A few weeks ago, I was looking for a used car and thought I found a great one on Craigslist. I call the owner who was listed in the ad. We spoke for a few minutes — he sounded weird right away, as though he was on speed or something — just something I noted. But I didn't care, I needed a car. I asked the usual details about the car and all sounded good. I agreed to meet him to see the car at his home (I wanted to meet in a public place just for my personal safety but he said since he is unemployed and just didn't feel like having to go anywhere... Uh ok).
I drove to his home at Notting Hill Drive and the car pictured in the ad was out front. So was this guy Jeff. The neighborhood seemed isolated and being a single female I worried about my safety but didn't plan on going in his house so not problem right? I go around the car to check it out. Looks ok, not exactly as good as the pictures, but ok. I asked the usual question about why he is selling it... I was surprised by his honesty. He said he was out of work, and his house may go into foreclosure if he can't get a job soon. He did say that he had a website and just to make conversation I asked what it was... He said the site is no longer in business but it was www.eroticexoticdancers.com. Ewwww but whatever floats your boat, right? He also said he was a Director of marketing for a company called IP Dynamics that apparently laid him off and no jobs around now, blah blah blah... Not my problem. I tried to get off the subject of the sleezy website he had but he kept talking about it, ugh! Then I start to think this guy is REALLY creepy. I am still interested in the car, so ok, I ask if I can test drive it. I was afraid he would want to come along and sure enough he did. Most people who I went to look at their cars had no problem with me driving it by myself as I was leaving my car there as well as a copy of my DL but he wouldn't go for it. Against my better judgment, I go.
The car drove ok, I was really interested. I'm thinking the price though seemed too good to be true but hey that's fine with me. I guess to make conversation he starts going more into detail about the reason for selling the car. He tells me not only does he really need the money for house payments but also has several lawsuits looming overhead. He then seemed to get very very angry when talking about one person in particular — apparently, mad that he has a restraining order against him in the city of Pleasanton and he violated it recently by stalking her person online. He went on and on and on about this girl who apparently has lots of money and now he's afraid her lawyers will come after him. OK this is now freaking me out, as I'm alone in the car with a guy who has a restraining order against him. Not good. I start to head back in the direction of his house still interested in the car though!
We get back to the house, glad I am safe and sound, and I ask if I can look more at the interior of the car. Wanted to make sure it was clean. I start looking in the compartments of the car and the truck. I open the truck and move something over to see the bottom of the truck and I see DRUG PARAPHENALIA!!! I won't say what I found but let's just say, it was very obvious what he was into.
I'm not a judgmental person and still interested in the car, I make him an offer, which he accepts. GREAT! I ask if I can give him cash deposit and he could give me a receipt for the deposit. I would come back with my mother the next day with the rest of the cash. He seemed to be thrilled with this arrangement. I gave him $500 and he scribbed down that I had paid him this money. Normally I would want to formalize things more but that would have required going into his house and I was NOT going to do that, I did not feel comfortable with him AT ALL.
The next day, I called him but only got voicemail. I left a msg and politely asked when I could come pick up the car. No return call that day. Or the next day. I emailed him through Craigslist but no response, and also through the email address he had given me. 3 days later, I am really worried. He has $500 of my money and I have no car. I called and called but he would not respond.
Finally, I had to get my attorney involved. I had him send a letter to this guy registered saying to return my deposit. THAT worked, I am happy to say. He obviously has no intention of selling his car and who knows how many people he has taken deposits from! This prompted me to file this report. If you see a listing for his person do not respond, it's a rip off! He is trying to take your money.
And as a bizarre side note, I remembered the bizarre conversation he launched into during our test drive about the girl who he stalked and had a restraining order... He mentioned it was in Pleasanton. Well my cousin works at the Pleasanton courthouse so one day, just out of curiosity, I call her and ask her to look up this guy. Sure enough, there is restraining order and judgment on file in the pleasanton court house as well as a police report! She is getting a copy of it and I could even post it here I think, or at least a link to it when she gets it for me. Now I really want to warn everyone do not do business with this guy!!! He is not only a rip off and will steal your money but is dangerous.
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