CarMasterKeys.net Scam Alert?

by **OpenSays-a-me** » 4 Jul 2004 12:55

http://www.carmasterkeys.net

Anybody seen this site before?

It has a forum, but it doesnt seem to have been upgraded or monitored in years. Seems like if they were doing as much business as they claim they would take better care of the forum.

Call me paranoid, but I suspect they are either just outright taking peoples money who figure 25 bux isn't too much to risk, or splitting up the generic jigglers and selling them individually...either way it smells like a scam to me so I sent them an email inquiry.

They still answer their email... although it takes forever. The gist of them are..."We have to answer 200 emails a day"..... "We are filling hundred of orders a day" yada yada

The website, and several emails I recieved boasted claims of their master keys being patented.... after a bit of prying and promise of a payment they produced "5,311,758" as their patent number.

A quick patent search showed this to be the patent number... not for a master key (suprise,suprise) but for a self contained/protective key fob patented by someone not sharing the same name of the webhost/owner. So that at least is 1 direct lie.

I should probably post the full patent information they gave me in their forums, might save somebody 20 bux... but it doesnt look like the forum sees much activity.

I'd hate to slander someones good name... but if this site is a scam it would bring me great pleasure to try and get his paypal account and webhosting cancelled. He's also got AOL as his ISP... they don't like crooks either... and they are definately trigger happy with the termination of services.

Not too far ahead of myself though... you guys have any suggestions?

by **mcm757207** » 4 Jul 2004 15:00

I saw a bit about these things on the news, they bought one and tried in on six cars or something and it actually worked on one. I don't think it's a scam, but I don't think it's worth $25.

by **OpenSays-a-me** » 4 Jul 2004 21:47

You heard about A masterkey.

I doubt they said anything directly about this site, or directed anyone to it.

Anyway, My point is not that there is no such an item, but that this in many ways appears to be a scam site.

Not to mention they provide fraudulant patent information.

by **OpenSays-a-me** » 5 Jul 2004 19:32

I think I'm gonna take a hit for the team on this one.

It will provide education or entertainment either way... worth 25 bux imo.

"It's almost worth having your car keyed to catch the guy keying your car"

Will keep you updated.

by **OpenSays-a-me** » 5 Jul 2004 19:45

Dear Mr. X,

This email confirms that you have paid Payments@Carmasterkeys.net (Payments@Carmasterkeys.net) $23.54 USD using PayPal.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PayPal Shopping Cart Contents

Item Name: Dodge/Chrysler Master Key
Item Number: D-MK

Quantity: 1

Total: $22.00 USD

Cart Subtotal: $22.00 USD
Sales Tax: $1.54 USD
Cart Total: $23.54 USD
------------------------------------------------------------------------

With tax... I saved about a buck fiddy using PayPal.

He is a verified PP member with 200+ sales to verified member, so maybe he is legit.

That many orders... stands to reason that someone would have made a stink about it if they were just scammers.

PayPal loves to freeze accounts and make people jump through hoops to get their money back.

Time will tell.

by **Guitar_J** » 5 Jul 2004 23:09

Oh boy.. I gotta see this.. I hope you have a digicam / scanner so we can see this magic key...

by **OpenSays-a-me** » 6 Jul 2004 16:30

Guitar_J wrote:Oh boy.. I gotta see this.. I hope you have a digicam / scanner so we can see this magic key...

Indeed, It will be well documented.

Glad to know someone else has taken interest.

by **plot** » 7 Jul 2004 5:49

there are such things as "Tryout Keys"... usually there are quite a few of them, and they are just the most common cuts or something... so they work on a few (but not all) cars of that make.

if you look at that site though, i dont see any of these 'masterkeys' for anything newer then 1999. then again, i only looked at one set.

by **OpenSays-a-me** » 7 Jul 2004 9:34

plot wrote:there are such things as "Tryout Keys"... usually there are quite a few of them, and they are just the most common cuts or something... so they work on a few (but not all) cars of that make.

if you look at that site though, i dont see any of these 'masterkeys' for anything newer then 1999. then again, i only looked at one set.

OpenSays-a-me wrote:
Call me paranoid, but I suspect they are either just outright taking peoples money who figure 25 bux isn't too much to risk, or splitting up the generic jigglers and selling them individually...either way it smells like a scam to me so I sent them an email inquiry.

OpenSays-a-me wrote:
Anyway, My point is not that there is no such an item, but that this in many ways appears to be a scam site.

by **plot** » 7 Jul 2004 14:43

Jigglers, as in the ones southord produces, and "Tryout Keys", are different things.

by **OpenSays-a-me** » 7 Jul 2004 18:42

plot wrote:Jigglers, as in the ones southord produces, and "Tryout Keys", are different things.

You're right.

I know what your talking about... the ones that come sometimes with as many as 50 or more keys. Or the double sided kits that can be easily acquired from the local maatco/snapon truck...

I just kinda lump the rockers,jigglers and tryout keys into the same category. Since essentially they do the same thing and are used the same way.

Definately could be a copy of one of those.

Many of the news reports I have seen or read... they often refer to the key as "flimsy little thing" or something of that nature.... That leads me to believe that they had the steel jigglers... or a stamped key instead of an actual cut key.

I'm pretty sure it's a misrepresented "something"

Thanks for your input.

by **plot** » 8 Jul 2004 4:48

Well, we'll soon find out i guess.

by **OpenSays-a-me** » 9 Jul 2004 9:29

Update:

4 days and counting.

Havent recieved any kind of order confirmation/tracking number beside the auto response from PayPal.

Sent an email inquiry this morning.

by **Guitar_J** » 9 Jul 2004 9:33

Hrmm... something smells a bit fishy...

by **OpenSays-a-me** » 9 Jul 2004 17:25

Got another auto response from CMK.

-------------------------------------
Hello,
We have over 200 e-mails to read, every day. We will get to you as soon
as possible or with in 24 hours minimum.

Mark Fisher, Business Owner
Car Master Keys Inc.
461 W. Holmes Ave Suite 352
Mesa, Arizona 85210
U.S.A

Personel Cell 480-213-5963
Fax Number 775-655-9201
Portable e-mail device
Type 70 word''s maximum
4802135963@mobile.att.net
www.carmasterkeys.net
www.carmasterkeys.com
---------------------------------------------------

200+ emails a day huh?

CarMasterKeys.net Scam Alert?

CarMasterKeys.net Scam Alert?

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