Fraud Alert – Buyer Beware!
We all know that fraud is a problem, but it’s easy to ignore it until it happens to you. Even industry experts and high-profile professionals can fall victim to corrupt business practices and outright fraud of swindlers posing as authentic buyers or sellers.
We know first-hand because it recently happened to us.
In September of 2021, we were scammed by a group based in Vietnam calling themselves Cosmopolitan Classics. They have a website that appears to be legitimate (www.CPClassics.com) and represent themselves asa restorer and seller of vintage scooters. We sent more than $50,000 for a collection of vintage Vespas and Lambrettas, and have received no product and no communication. While the website remains active, phone calls and emails remain unanswered.
This article discusses a similar scam in 2019 . https://www.thebigchilli.com/feature-stories/vintage-scooter-scam-is-back-and-people-are-still-falling-for-it Hmmm…Same company??
We’re sharing this with you as a warning. Let our experience serve as a cautionary reminder to be careful and trust your instincts. And here are some recommendations to help protect yourself:
- Always seek recommendations before doing business with a company you are not personally familiar with.
- Do your research. Find real reviews and take complaints seriously.
- Report instances of international scams or cross-border fraud, report it at www.econsumer.gov.
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