Think I have a problem........not good....
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 2:11 am
I have a situation with a OS purchase....
Ok....so....it's a little complicated...but here we go:
I found a car in usa. Did my homework.
I investigated the dealership car is at (on consignment I think). I spoke to a local mustang club in the area that the dealer sponsors - got good feedback.
They seemed like a quality operation, with mechanical and restoration ship as well - and all legit. Could not find fault.
I then had the car inspected - independently. Came up trumps (as I have mentioned on other sections of this forum). Even had it accessed for inspection on a hoist. So car was confirmed authentic, all good, all real. Dealership very helpful. I negotiated a price, all parties agreed.
I locked in a $500 deposit via paypal, which they confirmed and then arranged for funds transfers via banks to avoid further paypal fees.
So I get another email from the sales manager, with the Bill of Sale, with figures covering remaining amount required less deposit) and Wire transfer details. Confirmed vehicle title, all paperwork is good. All the numbers on bill of sale adding up fine.
All looking good so far right?
So I also thought. I suspect at this point - the dealership did as well.
So it seems that either the dealership has a dodgy employee (which I honestly believe is not the case), or the more likely scenario - their business systems (including email) have been compromised.
So I get an email from the manager, from their email servers, stipulating account transfer details to finalise the deal. Account name on the wire transfer details is VERY similar to the company name - looked like a trading name to me. Wire details even listed the address of the dealership etc.
Now please remember, this has not come from some gmail address, the details to finalise the transaction came from the email address I had been communicating with the whole time. The sales manager. Nothing to raise any flags. Email from the same sales manager I had communicating the whole time to arrange inspections and everything.
Problem is - the account details provided on the email are not the dealerships. They have confirmed it is not their bank, it is not their company account. So I transferred a LOT of money into an account that was not theirs.
Not sure if anyone has been here before, so I am asking for some advice. This literally happened this week.
Dealership has not officially responded yet, so I have no idea what the outcome will be. Think they are trying to work out what happened and how as well. Anyone been here before?
Seems I may possibly have been exposed due to security issues with IT systems on their end. Whoever has perpetrated this fraud, has done so very elegantly, through to dealerships very own email system I think. They set up a bank account with a name similar to said business as well.
So I transferred money based on information they provided to me from their business. So I have done nothing wrong except respond to and act on info that has come from them (or at least from their business systems).
I have no idea whether dealerships liability insurance would cover that sort of theft in the USA.
I am out of pocket, due to no fault of my own, acting on good faith their information was accurate and uncompromised.
I am freakin out here. Any advice appreciated. Do I have any chance of success getting the dealership to take accountability?
Shan
Ok....so....it's a little complicated...but here we go:
I found a car in usa. Did my homework.
I investigated the dealership car is at (on consignment I think). I spoke to a local mustang club in the area that the dealer sponsors - got good feedback.
They seemed like a quality operation, with mechanical and restoration ship as well - and all legit. Could not find fault.
I then had the car inspected - independently. Came up trumps (as I have mentioned on other sections of this forum). Even had it accessed for inspection on a hoist. So car was confirmed authentic, all good, all real. Dealership very helpful. I negotiated a price, all parties agreed.
I locked in a $500 deposit via paypal, which they confirmed and then arranged for funds transfers via banks to avoid further paypal fees.
So I get another email from the sales manager, with the Bill of Sale, with figures covering remaining amount required less deposit) and Wire transfer details. Confirmed vehicle title, all paperwork is good. All the numbers on bill of sale adding up fine.
All looking good so far right?
So I also thought. I suspect at this point - the dealership did as well.
So it seems that either the dealership has a dodgy employee (which I honestly believe is not the case), or the more likely scenario - their business systems (including email) have been compromised.
So I get an email from the manager, from their email servers, stipulating account transfer details to finalise the deal. Account name on the wire transfer details is VERY similar to the company name - looked like a trading name to me. Wire details even listed the address of the dealership etc.
Now please remember, this has not come from some gmail address, the details to finalise the transaction came from the email address I had been communicating with the whole time. The sales manager. Nothing to raise any flags. Email from the same sales manager I had communicating the whole time to arrange inspections and everything.
Problem is - the account details provided on the email are not the dealerships. They have confirmed it is not their bank, it is not their company account. So I transferred a LOT of money into an account that was not theirs.
Not sure if anyone has been here before, so I am asking for some advice. This literally happened this week.
Dealership has not officially responded yet, so I have no idea what the outcome will be. Think they are trying to work out what happened and how as well. Anyone been here before?
Seems I may possibly have been exposed due to security issues with IT systems on their end. Whoever has perpetrated this fraud, has done so very elegantly, through to dealerships very own email system I think. They set up a bank account with a name similar to said business as well.
So I transferred money based on information they provided to me from their business. So I have done nothing wrong except respond to and act on info that has come from them (or at least from their business systems).
I have no idea whether dealerships liability insurance would cover that sort of theft in the USA.
I am out of pocket, due to no fault of my own, acting on good faith their information was accurate and uncompromised.
I am freakin out here. Any advice appreciated. Do I have any chance of success getting the dealership to take accountability?
Shan