There is crime everywhere we look. Not every case calls for the use of pepper spray or stun guns to deter a prospective robbery or violence. Some crimes are committed by cash for junk cars criminals who prey on people while they’re vulnerable.
Curb stoners are breaking the law by selling their cars on the street while posing as private dealers.
Why do people curbstone?
When selling their vehicles, auto dealers engage in the practice of curb stoning, posing as individual sellers. Dealers of used vehicles used this tactic to trick buyers into buying autos of poor condition. There can be a street or parking lot close to your home where there are a number of cars for sale. By “curb stoners,” many of these autos are left out in the open. They park the cars along the curb, thus the name. It’s possible that many of these curb stoned cars are lemons or junk cars that car dealers couldn’t sell for enough money on their lots.
This method is used by dishonest car salespeople to get past state regulations on the sale of vehicles. States have passed laws limiting the number of automobiles that private individuals may acquire and sell in a specific time period without being a registered auto dealer. To continue operating, licensed vehicle dealers must adhere to certain standards. Curb stoners don’t.
The New Breed of Curb stoners: Internet Sales
Curbside pawn shops now have access to the internet to sell their vehicles. It is simple for vendors to hide their location and identity from prospective purchasers as well as from law enforcement officials who try to keep a watch on them. Powerful in auctions the favorite platform for dishonest sellers attempting to con unwary consumers is eBay.
The operation of curb stoning
A curb stoner needs a junk automobile to sell before they can take advantage of a buyer. These vehicles are often purchased at low-rent auto auctions held at impound lots owned by wrecking yards and towing companies. Then, despite the various technical issues, these cars are “prepped” for sale.
From there, numerous of these vehicles are listed on websites like eBay, Auto Trader, Auto Mart, and numerous more. Affinity fraud is one of the various scamming techniques that these con artists use when executing their internet sales. Using low-resolution pictures is another well-liked method. Photos of poor quality can readily cover up flaws such as scratches, dents, rust, and cracked windshields.
Governmental Organizations Have Limited Resources to Fight Curb stoning
Agents are employed by states to prevent curb stoning. Because they have other responsibilities, there aren’t enough agents to handle this work. Due to this, curb stoners are rarely subject to punishment. Few people are convicted of crimes. States have the authority to sanction licensed dealers who engaged in curb stoning, but this is insufficient.
eBay, an online auction marketplace, has taken measures to stop curb stoning. Any account holder will be suspended by eBay, and it will work with police enforcement. However, once an account is suspended, the dishonest vendors frequently just create a new user ID and resume cash for junk cars.
Beware if the seller of the used car you are interested in does not have a title in their name. Buying a used car from an unregistered vendor carries a significant risk of:
- The car might be taken.
- Unless a remedy or court order is requested and granted in your favor, you might not obtain a clear title.
- The car’s odometer might be rolled back.
- The car could have flood damage, been restored, or been recovered.
- A lien that hasn’t been lawfully released can be attached to the car.
- The car may have only been sold for export.
The Secret to Avoiding Curbstones is Vigilance
Only you, as the buyer of any used car, are in charge of spotting frauds before you fall victim to one.
- Believe the proverb that goes, “If it seems too good to be true, it generally is.” If the price of a secondhand car appears too low for what you are getting, you can be the victim of fraud.
- Verify that the name on the seller’s driver’s license matches the name on the car’s title. Request clear scanned images of both paperwork from the seller if you are buying a car online. Don’t buy the car if the names don’t match!
- Request an inspection of the vehicle from a reputable mechanic. A competent auto mechanic is similar to a home inspector. He is able to identify product flaws that the average person would ordinarily miss.