Press Release Summary = Sometimes website's success brings not only higher visitor volumes but unexpected troubles as well. In case of CarMP, scammers posing as its representatives charged fees for the free services website offers, promising to refund money later.
Press Release Body = FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New type of fraud targets car sellers
TORONTO, On - March 28, 2006 - Sometimes website's success brings not only higher visitor volumes but unexpected troubles as well. In case of CarMP, scammers posing as its representatives charged fees for the free services website offers, promising to refund money later.
Nine months ago, CarMP.com (CarMP.ca in Canada) was launched as a free-for-all auto classified solution. From its first day, CarMP has distinguished itself not only by offering free classified services, but also by providing intuitive, easy-to-navigate user interface and a variety of useful features that dramatically improve vehicle presentation online. It is not surprising that in just a few months CarMP user base exploded, surpassing some of the major competitors, and the number of vehicles listed on CarMP.com is now approaching market leaders.
However, with constantly increasing popularity of CarMP it became a target for a new type of fraud. Individual(s) pretending to represent CarMP, contacted car sellers who had online (non-CarMP) and newspaper car listings. In conversation, the victim was informed about "Sell your car on CarMP in x-number of days or your money back!" promotion, and then was asked for credit card information. Later, a legitimate-looking transaction appeared on the credit card statement under the "CARMP" name and a car listing showed up on the website. When some CarMP-listed cars were not sold, the victim contacted CarMP for a refund only to find out that such promotion had never existed and that car listings on CarMP have always been free.
The initial user complaints were assumed to be a simple misunderstanding on the clients' part, but later it became apparent that someone was deliberately contacting car sellers and acting as a CarMP representative. At the moment CarMP is working with the fraud victims collecting information for the official investigation. Only a few victims stepped forward so far, however the number of people affected by the fraud is expected to be much higher, including those who successfully sold their cars believing they have paid money for the classified services.
If you were approached by anyone promoting similar offers on behalf of CarMP please contact CarMP at support@CarMP.com immediately. Remember CarMP representatives never ask to provide personal or financial information in phone conversations or emails. Additional tips helping to identify fake representatives can be found at www.CarMP.com/Main_FAQ.aspx?ID
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