[QUOTE=kerry edwards;1600282]The story:

I "bought" ( or was the successful bidder on) a VW Passat in 2001. It was going to be for my daughters to cut their teeth on. After I did some soul searching, I decided it was probably too much car for them as 17 yr olds.
So I called the guy. His name was Harold Hooper. I discussed it with him and he said he'd let me out of the deal, but he wanted to wait until he relisted and sold it and if it went for an equal or greater amount, he'd send me my money back. If it went for less, I'd eat the difference.

Well, the car was relisted and I assume resold. But then he went silent to emails and telephone messages.
Ebay didn't have the buyer protections like they have now.
I of course complained to them, but had no real recourse.

I did contact the FBI internet fraud desk and sent them a whole bunch of information they requested. That was in early 2002. I also found a few other folks who had been skinned by this guy (I think through ebay feedback).
A guy in Grand Rapids MI (Explorer) and a woman in Mississippi (Infiniti).
The guy had never received his title and could not register the car in MI.
The woman actually received a junk or salvage title with the car and she could not register it in MS iirc.

About a year after that (mid 2003) I received a follow up from the FBI requesting a little more info and confirmation that the claim was still unsettled. I sent them what they wanted and that's the last I ever heard of it.

Caveat emptor for sure!