It’s straightforward to get swept up within the automobile shopping for course of, particularly if that automobile is a traditional you’ve been lusting after. A handful of hopeful patrons had their desires crushed by scammers, as a fraudulent automobile vendor took their cash however delivered no automobiles in return. The pretend vendor, calling itself VNKC, LLC, reported its location as being in a considerably distant Maine city, however its house owners and not less than one sufferer’s money, are but to be discovered.
The Bangor Every day Information reported that the rip-off vendor listed its deal with at a location held by Casella Waste Techniques in Houlton, Maine. After receiving 4 complaints, the manager director of the city’s chamber of commerce drove to the deal with however discovered no such enterprise on the location. It’s unclear how many individuals have been scammed, however none seem like from Maine, not less than so far as the state is conscious. Autoblog contacted the Maine Division of Shopper Safety, however the workplace stated that they had not obtained any complaints from scammed Mainers.
It’s generally onerous to imagine that folks may fall for what feels like extremely apparent scams, however this one has a special scent to it. Hopeful patrons obtained falsified titles, payments of lading, payments of sale, and VINs. One Oklahoma purchaser, hoping for a 1987 Chevy Blazer, stated they spoke to the vendor for over a month, however the quantity went useless when their scheduled supply date handed.
Some fortunate patrons received out earlier than shedding cash, as one Florida man stated he despatched $35,000 for a 1970 Buick GSX earlier than calling the native chamber and discovering that the corporate wasn’t actual. He was in a position to cease fee on the test earlier than it was cashed. As if the almost-theft wasn’t sufficient of a slap within the face, he later noticed the identical automobile listed on different traditional autos pages.
It is a mysterious story as a result of VKNC appears to be a whole ghost. The corporate’s ISP is registered in Lithuania, and its web site proprietor has an deal with in Alexandra, Va., however to date, nobody has been arrested. That stated, the FBI is on the case, and the Maine legal professional normal’s workplace has been contacted.
In case you’re uncertain about any a part of a distant automobile deal, the most effective thought is to name the native chamber or a state shopper safety company earlier than wiring your life financial savings to purchase an obscure or traditional automobile. Whereas not inconceivable, it’s unlikely that the distant border city of Houlton would home such a automobile dealership. A fast name to the chamber forward of time may have saved these folks tens of 1000’s of {dollars}, hours of their lives, and loads of grief.
