Tractor hauling scam

Stevewatr

Member
Just wanted to post a heads up regarding a tractor hauling scammer who contacted me.
He saw my posting online asking for a tractor haul from coast to coast, and called me with a good price. I did not agree right away, but he called again a week later, and I agreed. He then requested a $370 deposit. He said he has had too many loads not be there when he shows up, picked up by another hauler, or the sale falls through. I read the deposit request is not unusual, but then he said he had special instructions for me to send the money.

He claims he is on the road all the time (on the lamb is more like it), so he instructed me to get a Greendot money card from Walmart, or Walgreens. For those who do not know, it is a card you buy with cash only, and it can be used to transfer funds to Paypal, or an existing Walmart, or other money card.

I bought the card, it cost me $4.95 service fee. I called him, and he expected me to give him the number on the back of the card. This number is to be guarded as if it were cash. Once he has the number, he can transfer the money loaded on the card to his card, then walk into Walmart to redeem it.

So I tell him before I give him the number, I need his DOT #, Fed. interstate #, and the # issued by the home state he operates out of.

He said he is a small independant, and does not have any of these. He claims he does not need them because he is registered as a combination at 26,0000 GVW. I told him I need to check on that, and my seller told me that if he is registered commercial, running interstate with no DOT #, he is illegal.

Here is thew real coupe de grace as the French say to this deal.

I googled his cell number 224-531-3002 and found this number pops up all over the forums with complaints and warnings about this guy. He uses several names, but the same number. He always asks for the Greendot down payment, several people have paid him only to have him disappear.

One post said he advertises heavily in Hemmings motorsports news.

I hope just one person reads this post before he gets there deposit.

This guy gives legit small operators a bad name.

Regards,
SW
 
Sounds fishy and almost bet my shirt that you would loose $370 + $4.95. This would almost certainly leave you with an empty card.

Look on the "a l l i s c h a l m e r s dot com forum. There is a guy that doesn't take deposits and post his location and space available on trailer weekly. If you cannot find his thread, post one and ask about him. He seems like an honest guy. Many people on the site uses him.

CT
 
there have been other threads about same, possible same person, if they are that good and have good credentials and have a a good banking account, they don't need up front money, if they show up when agreed on, then money will be talked about.... today you can't go on a phone call from a stranger who says they need up front money to make the trip, etc....beware
 
(quoted from post at 16:35:43 10/20/11) I've had good customer service and good pricing from Uship. Get the best price if your not in a hurry and can work with someone who "fits" it in their schedule.

L.

I tried Uship first, but only got a couple of bids, and they were both almost $3000. I need to find someone who can combine my small tractor with other loads to make it worth while for me. This tractor is a parts machine. I only bought it because it is rare, and was tired of calling all the salvage yards around the country, and having the guy say "it's a what??, who makes it?" :)
 
I encountered the same guy recently. I was about to do it, but then after talking to some other people, decided against it. He was half of everyone else. How could anyone haul that cheap and make any money? He said he lived in his truck. If you sent him money, how would you ever track him down? All you would have is a phone number and a lot of good that would do you.
I'm glad I changed my mind.
 
(quoted from post at 20:07:03 11/02/11) I encountered the same guy recently. I was about to do it, but then after talking to some other people, decided against it. He was half of everyone else. How could anyone haul that cheap and make any money? He said he lived in his truck. If you sent him money, how would you ever track him down? All you would have is a phone number and a lot of good that would do you.
I'm glad I changed my mind.

Yup, talked to another guy today who said he heard of this guy. Said he has been taking money and not showing up for 2 years now. He said it is too bad nobody (i.e. law enforcement), is getting this guy. I received a call from what appears to be a legit hauler today, the number he called from is an actual trucking company, with a professional website. After some talking, we have a preliminary agreement at $1500. We'll see how this one works out.

Regards,
Steve.
 
Well, at least you were smart enough to check on him. I wasn't and got burned. Never heard of the b****** again after I sent him the money. Tried going here, but no joy. Lost both the money and time and I have no one to blame but my stupidity.

There's a lesson to be learned here, kids.
 
(quoted from post at 22:01:02 11/02/11) Well, at least you were smart enough to check on him. I wasn't and got burned. Never heard of the b****** again after I sent him the money. Tried going here, but no joy. Lost both the money and time and I have no one to blame but my stupidity.

There's a lesson to be learned here, kids.

Don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes we want so badly to believe the deal is good, even when it is too good to be true. The other thing is, like many con artists, he talked the talk. He knew the lingo, and had an answer for most questions at the ready, and some seemed perfectly plausible, especially to some one like me who realy wanted it to be true. I went as far as to buy the Green Dot money card he requested as a form of payment, and called him, ready to give him the number under the scratch off area on the back, then I stopped, and thought what do I have if he takes the money and runs????? So I asked him for his DOT number, and he claimed that because he was registered as a combination under 25000 GVW, he did not need one. I said I'd check it out, and get back to him. As luck would have it, my seller is a retired trucker, and said If he is registered commercial, and running interstate without a DOT number, he is operating illegal. I liked my seller's explanation, so then I googled his cell number, and the rest is history. I even read on another forum that this guy is supposedly well known for scamming people for car hauling. They say he was spotted advertising in Hemmings motor news.
 
I have always had good luck using "uship" put in your destinations and guys will submit bids, have to pay up front to account, BUT you get a pin# to release the funds to the transporter when items are received. Fully refundable if you back out, well almost, think it is $25 charge. I had a chevelle shipped from Cal. to MI for $700, and a buddy got a crew cab dually from texas and cost him $850. Worth checking it out
 
(quoted from post at 14:03:47 11/03/11) I have always had good luck using "uship" put in your destinations and guys will submit bids, have to pay up front to account, BUT you get a pin# to release the funds to the transporter when items are received. Fully refundable if you back out, well almost, think it is $25 charge. I had a chevelle shipped from Cal. to MI for $700, and a buddy got a crew cab dually from texas and cost him $850. Worth checking it out

Uship was the first place I tried, and I did receive a couple bids, but they were all over $2000, so I took down the job lisitng. But thanks anyways.
 
I had same experience with this guy. He had me get debit card from Dollar General. I gave him debit card number valued $200.00 for deposit. Never showed up for pick up. Used name Tom Walker Phone # 224-531-3002. I still call this number and get a recording to leave message and no return call. Tracked telephone exchange to Bolingbrock, IL. Thought I was the only sucker.
 

Wow, sorry to hear you were ripped off. So now he has a new alias, but still using the same old cell number. How much does this guy have to steal before somebody in law enforcement gets this guy???

I imagine he is breaking some federal laws like wire fraud or somthing like that.

Steve W.
 

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