Beware the Cash For Clunkers scammers
Filed under: Ripoffs and Scams, Shopping
As Aaron Crowe explained in his recent post, the new federal Cash For Clunkers program could be a sweet deal for some of you still driving old, inefficient iron.
However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NITSA), which runs the program, warns that scammers are already setting up Web sites to rip off people eager to see if their jalopies qualify.
Here's the deal, people -- go to www.Cars.gov for the real info on this program, the official name of which is the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS- get it?) You do not need to register beforehand for the program!
The true rip-off sites will try to convince you that you do need to register, and attempt to gather as much info about you as possible.
Here's a video news report from myfoxdc.com:
If you've been reading WalletPop for a while, you know the drill: NEVER give out Social Security numbers, bank info, credit card info, or anything else on a Web site without confirming first that it is legit. Don't let these scammers steal your identity or drain your accounts.
There are also sites up already that offer to help you determine if your car is eligible, but really exist to generate a list of sales leads that will end up in the hands of local car dealers. Even if these sites don't steal your identity, there is still a strong likelihood that you will be inundated with phone calls and mail. Stay away from these sites as well.
In fact, my advice is to ignore any site except www.Cars.gov for program details, and, as Aaron recommends, www.fueleconomy.gov to check on your current ride's miles per gallon rating. And keep reading WalletPop.com, of course.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-28-2009 @ 9:20AM
Mark said...
If you ask me, the whole thing is a rip off, just another way to blow smoke in our faces to hide what he's really doing. In order for you to get "up to $4,500", your car will be crushed. You GET NO TRADE IN VALUE in return, nada. So, in this market, that means that car would actually have a retail value of less than half of what they are going to give you. How many people out there do you know are driving around in $2,000 vehicles that can AFFORD, let alone have the fica score, to buy a brand new vehicle with payments close to $600 a month?
Like I said, they're just blowing smoke in our faces to hide what they are really doing.
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6-28-2009 @ 10:20AM
DB said...
I couldn't have said it better! The average consumer is hosed again. I don't know why the government has to complicate things so much. Why not just give a 2 or 3 grand voucher per household and let consumers make their best deal (trade-in or not). I'm sure they'd sell more vehicles than with the current program.
6-28-2009 @ 12:54PM
REGINA DANIELS said...
Why does the Government need to give you a voucher or offer this program to get rid of your vehicle? No one said that you had to go and buy a $30K or more fuel efficient car. It's a personal choice! do not feel sorry for someone who has a credit score of 630 and below. It let's me know that you did not care enough about your credit to repair it or keep it in good standing. People who are not credit worthy are now complaining that they cannot get a loan or have to pay higher interest rate. It has always been this way even before the economic meltdown. People, take personal responsibility for your own personal issues and live within your means! This is what got us in this mess in the first place. Now, you are not happy about getting some money as opposed to not receiving next to nothing for your car when you trade it in at a dealership. Life is not perfect or fair! Grow up!
6-28-2009 @ 9:43AM
H.R.I.M. said...
What Nonsense-- Just like everything else that YoMamma is pushing.
By The Way, WHERE IS THE TELEPROMPTER BOY'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE? jms
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6-28-2009 @ 10:33AM
Peter said...
First of all, by crushing the old car, an old, inefficient car is removed from the market instead of being resold. I don't know about you, but a used $2000 car bought off a lot usually has performance or safety issues, which is why it is so cheap. If you own a car worth $4500 or more, it is probably worth its value and should be kept on the road.
Second- $4500 down and $600 per month in payments- what kind of car were you looking at? Nothing most of us can afford anyway. I'm paying $1000 down and $200 a month for a fuel efficient four door.
Third- you Obama haters need a life. At least he was born in Hawaii- which became a state in 1959. McCain was born in Panama- which is still not a state. Both are Senators because the laws governing representation make an exception for military personel- lest McCain would be ineligible.
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6-28-2009 @ 11:38AM
Smicec said...
What is the doctors name ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
6-28-2009 @ 1:22PM
Matt said...
it is a scam from annoited one, you know, the one from Kenya, the telepromter challenged speaker.
oh BTW, McCain was born in Panama, on a MILTARY BASE, which is US territory, and as such, is a US Citizen. Last time I checked, Kenya is a country in Africa. obama is a fraud.......
6-28-2009 @ 11:09AM
Patriot Games said...
Seems to me they're just wanting to get any cars that can not be tracked via GPS or modern electronics out of everyones hands. We are the greatest surveilled society in the history of the world...you ain't seen nothin' yet!
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6-28-2009 @ 4:48PM
bh2vette said...
I agree with you, this nation of ostriches (you know head in the ground and butt in the air) hasn't seen ANYTHING yet!!! Check out the NRA the govt. couldn't take the guns so they have taken the ammunition. Especially in the West where there so many gun owners.
6-28-2009 @ 11:17AM
Dan said...
I hope all these complainers aren't Dems... you dumb asses voted him in!!
This is your "hope" and "change" you desired :)
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7-10-2009 @ 4:51AM
XLR8tion Junkie said...
I don't think it's such a good idea to crush all our old cars.
$4500 toward a new car is nice, but what happens when a few months down the road you lose your job and can't afford the payment on that new car?
Many people just cannot afford to buy a new car.
This program will take many Good Used Cars off the market as well as taking used parts and salvaged parts for repairs off the market.
What will happen to the scrap steel?
Will it be resold to foreign nations so they can melt down the steal and send us back more foreign cars?
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7-18-2009 @ 7:18AM
Anne said...
We went to a dealer and made a deal and were told that the same car is going to be worth "more" money one week from now when the deal rolls into affect. So basically, they want the same money from the consumer and the CARS money as a bonus for the dealer.
6-28-2009 @ 1:59PM
Sam said...
how about this one...a guy went to a local scrap car joint-purchased an old beat up-non-running car (with a title) and brought in in for the $4500 credit towards his new ford focus! As a taxpayer..I am ticked!!! That means WE have financed his new car because WHO pays for this stupid plan??? The TAXPAYER!!! There needs to be some regulation..it is supposed to take old clunkers OFF the road-not from junkyards!
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6-28-2009 @ 2:00PM
Thaddeus said...
Here's some info - I don't think Sam's story could have happened because you are supposed to have owned the clunker for at least a year, to prevent just that...people going shopping for clunkers in order to get the vouchers.
What I think is wrong with the program is this - #1 There should be a requirement for the replacement fuel-efficient car to have a certain percentile of American-made parts. That would be combine it with helping the economy. #2 - You should be able to use the clunker's current mpg. My 1990 Olds Ciera does not get the same mpg it did when it was new. The govt figures your gas milage from the new-car stats. A 1990 Ciera gets 18 city, abut 26 and about 21 combined - or something like that. If I filled up the car, drove around alot, filled it up again and did the math, I bet it gets about 15 or 16 mpg combined because it's such an old bomb.
Aside from this program not working for me, another thing making me hold back from buying anew car is that the new sedans have such low-slung chasis that I've realized I will need to redo my driveway to take out a hump in it. I test drove some new sedans home and they scrape. I have to add that cost on. I hear the lower chasis are for aerodynamics, but people tell me their cars are often hitting bottom.
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6-28-2009 @ 1:49PM
Jimmy said...
Even if it's not a scam, don't sell out the N.W.O. and it's little crumbs that they want to toss your way.
DON'T CRUSH 'EM, RESTORE 'EM!!
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6-28-2009 @ 5:04PM
Bob said...
If the car has to be less than 25 years old why is Tom Barlow showing the front end of a 1950's Chysler in his article? Tom at least make it the right year if you are going to use a car for the article. Geez.
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7-27-2009 @ 1:30PM
Muscle Dude said...
Beware of the scams galore popping up to take advantage of consumers. Do your homework, read: http://tinyurl.com/nlv3ed
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