Playtime II wrote:
Come on folks. It has already been mentioned several times that not all states work the same when it comes to vehicle titles with liens. Getting a title immediately may be impossible given the financial institution and the state. It does not always mean a scam. Ask your DMV as well as the financial institution "holding" the title.
You are right... but how else can the "seller" give proof that he has a legal standing to sell the vehicle? I've been a police officer for 15 years, I've seen a lot of trusting people get burned by scammers... enough to question every suspicious transaction like this.
Lets just play pretend for a little bit...
You own your trailer but are on a business trip and out of town for 2 weeks. Your brother-in-law has a pill problem and knows that you have your camper, unattended, at your house. He puts an ad on Craigslist to sell your camper. The OP shows up to your house (that your BIL claims is his). Your BIL has access to your house, and has the keys to your camper. BIL shows the camper to OP, its in nice shape and the price is right. OP hands over $6000 to your BIL and drives away with your camper.
You return home a week later, your camper is gone. You call police and file a report. OP is waiting around for a title that is never coming and is stuck with a trailer that he cannot ever register. Your BIL has $6000, your camper is missing and the OP has no title.
Will this happen? I don't know.
Can it happen? absolutely.
Does it happen? Every single day across the US.
OP asked for advice, I gave him my advice. My advice is based upon 15 years of law enforcement and more scams than I can remember. Even if your state doesn't provide a title with a lien stamp, they have to provide SOMETHING to facilitate a sale. You can't take a car to a dealer to trade it in without some type of identification that proves you are the rightful owner... why should the OP take that responsibility when a car dealership wouldn't assume the same responsibility...?
