craigslist help!!!!!!!?

[Kittysue]

100% SCAM
1 -Before you look at any cars on Craigslist, this page comes up http://houston.craigslist.org/i/autos?&category=cta/ and has these bullet point
"Do not buy vehicles sight-unseen, regardless of low price. The vehicle does not exist, and any money you send will be lost.
Stories about divorcees or departing servicemen needing to sell quickly at a low price are generally fraudulent
If you see these tell-tale signs, flag ad as "prohibited" and avoid"
2 - Then on the top of every listing page it says in large capital letter and is underlined so you can't miss it "[ AVOID OFFERS TO SHIP VEHICLES ] "
3 - Then on every single individual listing it says in red so you can't miss it
"Avoid scams, deal locally! Do NOT wire funds (Western Union, Moneygram). Beware cashier checks, money orders, shipping, non-local buyers/sellers."
4 - then there is the fact that Google Checkout has not existed since October 2011 when Google got rid of it
5 - Google offers NO sort of buyer protection program and does not allow any sort of testing period
6 -NOBODY is going to spend $2000+ shipping a car already priced below market value
7 - Anyone going into the military would sell their car for cash to a local dealer before they go to basic training. They don't sell over the internet


NEVER agree to buy any car that you cannot
- see in person. If you can't see it in person, it doesn't exist and those are pictures stolen off some dealer's website
- test drive it. If the owner will not let you test drive it before you agree to buy it, the car either doesn't exist or has major problems
- have the mechanic of your choice inspect it, All car sales are on an as-is basis and you can't get your money back if you buy it and discover it needs $3000 worth of work. And never trust a seller to tell you that it's in good condition. It's worth spending $100 on a mechanic so you don't end up spending $3000 on repairs
- verify IN PERSON that the seller's ID is the same name as on the title. If you can't do this you are buying a stolen vehicle which will be confiscated from you and you will be investigated if you try to register or insure it. Don't trust any documents over email - these can be easily faked
- have the owner sign the title over to you IN PERSON in front of a witness or notary. You don't own the car until this is done. You can send all the money you want but if he doesn't sign over the title to you in person and in front of a witness or notary (depending on your state law) then you don't own the car