How to avoid Internet scams
when buying or selling old trucks

The world wide reach of the Web and the astonishing speed with which a deal can be made facilitate things for the bad guys everywhere and their scams are becoming more common than never.

You have to keep your eyes open and do the best you can to protect yourself against scam artists. These cowardly little varmints are stupid and narrow minded but they do their home work and they create some scenarios that really help them to get what they are looking for with their online scams.

It may seem like we're exaggerating when we talk about Internet scams but scam artists have several ways of taking your money while you try to buy or sell an old truck. 

The problem of online scams is so serious that many websites that buy or sell classic cars and trucks have pages informing their visitors of the scams. Fortunately you can go online yourself and look for information on the party you're dealing with before you commit yourself to a deal.

MelissaData.com is an excellent source of information you can use. Some of the data is free and the rest you'll have to pay for. But it's not too expensive and it may be worth your while to get all the details about the person or persons who you are going to do business with.

Most of the time scammers invent stories and put themselves as agents of the buyer or seller. Don't fall for this. If you're buying or selling make sure you deal with the right person or somebody who has a legal power of attorney. Always insist on talking with the other party directly over the phone or face to face.

If you are selling anything don't deliver the merchandise before getting paid. Cash the check or money order first and then deliver the merchandise. If you're selling a vehicle keep it in your garage and only sign the title after getting paid.

Never give anybody the number of your bank account, passwords and so on unless it is absolutely necessary and you know who you're giving the information to. Above all never give your Social Security number to anybody you don't know or can't identify. You have to keep this in mind not only when dealing with the possibility of an Internet scam but also to avoid the very common crime of identity theft.

You may need more than common sense

This story doesn't involve Internet scams but it shows how careful you have to be.

Once I put a car in consignment to be sold at a used car dealer. They had a big showroom with many good cars for sale.

A few days later the owner of the place called me and asked me to bring him the car papers. He said he had a prospective buyer and he wanted to make sure everything was in order. I gave him the documents. Remember it was a big business, with a closed showroom and lots of expensive cars for sale.

A couple of weeks later I decided to find out how the sale was going. I went there and found out that my car wasn't there anymore. I asked about it and the manager told me the vehicle has been moved to another showroom.

To make a long story short they sold the car, got the money, falsified my signature on the title and that was that. I went to court and lost the case. I also lost the US$ 25,000 I was asking for the car.

I repeat once more that I was dealing with a big company that had a showroom full of expensive cars for sale. I found out later that all those cars had been left there in consignment by their owners, some of whom never saw their money either.

Scam artists are not specially smart but they do their home work and find ways to make their stories work. You don't have to be specially smart either. Just don't give them any personal information and if you're buying or selling make sure the other party does everything the way they are supposed to do before you give them your money or any document whatsoever.

Do a little research and get better informed about Internet scams.

We are all at risk. Do your part to protect yourself against Internet scams if you want to put your old truck for sale or are trying to buy one.