On 01/13/10 I saw a 2004 Toyota Sienna van for 8950 in AutoTrader.com. I could not get a response from the seller through auto trader so I emailed autotrader and let them know I couldn't reach the seller. Evidently, this is a clue to autotrader that the ad could be a fraud. AutoTrader did not inform me of this so I continued to try and reach the seller. The seller Mellanie Terran said they were out of state and the vehicle was at a Shipping Company. I received instructions on how to wire the money. The seller and myself had the same bank so I just wired it to their bank account. Wrong thing to do. But I did not know this.
On 01/20/10 I sent 8950. The seller wrote me the next day and informed me the vehicle was on the way. It never came. I became suspious and called the shipping company and they informed me their invoices start with a different number I had been taken. On 01/21 I informed Auto-Trader and was advised that the ad would be taken off the next day it was at this time that AutoTrader's employee informed me that this ad had been flagged on 1/13 for takedown and because of a computer glitch it was not taken off. Finally, when AutoTrader did remove the ad they stated "This car is no longer listed for sale. The seller has removed this ad from the site..." Liars. The seller didn't remove it. AutoTrader is practicing deceiptive practices by not informing the public of the truth. If they would have stated "AutoTrader has removed this ad due to our policies please contact us for further advisement". The public would be safer. I continued to deal with the seller because AutoTrader never informed me that this may be a fraud.
I was also informed by their employee it was against autotrader's rules not to get a phone number whereby the buyers can contact the seller's directly. The number provided was listed as a fax number.
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