I've found a very cheap car on craigslist and the owner wants to use eBay as a transaction method. Is this safe and reliable?

Question

I found the car on Craigslist. I emailed the owner because it's a sweet deal to miss out on. She says she wants to sell the car because her husband died a month ago from a heart attack and the car was his and brings bad memories. She also sold her house and is moving to Her brothers house with her daughter. She wants to use Ebay as a transaction method. She says the car would get here 2-3 days and I will have a 5 inspection period. She says eBay would hold on to the funds until I confirm that I want to purchase the vehicle. I want to trust eBay but I'm not sure if this is reliable or trustworthy to buy.

Answer 1

That is one of the most common scams going around craigslist today. See the second paragraph in the source. Very low prices on cars on craigslist are also one of the hallmarks of a scam.



BTW, it is *very* likely the seller is a guy giving you a sob story as a woman, and likely he does not live in the US. That is why it is called a "con" - short for confidence. This whole setup screams SCAM.

Answer 2

While ebay may be a valid site, the "deal" you are describing is almost certainly a scam. Nobody with an ounce of sense is going to buy a car unseen.

Are you for real or a troll?

Answer 3

It's a scam. Read the warnings on Craigslist.

Answer 4

If it wasn't a scam, and it really is a sweet deal, why wouldn't she sell it to a relative, friend, neighbor or someone in her town. Don't ever make a big ticket purchase unless you can see the item and carry it away after you purchase it.

Answer 5

Yes that's way more info than you needed to buy a car and has no relevance.You can't sell a house in one month that's rare.My advice is keep looking and in person.

Answer 6

Scam. Read the warnings at the top of the CL page. And don't try to "figure" it out or have the scammer explain it to. I think they use a fake ebay web site so you think everything is guaranteed.

Answer 7

That is a common scam.



Use common sense when shopping for a used car ( or any other item for that matter ). If the deal seems too good to be true, it more likely is.

Answer 8

It is a scam. I've heard the same story.

Answer 9

umm cash is universal my friend, if they only want to use paypal its a scam. read the scam alert at the top of the page, or are you just dumb and ignored it all together?

Answer 10

Its a scam

Answer 11

Why ask here whenyou can call Ebay and talk to someone that actually knows what service they provide? There is a buyer protection plan through them that offers you protection from misrepresentation, so check it out.

Answer 12

very safe and reliable for the seller. You send your money, they keep it.



There never was a car.

Answer 13

Before you sign anything, look up "sucker" in the dictionary.