On March 11, at 1208 hours, I responded to an ad on Craigslist, Springfield, Missouri, for a 1998 Toyota 4x4 Pick-up truck, (listing number v5xbg-2896195874). I did not receive a response from the seller, so I sent a second email on March 12 at 2048 hours asking the seller to please respond. The seller responded at 2325 hours using his direct name and email ([email protected]).in the email he apologized for being late in his response explaining that he is a sergeant and was stationed in Quantico, VA until March 16. He invited me to inspect the truck when he came back to Springfield, Missouri on Friday March 16. He went on to explain the he had also listed the truck on Ebay. He explained the he had listed the truck on Ebay with a “Buy-It-Now” price of $4,000. He provided additional information about the vehicle and a link to additional photos of the truck, (http://photobucket.com/JamesBuford). After reviewing the photos and evaluating the additional information, I emailed the seller on March 13 at 1232 hours accepting the quoted price. I indicated I had checked Ebay and did not find the item. I also advised the seller that if he did not wish to use Ebay, I would meet him in Springfield and pay for the vehicle with cash. I provided my contact telephone number. On the same day at 1609 hours I received an email from the seller Sgt. Buford providing his contact phone number (757-414-7750), complete with an explanation that he was very busy in his duties, if necessary leave a message and he would return my call. The email went on to state that he had sent me an email with links to the item listed on Ebay. On March 13, the same day at 1610 hours I received an email from Sgt. Buford containing a link to Ebay and was directed to a private auction listing for a 1998 Toyota Tacoma 4x4, VIN number 4TAPM62N2WZ008194, (Ebay Listing number 200526603205). The listing provided a “Buy-It-Now” option of $4,000. I chose the “Buy-It-Now option and confirmed my selection. At 1737 hours, I received notification from Ebay that a $2,000 deposit was required to secure the vehicle and its participation in the Vehicle Protection Plan (VPP) payment service and I had 24 hours to make the payment. I selected “Pay Now” and was provided with an Ebay invoice number 015426. The invoice indicated that payment in the amount of $2,000 was to be made to an assigned Ebay Motors Representative named Mr. Matt Gerald located at 425 Monroe Street in Denver, CO 80206. I was provided with an example of a Western Union document and asked to use the Money in Minutes option. After sending the money, I was to fax a copy of the Western Union document indicating the money had been sent. The fax number provided was (408) 540-1211. At 1802 I received an email from Sgt. Buford, indicating he was aware I had won the auction and providing details on how to send the money via Western Union. I went to the local Western Union office located in the Country Mart Grocery store in Branson, MO and completed the required forms and sent Mr. Matt Gerald $2,000 while incurring fees of $161.00 for the transaction. The money was sent at 1951 hours and the MTCN is 662-504-1264. At 2312 hours I received confirmation from Ebay the payment had been received. At 2239 hours March 13, I send an email informing Sgt Buford that the money had been sent to Ebay and a fax had been sent confirming transmission. On March 14, at 1853 hours I received an email from Sgt. Buford stating that everything looked OK to him and that he would be flying to Springfield, MO late Thursday evening and that he would contact me on Friday either around 0700 or 0800 or possibly in the evening at 2000 hours. Thereafter, we would exchange the final payment, he would sign the title and I would take possession of the vehicle. On the same day at 1907 hours I received an email from Ebay explaining that the vehicle I had won, the 1998 Tacoma had been undervalued and that to continue protection under Ebay’s VPP program I would need to send an additional $2,000, to the same VPP representative as was previously used, Mr. Matt Gerald. The email went on to state that if I did not wish to send additional money, that Ebay would refund my previous $2,000 along with any fees. At 1922 hours I emailed Sgt. Buford indicating that arrangements for Friday were satisfactory. At this point I became suspicious and did further research on Ebay and Google. Ebay has no record of the subject transaction 200526603205. I called Ebay with the information and was directed to Western Union. I was informed by Ebay to ask Western Union for a refund. I called Western Union and they were unable to effect a transfer as the money had already been picked up in Denver, CO. Western Union did however, file a fraud report and indicated they would cooperate in any investigation. Western Union the provided me with websites and a defined process for complaint. At 2114 hours on March 14, I received another email from Ebay requesting the additional $2,000. There was no further contact from Sgt. Buford. On Friday March 16, at 1943 hours I sent an email to Sgt. Buford asking him to contact me regarding the additional payment and title transfer. The email was returned as permanently non-deliverable. I then telephoned the number previously given to me by Sgt. Buford (717-414-7750). The phone call was sent to voice mail and I left a message asking Sgt. Buford to call me regarding how he wanted his additional money and how to effect title transfer.
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