Exchange Warns Shoppers About Used-Vehicle Scams
DALLAS – The Army & Exchange Service is warning military shoppers about scammers posing as service members offering to broker the sale of used boats, cars and motorcycles through the Exchange.
In one recent case, a scammer, who posed as a Soldier, tried to defraud a man in Tennessee out of $2,500 for the sale of a used boat, saying that the Exchange would ship the boat once payment was made. Fortunately, the would-be buyer contacted the Fort Campbell Exchange and was advised that any ads related to used-vehicle sales are fraudulent as the Exchange does not have authority to sell vehicles in the continental United States.
“I’m glad this individual contacted us prior to wiring any funds because it has been our experience that once money is sent, no vehicle is received and the ‘seller’ is nowhere to be found,” said Rick Koloski, the Exchange’s Loss Prevention vice president.
“In the past, we’ve been aware of cases where these scammers have used the Exchange trademarked logo and name to purportedly sell used motorcycles and cars in the United States,” Koloski said. “Now, they have branched out into boats. We have received a steady flow of calls from people who have been wrongly informed they are waiting on a motor vehicle from the Exchange.”
The Exchange is authorized to sell new cars and motorcycles, but only overseas. Exchange facilities are located solely on military installations. While the Exchange does have mail order and Internet offerings, the Exchange does not advertise in civilian outlets such as metropolitan newspapers or automobile sales magazines. All advertisements for legitimate Exchange offerings are published in outlets whose audiences mostly comprise military members.
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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with quality merchandise and services at competitively low prices and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military morale, welfare and recreation programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.
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Media Notes:
For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].
