USAA members beware of Craig’s List service ads too good to be true.
The latest Craig’s List posting to draw concern is an ad looking for USAA insurance members with a valid driver’s license, looking to make $200-$500 several times a week.
When replying to the ad via the email address, the concerned USAA member and active military serviceman was contacted by a gentlemen identifying himself by a first name only and given a cell phone number.
The Craig’s List ad poster told the potential “hire” to send his copy of his drivers license, proof of USAA membership and insurance card to the email address.
The business name in the email does not exist as a licensed business by that name, nor as an active auto brokerage in the state where the ad was posted.
The concerned gentleman reaching out to me, asked if I thought is was the custom of auto brokers to hire strangers to “take delivery” of new cars at luxury car dealerships? The “job” he explained, “was to go with the agent and providing identification to the dealership, drive the car away. The vehicle would be paid for ahead of time.”
I asked, but my caller said he never got an answer to his question; “Why would he be signing for these cars?” from the mystery Craig’s List poster with only a first name.
My response was, “This is either a trick to grab your identity for identity theft, ” adding, “knowing USAA members typically have good credit. It is also known that USAA is open 24 hours, so should the car need to be added to the “driver’s” insurance, it would not require a physical inspection and could be done at any time of day or night, regardless of time zone.”
I sent an email to the address provided and the reply I received was that “they [the company]” works on the east coast. When I asked the Craig’s List poster how their company system works, the reply was one line: “we have clients that want the latest and greatest…” ???
My second thought was why is someone posting on Craig’s List to hire unknowing individuals to pick-up cars at this pay rate? Surely this is an hour or two job at the most, and $100.00 would be good pay. Could this process be involved in illegally activities including money laundering or exportation, I wondered? If this were the case… I explained to my caller, any signatures on delivery receipts for these vehicles could be construed as participation, if this is questionable activity, leading to law enforcement or IRS scrutiny.
Any “job” that involves exporting vehicles is not illegal, if processed through a licensed broker, however, the income must be reported to the IRS. I have known of brokers who have hired private individuals to take delivery, sign for and get the title and sign it over, (especially luxury import cars in high demand overseas), as this averts the manufacturer banned broker list and possibly the ” income accountability” on the part of the transferring auto broker. My other thought was, is the USAA military status a new wrinkle in the ability to move cars from country to country?
Regardless of the possible enticement and implications of this ad, the old adage still rings true…, if it’s too good to be true… it probably is.
When using Craig’s List… use common sense as my caller did, before he tuned over his driver’s license and insurance information.
Craig’s List, Automotive, Service Ads and USAA members.
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Sarah Lee Marks is MyCarlady. She has over 23+ years of experience. She writes about cars, and is a staunch consumer advocate on car related subjects. MyCarlady offers free car buying advice, and private, auto-related services to help you maintain your personal or commercial vehicles. Call Sarah Lee for more information: 702-521-7546. Join the MyCarlady newsletter to be kept up-to-date on this and other important car information.
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