Have you ever been a victim of fraud?

My card was snagged while it was in the mail to me, and it was used abroad to sign out all of my money (including the total of my overdraft). The bank reimbursed me everything within three days, it was cool and the woman that dealt with me was nice. Scary seeing the bank balance though.

It is definately worth the fight. I got my debit card stolen a few months ago and the person who stole it spent hundreds of dollars on gas. BoA gave me all the money back after numberous phone calls and signed forms but the process was easy for unexpectedly getting the money back no questions asked. I didn’t get the police involved, but you should probably do something if it looks like your personal information is in danger.

The matter of ease in the fight really depends on the situation. Be prepared to spend the required amount of money in order to fight, but definitely do it if your future is in danger. My sister’s bf was a victim of fraud with a credit card registered outside of a bank (a waitress added numbers to the tip to make it VERY hefty). Three years later, he is still paying lawyer bills… but he still has his identity and his credit.

Thanks for the advice. Our situation has to do with a vehicle that we bought this spring. The state DMV says it’s a salvaged vehicle yet nothing was indicated on the title (which was a replacement not the original). Now come to find out the word “salvaged” was probably covered up on the front of the title.

Some things to consider first.

1) Is the car dealership even in business anymore?
2) Are they the same company name?
3) Is the salesperson who sold you the vehicle still there?
4) Have you kept all your original documentation from the sale and do you have a specific time line of events?
5) Are you talking about a $2,000 car or a $20,000 car?
6) Are you certain that no where on any of the sales paperwork that it is disclosed to be salvage? It won’t matter what anyone said, only what the paperwork you signed says.

You need to get all this together and consider how much money you are out and then decide if you are willing to fight to get things set straight. Car dealers are scum, I’ve been there, I’ve heard countless stories and they will continue to swindle people left and right. Big car dealers will hide behind lawyers and little cars dealers will hide under rocks. They will not under any circumstances just come out and make it right.

If it were me I’d fight the battle if for no other reason than to put them on a watch list, to produce some negative publicity and to help impact their sales in a negative way. I would immediately get together all your documentation and approach the attorney general for your state. This should be a pretty easy case to get the state govt behind you as it appears the title system was abused. Prepare for battle.

The one thing that is going to give you trouble is that you are just now discovering the fraud. Some may claim caveat emptor and that you did not do your due diligence prior to purchase. It may turn out to be a hard lesson, but you’ll sure have learned from it.

Best of Luck.

@tekn0lust-Thanks for the additional info. As far as we know the business is still in business. We are talking roughly $6500 or so. We have the paperwork, including a copy of the title, and nothing shows that the vehicle was salvaged. I’m an insurance agent and so I’ve even found out that if my vehicle is in an accident and is totaled we are looking a depreciation in value of 40% right off the bat then my deductible. My husband dealt with the dealer and remembers him saying the vehicle had been damaged but not to the point of salvage. I faxed a copy of the title to the DMV in the state on the title and they are the ones that are thinking it’s a fraud case as it appears there is sticker on it in the place where salvage would have been stamped. I’ve already contacted my attorney general’s office and the attorney general’s office in the state where the transaction took place (not in our state) prior to our finding out about the possibility of fraud. I plan on calling both tomorrow (didn’t think they would be open today) and discussing further. I’ve also got a friend who is an attorney who I’ve been discussing thist with at times so am going to contact her as well.

I should also mention that as of right now the title to my vehicle is NOT in my name. So legally I don’t believe I own the vehicle.

Years and years ago a used car dealer hosed me and I seemed to have no recourse. SO I tormented them for 2 years with the help of my friends. Things like tieing up their phone lines and letting the air out of the tires of the cars for sale, etc. Nothing really bad but somewhat gratifying.