Another scam involving a vehicle transport company has been reported in South Dakota.
Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg and Department of Revenue Secretary Jim Terwilliger say a fictitious RV transport company by the name of DakotaFalkTrucking.com claims to be physically located in South Shore, SD. The site has stolen the Motor Carrier and USDOT numbers from a legitimate trucking company and is also using the identity of a real person, not affiliated with the trucking company’s operations.
Consumers purchasing recreational vehicles are being targeted when going through well-known sites such as Facebook, Craigs List, RVTrader.com, etc. Fraudulent sale postings are listed with discounted prices as the enticement. The majority of these listings are being posted under the guise that Brigadier General Joane K. Mathews is the individual selling the RV. The scammers then attempt to facilitate the sale through DakotaFalkTrucking.com because of their “escrow service,” which the scammer says will keep both parties from being ripped off.
The South Dakota Consumer Protection Division has received calls from multiple consumers from outside of the state that have been scammed out of thousands of dollars or have come close to becoming a victim. DakotaFalkTrucking.com has no physical presence in South Dakota, the address listed is a valid address but it’s not for a shipping company.
Consumers are encouraged to check all aspects of any website before agreeing to do business online. Because the address listed is legitimate, does not guarantee the address matches what the site is about.
The South Dakota Department of Revenue’s motor vehicle division urges consumers to be cautious when reviewing titles associated with this website. If you have questions regarding the legitimacy of a South Dakota vehicle title, contact the motor vehicle division by phone at 605-773-3541.
Anyone who has fallen victim to this scam is encouraged to contact the Consumer Protection Division in their state. In South Dakota the number is 1-800-300-1986.
Comments