Internet purchase

[AlmostRetired]

What is the name of your state? MD
Purchased a car from a gentlemen in CA. Made a sales contract. We both signed and faxed copies to each other. Deal was the car would be dropped off at shipper and title and bill of sale be sent overnight after the funds cleared. I sent a wire for $85000 for the car...funds cleared. He did not drop off the car or send the paperwork. I have a copy of his license and the title for the car that he sent me. What should I do from here?
Thanks in advance

 

[pattimelt]

What do you do?

Don't buy cars over the internet.

 

[msiron]

You did an $85 GRAND car deal, sight unseen in person, over the net? Some people just deserve to get bent over!

If you can afford that kind of cash for a vehicle, you should have flown there, stayed a day and taken the car back yourself, or shipped it yourself.

 

[AlmostRetired]

hindsight is 20/20...and i have never had a problem before. i need advice on what i should do.

 

[AlmostRetired]

the main problem i am having here is figuring out how to reverse the funds or freeze his account if possible. my bank said today they would send in a reversal of funds form and attempt to reverse it since it hasn't been 5 business days so the funds might not of fully settled at his bank. is there anything i can do legally? my bank said for the reversal to be complete....then they would have to contact the account holder and he would have the last say if it could be reversed. any advice would be appreciated regarding the matter.

 

[LegalStranger]

Not Advice, Just A Quick??

Just curious, what kind of car?

 

[AlmostRetired]

2004 mercedes benz sl55

 

[ENASNI]

2004 mercedes benz sl55

Hmm, I just did the Kelley BB and I guess if it is in Good condition that is a fair price for an Invisible Roadster.

i hope you get your money back.

 

[LegalStranger]

the main problem i am having here is figuring out how to reverse the funds or freeze his account if possible. my bank said today they would send in a reversal of funds form and attempt to reverse it since it hasn't been 5 business days so the funds might not of fully settled at his bank. is there anything i can do legally? my bank said for the reversal to be complete....then they would have to contact the account holder and he would have the last say if it could be reversed. any advice would be appreciated regarding the matter.

I do not see how reversing a transfer fund would be any different than the bank putting a stop payment on a check. Who did you speak with at your bank's branch? Talk to the branch manager and explain the circumstances. I've never heard of such a thing.

 

[msiron]

For $85k I would contact an attorney in the thieves area and fly out there and find him. I am not saying to do anything illegal to him but find your car, don't sit home and do nothing. If you are an older person maybe its possible to take your sons or paid assistance with you... for.... at the very least for protection.

Contact PD when you get there and possibly they can help. This is not $800 you lost but $85 thousand dollars. OMG I would be on a plane.

I would do an asset search, prop. records search etc... before leaving. You can find these things online.

 

[AlmostRetired]

I have contemplated flying to California and going to the address he supplied...however I am thinking that he does not live there. I called my bank and requested the funds be reveresed however they said that would be hard given the fact that the money has cleared. They said they would attempt to do so but if he has closed out the account or withdrawn the money there is nothing I can do from that end. The local police department there says he has not done anything criminal and that this is a civil matter since I have a sales contract. I have contacted the FBI but I don't know how long they will take to get back to me. The bank said I might be able to have the other bank freeze the funds in the account if the FBI contacts them...but I am afraif they won't get back to me in a timely fashion and the money will be gone from the account by then. I am also wondering if the number he supplied was perhaps one of those virtual secretary numbers. After doing some research I see that you can set up a line and a business through it anywhere in the US. So in other words he sets up and picks a phone number in CA and it gives him a number. With this number he gets a voicemail and a fax line in CA. This would explain why he faxed me paperwork from the same number that he had me calling. Oh well will see what happens from here with the FBI and the bank working on doing a reverse transfer. If anyone has any other ideas or advice...please advise.
thanks

 

[msiron]

Contact a PI firm and Repo Co. out there, they should know the laws in CA and possibly they could help. On paper, the car is yours... if the cars even exists??? (I say that because paper work can be forged for anything and made to look real) good luck, I feel your pain. I hope you get your hard earned money back. I would contact the DA in that area too.

I understand it's civil but in my mind as I am sure many others minds, it's a criminal, blatant felony robbery, of a large sum of money.

 

[jeff2006]

Hire an attorney, and file suit against this guy. Subpeona the bank records, and track the account holder down as well.