Cars IW claims to have more than 200 autos on site as well as tractors, trucks and other utility vehicles. Problem is they don’t exist at the address provided in Idaho Falls. In fact, it only exists on the Internet.
This scam takes a different twist in that no personal contact is ever made between the dealer and the buyer. Instead, buyers are directed to the website where they order online, receive emails directions on where to wire transfer the money and a notification the purchase has been complete and auto-transport is on its way.
Problem is no cars are shipped or received.
The website is registered to Manuel Ogden, Sunnyvale, Calif., but tracking him down was impossible. The phone number he provided in his registration was 510-595-2002. This same number has been used to register hundreds of other websites on an Australian Internet service provider – Melbourne IT, LTD. The number rings through to a message machine.
The number on the website, www.carsiw.com, 208-419-0726, was also answered by a message machine. This number gave no option to leave a message, but an automated answering voice redirects the caller back to the website to place his/her order using a tab.
The address provided on the website is 2117 W. Omni Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83402. BBB visited the site, Eagle Rock Fabrication, a manufacturer of potato-handling equipment. After investigation, it was concluded there were no automobiles on site, and management knew nothing about the website.
Idaho Falls has no business license recorded for the company, and Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed there was no state licensing or registration for this business.
Robb Hicken is the media contact for the BBB serving Snake River Region. Reach him at 947-2115 or rhicken@boise.bbb.org.
