Police in Anguilla are warning the people of the island against being caught in a scam being perpetuated via Ebay especially when purchasing motor vehicles with Moneygram or Western Union transfers. The warning came as two Anguillians fell victims of this scam having paid US$4,000.00 each for two vehicles which they have never received, and for which no shipping arrangements were made.

Detective Constable Horace Edwards

The report was contained in a press release read by Det. Constable Horace Edwards at the police press briefing on Wednesday, this week.
The Police have warned persons in Anguilla against doing business with Martha Wilson, Jennifer Kimball, Peter D. Bartton and Helena Roberts all in various parts of the United States.

The Police Report stated that over the past three months two Anguillians were lured into the purchase of low cost “TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE” priced vehicles.

In each case, the victims though they had found a bargain, a car they really wanted at a low price on www.craigslist.org.

They emailed the seller (in each case a woman) for details, who confirmed it was still for sale, it really was a wonderful car but they needed the money for something else urgently and that the transaction would be managed and handled by the “EBAY PURCHASE PROTECTION TEAM” thus providing safety and protection against fraud.

The buyers were advised that the sellers would notify Ebay Purchase Protection, which would then contact the seller. The buyer would make payment to Ebay where the money would be held by the Team, the car shipped to Anguilla, where several days would be allowed for inspection before the money would be released to the seller by the Ebay Purchase Protection Team.

The following day the buyers received a very official and convincing email from the alleged Ebay Purchase Protection Team. It instructed them to send the money via Moneygram to the Ebay Purchase Protection Team agent of 2145 Hamilton Avenue, San Jose, California (the actual address of Ebay, just to add credence) and then fax the money gram receipt to a number.

“It all sounds too good to be true, and it is too good to be true,” says the police press release. “It is a FRAUD, a SCAM and innocent people have lost money! There is no such things as the Ebay Purchase Protection Team – THEY DO NOT EXIST.”

The money, several thousands (US) was collected from Moneygram never to be seen again. The email address was abandoned and the fraudsters disappeared only to re-emerge with a new identity and vehicle for sale looking for the next victim.

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