Has anyone ever heard of this?? I get an email from a guy from the UK and says he has a client interested in purchasing my car. Asked for my bottom price and more details and photo's of my car. I figure what the heck and give him what he needed. After agreeing to my price, he emails me saying he wants full details on the service of my car and my address so his client in the US can send payment. Is this weird? Anyone sell to a guy like this? He said it would be cashiers or certified check. I just emailed him today with my address and asked him when can I expect payment and how does the car get picked up etc. Hmmm, is this for real?? Since my 8 is due in this week(I hope), I am ready to sell my current car asap. Wonder if I can get the $$ in time if this is legit. Any opinions, advice? Thanks much.

Originally posted by cruzdreamer
Has anyone ever heard of this?? I get an email from a guy from the UK and says he has a client interested in purchasing my car. Asked for my bottom price and more details and photo's of my car. I figure what the heck and give him what he needed. After agreeing to my price, he emails me saying he wants full details on the service of my car and my address so his client in the US can send payment. Is this weird? Anyone sell to a guy like this? He said it would be cashiers or certified check. I just emailed him today with my address and asked him when can I expect payment and how does the car get picked up etc. Hmmm, is this for real?? Since my 8 is due in this week(I hope), I am ready to sell my current car asap. Wonder if I can get the $$ in time if this is legit. Any opinions, advice? Thanks much.


It's a very common scam, DO NOT DO IT! You will get the check or money order however it is a fake which will not be discoved by the bank right away, initially they will accept and or cash it. Then once they discover it's a fake you are responsible for the funds, and you'll most likely have already sent the car away.

Ike

I had 3 offers like this for my Maxima and my brother had 2 for his car as well. Funny thing is the only place I advertised my Maxima is on the Maxima boards, seems the slimeballs that do this are everywhere.

Very, very common scam.

So you just give your address out to anyone? Hope they don't come to your house and attempt to steal your car, or if they see the 8, attemp/or actually do steal it.

damn thats messed up

Originally posted by IkeWRX
It's a very common scam, DO NOT DO IT! You will get the check or money order however it is a fake which will not be discoved by the bank right away, initially they will accept and or cash it. Then once they discover it's a fake you are responsible for the funds, and you'll most likely have already sent the car away.

Ike Originally posted by IkeWRX
I had 3 offers like this for my Maxima and my brother had 2 for his car as well. Funny thing is the only place I advertised my Maxima is on the Maxima boards, seems the slimeballs that do this are everywhere.Since when do post whoring trolls give out most excellent information? :p

'Tis one crazy mixed-up world we're livin' in... :cool:

Thanks gang.....whoa...what a scam!! I thought something was fishy but I am never sure....I guess go with your gut...it's usually right on!! My hubby felt the same way and I am sure he would not let it happen. Thanks for your good info. and fast response. Not a very good world we live in at times.

Originally posted by Racer X-8
Since when do post whoring trolls give out most excellent information? :p

'Tis one crazy mixed-up world we're livin' in... :cool:

True, but still, roflmao

Originally posted by Tronics
So you just give your address out to anyone? Hope they don't come to your house and attempt to steal your car, or if they see the 8, attemp/or actually do steal it.

These scams are run mostly out of Nigeria. It is very unlikely that one of them will ever come to the US and come to your house to steal your car!

I received literally DOZENS of "offers" from these scumbuckets when I posted ads online for my truck. Not only that, but I've actually received 3 bogus cashier's checks sent by FedEx from Nigeria! One was drawn on Bank of America, and was VERY convincing, even to the tellers at the local B of A branch (when I took it in to verify it was counterfeit).

Here's a site that I found recently that lists several buying scams. The fake cashiers check/nigerian scam is one of them (scroll down a little for this one).

Cashiers Check Fraud (http://www.carbuyingtips.com/fraud.htm)

Wahoo!

Originally posted by cruzdreamer
Has anyone ever heard of this?? I get an email from a guy from the UK and says he has a client interested in purchasing my car. Asked for my bottom price and more details and photo's of my car. I figure what the heck and give him what he needed. After agreeing to my price, he emails me saying he wants full details on the service of my car and my address so his client in the US can send payment. Is this weird? Anyone sell to a guy like this? He said it would be cashiers or certified check. I just emailed him today with my address and asked him when can I expect payment and how does the car get picked up etc. Hmmm, is this for real?? Since my 8 is due in this week(I hope), I am ready to sell my current car asap. Wonder if I can get the $$ in time if this is legit. Any opinions, advice? Thanks much.

Your first clue that this was a scam is that the UK drives on the 'other' side of the road. They would want a right side driver car. Would go to Japan or Aus first....

Yep, 100% SCAM here. The way they usually do it is that they would mail you a fake cheaque with $2000 to $5000 more than what they "really meant" to paid for the car. (then give you a story about messing up on the currency conversion) then ask you to send them a cheque for the excess cash. This excess cash is what they are trying to scam you for, not your car.

Originally posted by Smoker
Yep, 100% SCAM here. The way they usually do it is that they would mail you a fake cheaque with $2000 to $5000 more than what they "really meant" to paid for the car. (then give you a story about messing up on the currency conversion) then ask you to send them a cheque for the excess cash. This excess cash is what they are trying to scam you for, not your car.

A variation on this is that for some reason they have to include the price for the vehicle plus the shipping/customs charges in one cashier's check; so they cut you a check for a few thou over what they agreed to pay (the first tipoff is that they're willing to pay your asking price without negotiating!), with instructions for you to wire the balance back to them IN CASH via Western Union.

The reason this scam works is because people are used to thinking a cashier's check is "the same as cash". It isn't. A cashier's check has to clear through the banking system just like a personal check. The difference is that since the check is in "guaranteed funds", your bank will give you access to the funds immediately, as if you deposited cash. Unfortunately, just like any other check you deposit, if it bounces *YOU* are held responsible. In the case of these scams, though, you've already "spent" some of the money (by wiring it to the ripoff artist), which the bank demands that you pay back.

ok...get this. I email saying sorry I have another buyer etc. Now he emails me back upset and wondering why and that he told his US contact about the car and they want to buy it. I emailed back saying I only accept cash and that I heard about these scams. Hmmm.....do they go this far to make you feel bad too?

probably best to stop all correspondence with the bastard altogether. (edited for spelling mistake :))

yea...you are right......thanks.

Or better yet, post his email address here so we can all tell him what we think of him.

Originally posted by cruzdreamer
ok...get this. I email saying sorry I have another buyer etc. Now he emails me back upset and wondering why and that he told his US contact about the car and they want to buy it. I emailed back saying I only accept cash and that I heard about these scams. Hmmm.....do they go this far to make you feel bad too?

They usually don't get as far as they did with you, so they are pressuring you to keep you on the hook. Please stop corresponding with these people immediately. Nothing good can come from it.

Tell them a story like they are giving you too ... Tell them your brother works for the CIA or FBI and He is checking into the e mail addresses etc.....

That reminds me of the Nigeria scam, also. I'm glad someone made the comparison. Interesting how legitimate they make it sound, though, huh?

pleaaaase post his e-mail address.

Originally posted by RX-8 2004
Tell them a story like they are giving you too ... Tell them your brother works for the CIA or FBI and He is checking into the e mail addresses etc.....

yea a little scare tactic can't hurt.

I reported the first two who actually sent me checks to the respective banks' security & fraud departments; they then reported them to the Secret Service (that's the agency who handles these matters). I also reported their email addresses to their service providers and got their accounts canceled. The only problem is, these creeps always use free accounts like Yahoo, Hotmail, and Eudoramail so all they have to do is simply sign up for a new account.

The third check I received I kept -- I'm going to frame it as a reminder of this whole incident.

Ok guys here is the scum bags email.....frankchristautotrade@yahoo.co.uk
Have at him! The more I read his last email I get so furious..he's telling me I am bascially a jerk for not telling him I had someone else in mind and "if this is how I do business" crap!!! If a fake check comes in the mail I will report it. Thanks for all your support gang! RX8 er's are awesome people!

yes, let me at him!!!

Why is it that so many of these scams originate in Nigeria?

Hi, I'm Mr. Mombato assistant to the former minister of whatsit and I've just gotten out of jail and you're the ONLY one who can help me get US $25,000,000 dollars out of the country... blah blah blah....

Is it a national pastime of some sort?

ok...I have not heard back from this creep after my last email when I told him I knew about the scam and I emailed the site of the web page about the scam. Did any of you guys email him and let him have it cuz not a peep from him!!! Thanks guys for the good info.