further ignite my knickers. I don't know what the angle is on asking for a VIN check, but it could be a way for some to get rich $24 bucks at a time. Or maybe lure me in some other way. And of course, I haven't heard any more from either of these people.

So for those as gullible as me, watch out for this one.

[CYBORG]

A little hard to figure the angle, but it is a little strange

[Track T 2411]

Hope it works out ok. CC numbers, working email, full name, etc. can all be sold, even if it's just for advertising. Still a pain in the butt... Good luck!

[milesoffun]

I've had that same scam on a car I was selling - stopped short of paying though and a few days later, another attempt with the same MO but different player. Rats - all of them!

[Rat]

Careful ....

Gord

[flyday58]

So far I've dodged this one. I got the VIN report so I can actually use it for selling the Harley. A little poorer, a little wiser.

[shakleeman]

DANG!!! I just fell for the same deal.... of course 5 minutes BEFORE I saw your post! Paid,then contacted Paypal and my card company. Both said wait to see if you get a legitimate report before they file a fraud claim. Changing my CC just in case.

I'm thinking the report said $19.99 but the total was $23.99 - maybe Michael R is making the $4.00 fee?? He's probably a top sales rep for the company.

[flyday58]

And I did NOT dodge the bullet on this. It took almost a week but then my account was hit, mostly nickel-and-dime stuff, came to about $300 total. If there's a next time I'll cancel the card right away. And as for the fraud claim, I really don't know if the VIN check is legit.

[rcmatt007]

I am surprised they CC company didn't send a new card and # as soon as the nickel dime stuff. or have you contacted them?

[flyday58]

Oh absolutely. I’ve been with PenFed in DC since ‘94 when I went to Guam and needed to buy a car. They’ve always been great, never an overdraft fee if I bounce a check. They’re always on it when strange charges come through. I don’t know what algorithms their system uses but they alert me pretty darn quickly. This all happened Monday, I had new cards Thursday.

[raiddrten]

Just search for VINCheck. They are free and the reason why is that the National insurance Crime Bureau. Once in a while, they recover stolen motorcycles using their system.

So all the buyer needs is the vIN number to check and can do it for free.

[robin1731]

VIN = vehicle identification number

VIN number is redundant. But many do say it that way.

[Halfnaked]

I've had two nibbles on my Valkyrie. Both asked for that vin CHECK CRAP. DIDN'T FALL FOR IT, BUT THEY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY OFF THAT SCAM.

[heraldhamster]

VIN = vehicle identification number

VIN number is redundant. But many do say it that way.

yep. ATM machine, Dept. of Redundancy Dept., etc...
I'm with ya, but it's the English language.


sorry to hear ya got scammed flyday, but it happens to the best of us. only consolation is... coulda been worse.

[rcmatt007]

indeed.... where is it AT?