Ripoff Artist in Rhine, GA

retro74 · 09-03-2003, 06:11 PM

After a VERY long time, I looked into the car body that I purchased on Rhine, GA. Total ripoff. Car is messed up and untouched, a total scam. Time to get the MIG out and work on what I have. But I need a favor from everyone... Please put a link to the following page on your site so that it becomes the world's most infamous Porsche 914.

Ripoff in Rhine

By the way, I just got back today from Eastman GA where I filed a formal complaint against this perp! I came up with 10 counts of fraud.

Joe C.

Biggy72 · Biggy72's Garage

so why'd you buy this car with no pics?

retro74 · 09-03-2003, 10:22 PM

Late here, time for bed...
One pic in ClassicCarTrader... I was not very interested until he started in with "I own European Collision..." and we had several conversations and he went over every panel with me. He knew what he was talking about (because he's actually been painting cars for 20 years - in his backyard as I found out).

The price of the car did not warrant a flight to Georgia and a rental car to check it out. You take some risks in life buying from the web, eBay, etc.

Then there was the repeated "I'm tellin ya, there ain't a spot of rust awn it...." and how his wife drives a Range Rover... and on and then of course the "I own European Collision...." and it was not that much money... Never expected a rip-off.

But fraud is fraud. Look, I don't want anyone else to be so willing to buy a car this way. I don't want anyone believing this SOB if he offers anything else on the web.

Unfortunately, he's going to find out how expensive this is going to be to him in both social and economic terms.

Joe C.

kellzey · 09-03-2003, 10:31 PM

Another example of...

1. Don'e buy off the internet sight unseen
2. Have a PPI performed
3. Have someone you know/trust inspect the car before you buy it
4. Don't trust used car salesman or body repairman

retro74 · 09-03-2003, 10:46 PM

Exactly my point! But I've been at two things for a while:

1. I have fun rust issues with my 914 and know what to look for and I asked all the right questions:

2. I specialize in fraud investigations and this perp has at least 10 counts of fraud on his hands.

Can a person buy a car and have the transmission explode in 100 miles. Of course! But visible rust, severe dents, severe rot through were not only questioned, they were probed with questions and presented as complete fiction. Getting burned is not that big of a deal, it is the lies that tick me off.

That's why there are laws against this and when I showed up in Eastmen, GA to meet the Sheriff, the Sheriff was a bit surprised. So will this perp when I show up in court!

BTW - I have heard of people getting burned even with pictures. In those cases, the bodywork was poor, floorboards were rusted, repairs were made with fiberglass, etc.

Lessons learned here. Sure! But what he did is against the law and I have 10 counts of fraud being investigated now. Then there may be some fines, some other State and Federal agency issues, his business reputation... Let's just say that when people mess with me, "I like to party."

Joe C.

Biggy72 · Biggy72's Garage

so you got no other pics? I'd at least want some emailed to me of the specific areas or if no internet, sends pics in the mail. If the car's what they say, they'll send em.

kellzey · 09-03-2003, 11:12 PM

No... I'm not doubting the story. Not sure how much you'll get out of the scumbag. I think you'll be lucky to get the $ back, but the time, expense, wasted on the fraud investigation will be hardly worth the aggravation.

Good luck and keep us posted!

sean_V8_914 · sean_V8_914's Garage

yeah! roast his dirty butt

Bruce Allert · 09-04-2003, 06:37 AM

Oh My Gawd

That poor car..... it need to be put outta its misery. I didn't see the original add but how could he have taken a picture of it without showing all that damage?

Must'a done a lot of work to the pic in photoshop

Go git'm....... F A B deserves it!
bruce

kevinseven · 09-04-2003, 07:08 AM

I think it's great that you're following through with legal action. If you can afford to enforce what's right then by all means do it. Especially if it's some fellow Georgian cracker giving my state a bad name. :-(

scotty914 · 09-04-2003, 05:19 PM

well i would like to introduce myself... i am an investigator with considerable 914 knowledge if you know what i mean

so to answer the above question about how he took a pics with out showing damage it was easy... he took the pic at an angle from the front to rear so it was hard to see the rear quarter panel wavy ness because the paint was not shiny and it started far enough to the rear to not show the front near the turn signal

and the pics dont do it justice not including the engine and tranny i dont think you could get 200 bucks in parts out of it

the engine is only worth something due to the dual webers

Biggy72 · Biggy72's Garage

you never explained, why did you only look at one picture? Why not get pics of different areas of the car where problem areas might be, legal stuff aside.

cary · 09-04-2003, 07:05 PM

The driver I bought last month on E-Bay had a few of the same problems.
Listed as no rust. Needs a little TLC.
Final Bid $2150. 73 1.7, Mahles, great interior.

We went to pick it up with our trailer. TOOK CASH. Brought it home for $1000. I had my son and father in-law take a copy of the E-Bay ad.
Highlighted the statements as to the condition.

First phone call. Dad, your not going to like this.

I told them to do the math. Wheels, engine core, gear box core and a great interior. Thats whats it worth. I took him to $1200 on the phone. My 15 year old got the other $200. A proud fatherly moment. LOL.

chrisreale · 09-04-2003, 10:11 PM

I hope everything works out, but I feel you got bit by your own folly. This is sad, but I never take somebody's word on the condition of an item, unless I am personal friends with them, and even then, I try to see it with my own eyes.