The Buscadero BSX 110 mini bike is a popular product that many motocross and mini bike enthusiasts are interested in. However, an online scam has been using the Buscadero name to trick customers into buying non-existent bikes. This article will explain how the scam works, provide tips to avoid becoming a victim, and what to do if you already ordered a bike.
Overview of the Buscadero BSX 110 Mini Bike Scam
The Buscadero BSX 110 mini bike is a real product made by a reputable company. It resembles classic 70s era motocross bikes with its knobby tires, number plate, and retro styling. The actual BSX 110 mini bike costs around $2,199 from authorized dealers.
Scammers are falsely advertising the BSX 110 for very low monthly payments of around $200. The ads are found on social media sites like Facebook and use eye-catching videos or images of the bike in action. By tricking people into thinking they can get a great deal on financing, the scammers obtain credit card information and steal buyer’s money without ever shipping a product.
How the Buscadero BSX 110 Mini Bike Scam Works
The scam typically starts with an enticing Facebook ad that shows the Buscadero BSX 110 mini bike being ridden in motocross tracks or trails. The ad copy talks about a huge discount with an unbelievable finance offer of around $200 per month.
When you click the Facebook ad, you are taken to a slick-looking website with Buscadero branding throughout. The site has plenty of details about the bike’s specs, different color options, financing terms, shipping policy, and customer reviews. At first glance, everything looks legitimate.
However, if you dig deeper, there are some red flags:
- No working contact info – the phone number, email, and physical address on the site are fake or non-responsive.
- Too-good-to-be-true pricing – authorized Buscadero dealers sell these bikes for $1000+ but the scam site claims they are 90% off.
- Positive reviews are dubious – the few customer reviews on the site seem over-the-top and fake.
The site encourages buyers to act fast by saying there is limited inventory. It then collects your personal and credit card information during checkout. Victims typically realize it’s a scam after they never receive the bike they ordered. At that point, it’s too late and the scammers have their money and personal data.
Tips to Avoid the Buscadero BSX 110 Mini Bike Scam
Now that you know how the scam operates, here are some tips to avoid getting tricked by it:
- Search for complaints – do a quick Google search for the website name along with words like “scam” or “fake” to find other reports of fraud.
- Research prices – check current prices for the BSX 110 mini bike on the official Buscadero site or at well-known motorcycle retailers. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Verify contact information – call the phone number and send an email before purchasing to see if anyone responds. Cross-reference the address with official business records.
- Avoid shady payment methods – never pay with cash, wire transfer, prepaid cards, or other opaque methods. Stick to secure payments like credit cards that have fraud protection.
- Check site credentials – look for a padlock icon, HTTPS in the URL, and signs of legitimacy like an About Us page and valid domain registration info.
- Read reviews skeptically – fake positive reviews are commonly used in scams. Check for review patterns that seem suspicious.
Following these tips and your gut instinct can help you steer clear of mini bike scams and purchase safely from authorized sellers.
What to Do If You Already Ordered a BSX 110 Mini Bike
If you did fall for the Buscadero mini bike scam, don’t panic. Here are some steps to take right away:
- Contact your credit card issuer – report the fraudulent charge and request a chargeback. Provide any evidence you have that it’s a scam.
- Alert your bank – if you paid via bank transfer, call your bank immediately to try stopping or reversing the payment.
- Report the scam – notify the FTC and IC3 to help authorities locate and shut down the scam operators.
- Leave online reviews – post about your experience on consumer sites to warn others away from the scam website and ads.
- Close compromised accounts – if you used existing payment accounts, close them and open new ones to prevent future misuse.
- Monitor your credit – check your credit reports regularly for any signs of identity theft stemming from the scam.
- Learn from the experience – file it away as a lesson and be extra vigilant when you encounter unbelievably good deals in the future.
While it may take persistence and time for your money to be returned, reporting the scam promptly can help minimize damages. Be proactive, and you can overcome a mini bike scam.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Buscadero BSX 110 Mini Bike Scam
Is Buscadero a real company or part of the scam?
Buscadero is a legitimate company that has been making quality mini bikes and go-karts for decades. Only scammers are falsely using the Buscadero name to sell nonexistent bikes online.
How can I tell if a Buscadero mini bike seller is authorized?
Authorized Buscadero dealers can be found on their official website. Look for a physical store location, working contact info, reasonable prices, and signs of an established business. Avoid sellers that only exist online.
What payment method offers the most protection?
Credit cards offer the strongest fraud protection and ability to dispute charges. Never pay suspicious sellers with cash, wire transfers, prepaid cards, or other high-risk methods.
Is this type of scam illegal?
Yes, scamming buyers into sending money for products that are never delivered is against the law. The problem is catching the fraudsters, who conceal their identity and location.
Should I try to negotiate with the scammers?
No, any further engagement with the scammers encourages them and wastes your time. Report them immediately instead of attempting to negotiate.
How can I recover my money from the scam?
Your best recourse is reporting unauthorized credit card charges for a refund. If you paid another way, the money may be unrecoverable unfortunately.
Are there any legitimate mini bikes at the advertised $200 price?
Not from major brands like Buscadero. The lowest prices for brand name mini bikes generally start around the $500+ range.
The Bottom Line
While the ads for the Buscadero BSX 110 mini bike at $200 a month seem enticing, this scam has cost many customers their hard-earned money. Protect yourself by thoroughly researching sellers, avoiding shady websites, paying with credit cards, and acting quickly if you are defrauded. With caution, you can hopefully land the actual mini bike you’ve been dreaming about!
Statement from Buscadero Motorcycles on Scam Ads
Parker, co-founder of Buscadero Motorcycles, provided this statement on the scam ads misusing their brand:
I’m Parker one of the co-founders of Buscadero Motorcycles. The fact is, yes someone stole our images/videos/reviews and has been running fake ads for our bikes. Of course they’re not shipping anything. The key indicator is the fake ads are usually advertising a mini bike for ~$79.99 or $39.99. The true price of our bikes is $2,199, which is what your article states. However i haven’t seen ANY of the scam ads being run for our actual price. Your article states that “the bike doesn’t exist”. But it is a LEGIT bike that my dad and I designed and put into production. It’s a small family business and we’ve been through hell and back to get the business up and running and now these scams are hurting our reputation.
Unfortunately, articles like this are showing up in searches and also hurting our credibility. We want to help people be educated on how to spot the scam and not just write off our bikes completely.In general you can tell it’s the scam ads if it’s not coming from our official pages (Buscadero Motorcycles) or not linking to our official website.
https://www.buscaderomotorcycles.comIf you could change the article it would mean a lot to us. I’m happy to hop on a phone call and clear some of this up if needed. Thank you for your time!
Parker’s insightful statement further reinforces that the genuine Buscadero BSX 110 mini bike and brand are being harmed by these fraudulent ads from scammers. This article aims to spread awareness of the scam ads while still supporting the real Buscadero company.
