Alert: Cash for Clunkers-like scam sites up and running
The success of the federal government's C.A.R.S. (Cash for Clunkers) program led to the creation of the 2009 Automotive Stimulus Program, a private plan run by some of the U.S.'s larger auto dealers. The creation of a second program, one that has different rules and isn't C.A.R.S., and the nature of the Internet has led to some scam sites that purport to be offering clunkers-style rebated but they're really collecting personal information from unsuspecting users. The auto dealers that are part of the ASP have issued a press release that warns against sites that talk about "pre-registering" or ask for credit card or social security numbers. Kind of a no-brainer there, but apparently the Nigerian prince emails worked, too. Also, we've noticed a few spam emails that talk about the clunkers rebate program. We haven't bothered to click on them for fear of causing all sorts of problems, but their subject lines are calling us from our spam folders.[Source: www.AutomotiveStimulusPlan.com]
PRESS RELEASE:
www.AutomotiveStimulusPlan.com Warns of Online Scams
Dealers Bail Out Cash For Clunkers With New Stimulus Plan
NEW YORK, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Some of the leading U.S. Automotive Retailers recently launched a dealer funded stimulus program to provide up to $4500 in incentives for consumers who were left behind by the government funded stimulus plan. Due to the rules of the government's program, over 90% of consumers are not eligible and consumers are not happy about it. Some of the largest retailers in the country recently launched the www.AutoStimulusPlan.com, a Stimulus Program that is more inclusive because all vehicles older than 2007 are eligible regardless of their current mpg.
The recent launch of the dealer stimulus plan sparked a nationwide wave of interest in the program, which provides up to $4,500 of trade-in credits to car-owners who trade in their vehicle for a more fuel efficient alternative. However, the flood of enthusiasm for the new dealer stimulus plan has led to the emergence of scams targeting consumers looking to benefit from the program. www.AutoStimulusPlan.com, the official website for the dealer funded stimulus, has issued a warning to consumers and is providing specific instructions on how to avoid scams. "Consumers should be cautious because some scam sites have emerged that are attempting to fraudulently capture personal financial information to be used illegally," said Scott Fletcher, director of www.AutoStimulusPlan.com.
www.AutoStimulusPlan.com warns consumers to be wary of any site that asks for personal financial information. "Avoid any website that says you need to "pre-register," or asks you for your social security number or credit card number," said Fletcher. The organization is warning consumers not to give out their personal information on these scam sites because it could result in identity theft.
The organization has advised consumers, "You are not required to sign up for this program. Participating new car dealers will add a trade-in credit to your vehicles fair trade value, assuming it meets program requirements. Don't be fooled by fake websites that portray themselves as an official website for the dealer stimulus plan because there is only one official website for the national dealer funded stimulus program, www.AutoStimulusPlan.com," said Fletcher. The organization also advises consumers to make sure they receive all the manufacturer rebates in addition to the trade-in credits they receive for their qualifying vehicle.
Some local dealerships have implemented advertising campaigns that mislead consumers to think they are a part of the national dealer Stimulus Plan. To be safe, consumers are advised not to rely on local advertising and should visit the only national dealer-funded Stimulus Plan at www.AutoStimulusPlan.com.
The dealer funded stimulus plan has gotten a lot of attention because it compensates for the gaps in the governments program by allowing consumers to purchase pre-owned vehicles and to choose a short term lease.
Automotive Stimulus Program Requirements:
1. Current vehicle is a 2006 or older
2. Current vehicle is operable
3. Current vehicle has been owned for a minimum of 6 months
4. Current vehicle has been registered for a minimum of 6 months
5. The replacement vehicle has to be more fuel efficient by a minimum
of 2mpg
Incentives vary based on the consumer's current vehicle and desired vehicle (visit www.AutoStimulusPlan.com for details). Incentives vary in some states due to state laws that regulate automotive advertising and promotion. The Auto Stimulus Plan will end on November 1st and will continue if the government's program expires before that date.
About www.AutoStimulusPlan.com
www.AutoStimulusPlan.com is funded and promoted by some of the largest automotive retailers in the country. Participating dealers are domestic and import licensed new car dealers who have agreed to provide incentives for consumers to get a newer more fuel efficient vehicle. www.AutoStimulusPlan.com website and communication campaign was built by Level 5, an automotive marketing and consulting firm that specializes in creating and implementing integrated programs for Manufacturers, Associations and Retailers. This stimulus plan is a private program and is not affiliated with the government program. For more information about the governments program visit www.Cars.gov.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
raredone 12:41AM (8/16/2009)
If your not personally going up to a dealer to buy a car, Why then would one put personal information on a computer ? Never give out personal info to anyone.
A safety tip from the good guys at,
www.rareiron.com
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Tim 10:22AM (8/16/2009)
There are MANY ways of taking advantage of progressive central planning redistribution which in itself is fraught with fraud & abuse...
Unintended consequences?
In The Constitution of Liberty, F.A. Hayek included a chapter, "Why I Am Not a Conservative," in which he argued the case for classical liberalism: the policy that leaves people alone in the bedroom as well as the boardroom.
http://www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/pr-nd-gd.html
“Hayek is best known for his most widely read work, The Road to Serfdom, which was written to explain to a literate, but nontechnical, readership how the road to political hell is paved with the best intentions. As he made clear, classical liberalism's conflict with central planning was not over the shared goal of enhancing the well-being of the greatest possible number of people but over the way to achieve that goal.
Hayek's thesis in The Road to Serfdom is that one intervention inevitably leads to another. The unintended consequences of each market intervention are economic distortions, which generate further interventions to correct them. That interventionist dynamic leads society down the road to serfdom.
In perhaps the best chapter of The Road to Serfdom, Hayek details "Why the Worst Get on Top" in totalitarian (oligarchy) societies. The chapter begins with a quotation from Lord Acton: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Hayek then elaborates the Actonian insight.
Central planning not only robbed people of their basic freedoms but ruined their economies. The tragedy is that Hayek and others patiently explained not only the political, but also the economic, consequences of central planning. That system ignored its impossible informational requirements. It demanded that all the fragments of knowledge existing in different minds be brought together in one mind, a feat requiring that single mind to possess knowledge far in excess of what anyone could ever comprehend.”
Today’s “Progressives” are Statist-Fascists who believe that the State should interfere in individual freedom & liberty so they conduct class warfare to divide and conquer We, the People so that they can centrally plan you lives.
Our nation’s founders were more Classic Liberals who believed in individual liberty and personal responsibility which can only be achieved via a strongly regulated central gov’t and that is why we have the Constitution to limit gov’t power and in effect limit unintended consequences of the Crown’s central planning which they had just escaped.
Times change BUT human nature NEVER changes! Power ALWAYS corrupts and that's why power must NEVER be centralized in the State because that always leads to these types of unintended consequences... fraud, corruption, loss & pain.
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