CONTACT: Eric Durr, 518-786-4581 or (cell)518-429-5186

FOR RELEASE: Friday, Feb 20, 2009

LATHAM, NY (02/20/2009)-- An Internet con artist is misrepresenting himself or herself as a member of the New York Army National Guard in order to take advantage of car buyers shopping on the internet. A poster on Internet classified advertising sites, including the popular Craigslist, claims to be Sgt. Jennifer Malone of the New York Army National Guard's Company A. 427th Brigade Support Battalion in Rochester. When contacted this individual tells an interested buyer that she is deploying to Iraq very soon and she needs to sell her Chevy Suburban right away. She pressures the potential buyer to make a decision within a very few days. In another variation of the same scam, the seller claims to be Sgt. Mike Henson of the 27th Brigade Combat Team who is deploying to Afghanistan and needs to sell an Acura Infinity for $5,000. Malone/Henson promises to deliver the truck/car with the registration in exchange for money sent through Ebay. There is NO Sgt. Jennifer Malone in the New York Army National Guard. There is NO Sgt. Mike Henson in the New York Army National Guard The 427th Brigade Support Battalion is NOT deploying to Iraq and the 27th Brigade Combat Team is NOY deploying to Afghanistan. The 27th Brigade Combat Team has just returned from Afghanistan, where it was deployed from April to December 2008. One potential buyer found that the vehicle identification number that "Jennifer Malone" provided for the Suburban, belonged to a vehicle on a lot in Sacramento, California. This dealer had received several inquiries about the vehicle. Another variation on this scam is for the poster to identify themselves as a member of the New York Air National Guard who has to sell a vehicle right away due to deployment. Car shoppers who run across this scam should contact the New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's Office and file a complaint with the Attorney General's "Internet Bureau" at thiswebsite: http://www.oag.state.ny.us/resource_center/complaints/complaints.html Or call the Attorney General's Consumer Frauds helpline at 1-800-771-7755.