Toyota RAV4 was listed on Facebook Marketplace under “Sponsored” section. I showed the listing from Ginnys Crafts. The ad said “Contact Seller” so we sent an email. We got a response from Amanda Larson (but the email address was from erikmelser (with a number after that I don’t recall and I have since removed and blocked the email and reported it as spam) @gmail.com. The email said the car was her husband’s who passed away one month ago and it brought back bad memories. She said someone else was going to buy the car but didn’t get the loan, so it was already with HGS Advanced Logistics ready to be shipped. “She” claimed that would protect “both of us” (the seller and the buyer) and there was no obligation to purchase, with 5 days to inspect the car before accepting it. The email said she was not home, but staying with a family member because she had throat surgery. We looked up the website for the shipping company and phoned them for more info. They wanted us to fill out a form with our contact info, which we declined. The scam is they ask you to wire money for the car to hold in “escrow” until you are satisfied with the purchase. We searched and found this scam had been reported to the BadBizReport.com with almost identical format, in Springfield Missouri.
Where Bad Business is Exposed!
I thought I was purchasing a 2017 Chevy Truck from Meredith Brown using LGS Advanced Logistics at 750 Main Street, Hartford, CT. Phone number 860-222-0910. LGS Advanced Logistics would be handling the paperwork and delivery from Connecticut to Tennessee. Ms. Brown stated her husband had passed away one month prior and that she had a complicated throat surgery. The price was $20K and prior to shipping required 4k more as a warranty. Spoke with a man named John multiple times at LGS until the last wire transfer was completed. Afterwards I could not get a answer. After calling from a different phone number John answered and spoke with me until I told him who I was and he immediately hung up.
I called myself doing my homework prior– I called Legalshield which I have been a member of for years. They suggested I call the local police department in Hartford and the Better Business Bureau. I did both and then I called the main number to LGS Advanced Logistics and they verified they did have the particular truck. I also spoke with my son who is stationened with the Navy at Groton, CT and he stated the military and his coworkers use the service to ship-boats-campers-vehicles when transferring.
I feel so helpless– my 18 year old truck had been in the shop for 2 weeks during this time and would cost more to repair than it was worth. So here I am– I feel LGS Advanced Logistics should back up their name with a full refund.
Invoice for LGS Advanced Logistics