Scammer warning: Innovative Auto Design

[Ornamental]

This alledged restoration company, Innovative Auto Design, came to the attention of the members of the Norwegian forum about American cars, www.amcarforum.no, when a new member asked for advise about buying a car to be restored by IAD. He was a little wary of this company that wanted to be paid 100% in full for the car before they even began restoration of it, a '68 Charger.

Further, IAD claim to have been in business since 2005, and to have performed "several hundred great projects" since, or was it over the more than 15 years of experience of the three exterior and body men, and the sole interior guy this company claim to have on their payroll...? 
And they have yet to put up a showcase of their work, because they got such a "wide array of services".
Also, such a experienced and experienced company should be expected to be pretty solid, yet they use a free hosting website.

They got a car for sale: http://innovativeautodesign.com/forsale.html
Just look at the ad, and be sure to check out the prices...

I did some background check of who the website itself are registered on:
http://who.godaddy.com/WhoIs.aspx?domain=innovativeautodesign.com&prog_id=godaddy
Anyone believe there's a 699 1/2 Lafayette Avenue in Terre Haute, Indiana 47807

IAD use a Norwegian car as an example of earlier restoration they've done, which is 100% pure BS.
The owner of the red Charger presented on IAD's website did everything himself, not IAD as they claim:
http://innovativeautodesign.com/recent.html

Check out Z-440 here: http://www.chargernorway.com/NOT.htm
Z-440 got a Norwegian license plate, owner is a member of amcarforum.no, and I've seen the Charger several times myself, so I know the owner is legit.


Edit: The Norwegian Charger is no longer being abused by IAD as an example of earlier work.

[NoMope Greg]

Good catch, Ornamental!  I mapped it and, not surprisingly there isn't a 699 1/2 Lafayette in Terra Haute.  (It's not uncommon to have a "1/2" address here in the US - it's usually a second unit on a parcel originally assigned a single address, like giving a bunch of apartments a number or letter at the same address)  There is a 698 Lafayette - it's a 1 br/ 1 ba house.  You can find it here:

http://www.zillow.com/homes/map/699-Lafayette-Ave,-Terre-Haute,-In,-47807_rb/#/homes/for_sale/map/699-Lafayette-Ave,-Terre-Haute,-In,-47807_rb/39.481438,-87.406037,39.480769,-87.407317_rect/18_zm/

Notice that the building across the street is large enough to be a shop, but is missing all the clues of working shop - like a bunch of cars parked outside!

[Ornamental]

Thank you for explaining the 1/2 address thing, Greg!
I used Google Maps to have a look in the neighbourhood after whitepages.com came up blank on the 699 1/2 Lafayette Ave address.
The phone number that came up on the whois search is registered on Tuner Dynamics, who in turn are claimed to be on 699 Lafayette Ave.
Tuner Dynamics are "sadly" no longer with us, but on their website, also with a Charger, IAD is recommended as the best restorers out there.

Also found on 699 Lafayette Ave by searching White Pages,The Video Store, Alonso Handy Wash Inc, and Joyce Alonso.
No laundry to be seen on the street. Googling Alonso Handy Wash Inc reveals other addresses, one of them in 1900 Locust St. where Locust Coin Laundry can be seen in street view. Lot of stuff that just doesn't match on the 699 Lafayette Ave address.

[Carlwalski]

 

[tactransman]

WOW! You guys are impressive!  Good detective work.

[lumpy]

HLPAG 

[MEK-Dangerfield]

HLPAG 

          

[moparmaniac59]

Glad you found this out before someone lost a LOT of money. Great work. I hope they are shut down and not still trying to scam people. If they are, I would contact the FBI because it involves interstate trade!! And wire fraud (internet). Good job!! What they really need is Roy D. Mercer to go over there and open up a 55 gallon drum of whup arse on them!!!


                                                                 Matt B.

[balejumper]

Hi, I just registered, and am very glad to see the topic, I got taken by these guys, along with my buddy.   Before they changed their name to Inovative Auto Design, they were called Tuner Dynamics, they took $5000 down for my "General Lee", and $5000 down for my buddy's "KITT", they wanted my other vehicles in trade to make up the rest of the vehicle cost.  They gave us a delivery date and missed it with the usual excuses you hear, parts backordered, and one of their guys was let go, blah, blah, blah.  They  never sent pics even after multiple requests, anyway, long story short, they didn't deliver the car and we got suspicious, after waiting over 4 months past delivery date they offered our money back with interest and we finally said give us the money.   It took another 3 months to get our $5000 each back, with no interest, they are definately crooks, they take 3 or 4 people's money to complete one job and rip everyone else.   This is their third name from what we have been able to find out.   Tell everyone you know to steer clear, they are crooks!

[tactransman]

balejumper,welcome to CC.com.  Go to the "newbie Intro" section http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?board=30.0 and do an introduction.

[wally426ci]

balejumper,welcome to CC.com.  Go to the "newbie Intro" section http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?board=30.0 and do an introduction.

So, what happened to the cars?? 

[balejumper]

Well, miraculously, they have a "newly restored" KITT for sale along with a "General Lee".   I guess they needed our money to finish thier cars.   I was going to trade my '66 newport, '86 Fiero GT, '70 Charger and '64 Rambler in on my General.  Now I still have my original cars, but no General Lee, oh well, you win some and lose some, but those guys suck as a business.  I'm assuming you meant the cars they "promised" us, but just in case I listed my cars too.

[dutch]

great catch Orna...

[ers*123]

THEY SOLD ME A350 ENGINE OVER EBAY DELIVERED 2 MONTHS LATER BECAUSE I THREATENED TO TURN THEM OVER TO EBAY. THE ENGINE COST $1800.00 PLUS $150.0 SHIPPING THAT WAS OVER A YEAR AGO,STILL NOTHING. AT THAT TIME IT WAS TUNER DYNAMICS THE OWNERS WERE ANDREW R LEE AND DARRIN L COOPER NOW  DARRIN IS RUNNING THE FIREBALL RALLY YOU CAN FIND IT UNDER INNOVATIVE AUTO DESIGN ON THE WEB THERE IS A PLACE TO EMAIL I DID TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT SCUM THEY ARE

[the_engineers]

Thank you for explaining the 1/2 address thing, Greg!
I used Google Maps to have a look in the neighbourhood after whitepages.com came up blank on the 699 1/2 Lafayette Ave address.
The phone number that came up on the whois search is registered on Tuner Dynamics, who in turn are claimed to be on 699 Lafayette Ave.

I took a look at Google as well.  This may or may not be the place.  Looks pretty desolate.