In the middle of an Ebay scam

[shadowfax71]

My jurisdiction is: USA

I sold a car to someone who I allowed to make payments.
The title to the car never left my possession.
The buyer informed me that she could no longer continue to make payments. She wanted me to return the monies she had paid me for the car back.
I refused because she had possession of the car the entire time (supposedly garaged and being restored).
She then asked me if I could sell it for her on Ebay, keep the amount she still owed me and then give her the remaining proceeds.
I didn't have a problem with this.
It was a classic car and I knew it would bring a good price on Ebay.
I listed the car.
Sold the car.
Collected partial payment from the new buyer.
STUPIDLY gave the partial payment to the seller and took back possession of the car.
I was to collect the remaining money from the new seller which was what I was owed from the old seller.
Then I got a good look at the car. It was trashed. The pictures she had emailed to post on Ebay to me, were obviously taken we she first got the car.
Bottom line; she has all the money, I have nothing but a car not worth salvage and an angry buyer who I now owe $4600!!!
I have tried to put a skip trace on the woman but cannot find her.
What exactly are my liabilities?
I don't have $4600!
I offered to make payments to the new buyer because I felt so bad but he refused and wants all of his money.
I should mention that he sent the money to MY paypal account.
To complicate this heinous story even more, the newest buyer of the POS car is in Mexico.
What in the world can I do about this mess?
I feel like I'm in the middle of some international fraud, Ebay scam???!!!

 

[dee_dub]

What exactly are my liabilities?

Sounds like you already know what they are. If you can't deliver the car as advertised, you owe the new buyer his $4600 back.

What in the world can I do about this mess?

Finding the original buyer and beating her with a hose until she pays you the money so you can satisfy the buyer in Mexico would be your first option. If she's absolutely dropped off the face of the Earth, you're in a bit of a bind. All I can suggest is working out a payment plan. The buyer should know he can't get blood from a stone - if you haven't got it, you haven't got it. He could try to sue you for the $4600, but he might need to come to small claims court in your jurisdiction to do it.

 

[Michael Wechsler]

Finding the original buyer and beating her with a hose until she pays you the money so you can satisfy the buyer in Mexico would be your first option.

ROFLMAO. Perhaps hiring someone to do this might be a better idea, lol.

Unfortunately, you have an obligation to the new buyer and have been put in this situation due to your newfound trust for the old. The only consolation I can offer is that at least this wasn't a house. Dee_dub has hit all the right points here.