The classic car market can be exciting, but it’s also rife with scams. The YouTube channel Pleasant Green recently exposed several sophisticated scams targeting classic car enthusiasts, highlighting the importance of vigilance when searching for your dream car. This article breaks down the key takeaways from their investigation.
If you’re a victim of a vehicle theft, be sure to share your story here at Stolen 911.
The classic car market can be exciting, but it’s also rife with scams. The YouTube channel Pleasant Green recently exposed several sophisticated scams targeting classic car enthusiasts, highlighting the importance of vigilance when searching for your dream car. This article breaks down the key takeaways from their investigation.
The video begins with Pleasant Green stumbling upon a Facebook ad for “Browns Performance Motorcars,” a company with a seemingly impressive inventory and glowing customer reviews. The price of a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, listed at a mere $30,000, immediately raised suspicion. Despite the polished website and prompt communication from a “sales manager” named Bob, several red flags emerged.
First, the testimonials on the website appeared to use stock photos. Second, the phone number listed on the website was different from the one provided by “Bob.” Third, and most damning, searching for “Browns Performance Motorcars” on Google revealed a defunct business with a different website that redirected to a Honda dealership. The Honda dealership confirmed that Browns Performance Motorcars was no longer operating.
Further investigation, including reverse image searching, revealed that the photos of the Thunderbird were stolen from a legitimate car broker, Garage Cat Motors. A WHOIS lookup confirmed that Browns Performance Motorcars’ website was only recently registered, while Garage Cat Motors’ site had been active for years, strongly suggesting that “Bob” was the scammer.
Pleasant Green’s investigation didn’t stop there. They uncovered multiple other websites employing similar tactics: stolen photos, fake addresses, and non-existent businesses. In one instance, a website called “American Classic Cars” used photos from a legitimate dealership, Auto Investors, after photoshopping their own logo onto the images. Another site, “RLY Truck Autosales,” claimed to be based in Austin, Texas, but the photos of their classic cars were actually from Street Dreams Texas. A call to the real RLY Trucks in Austin confirmed that the website was a scam.
One of the most concerning cases involved “BNB Motors,” where the scammer, “Walter,” even sent a fake invoice and wiring instructions. Pleasant Green used a tool to generate a fake bank statement to convince “Walter” that the payment had been made. When confronted about the stolen photos, “Walter” initially denied the accusations but eventually admitted to the scam.
The video highlights several crucial steps to avoid becoming a victim:
- Reverse Image Search: Use reverse image search to check if the photos of the car are used elsewhere online. This can reveal if the images have been stolen from another website.
- Verify Business Information: Check the business’s address, phone number, and online presence. Look for inconsistencies and be wary of websites that are newly registered.
- Be Wary of Low Prices: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often use incredibly low prices to lure in unsuspecting buyers.
- Trust Your Gut: If something feels off, don’t ignore your instincts. It’s better to walk away from a potential deal than to risk being scammed.
- Never Send Money Without Verification: Don’t send money until you’ve thoroughly verified the seller’s identity and the legitimacy of the car.
If you have been the victim of a classic car scam? Or maybe you need a private investigator. Please submit your story to Stolen 911. We will publish your story and our investigators can collect leads to help bring the perpetrators to justice. Together, we can fight back against these scammers and protect the classic car community.
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