jtimbck2
08-12-2003, 12:25 PM
Maybe this isn't news, but it is to me. For any of you planning to sell your current vehicle (or any other relatively big-ticket item) in order to finance the purchase of your RX-8, here's a warning.
So you have a vehicle for sale. You post a classified ad on carsearch.com and many other sites like it. A "broker" contacts you, saying he has a "client" who may want to buy your vehicle and have it shipped overseas (often to Africa). The broker has an "agent" in the US who will handle the pickup and shipment. He asks about the condition of the vehicle, he may even ask you to email pictures of it to him. You exchange emails, he says he's contacted his client who is ready to purchase it.
You agree on a price. He asks for your name and address, and he will send you a cashier's check ("guaranteed funds") and have his agent make shipping arrangements. The catch is, because of some situation with the client being out of the country, he will have to send you a check for several thousand dollars more than the agreed purchase amount, and you will refund the balance via a Western Union transfer.
Sounds a little wierd so far, but hey, there's no risk to you -- they're sending you a guaranteed funds cashier's check drawn on a US bank, and you retain possession of your vehicle until after you have the money.
The cashier's check arrives via Fedex as promised. You take it to your bank and deposit it (they gladly accept it), then withdraw the cash and head over to the Western Union station to send the broker/buyer his refund.
A few days later, your bank contacts you...the cashier's check you deposited, it seems, was counterfeit, and can you please deposit money back in your account to cover the cash withdrawl you made the other day (and any other checks you've written since then).
Luckily, I got suspicious long before I even received a check and found out about this. But I've had a total of 4 "buyers" (so far!) from overseas contact me about the truck I have for sale.
Don't take my word for it, if you google "internet car sales scam" you'll find many other reports of this. Here are a few:
http://www.malilink.net/archive-052003/0006.html
http://www.iowaattorneygeneral.org/latest_news/releases/feb_2003/nig_scam.html
http://www.pacifichotrods.com/scamexample1.html
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/call4action/1776180/detail.html
I plan to wait until I've actually received a check, go to the bank to verify it's bogus, and then contact the FBI about it. I realize it's a long shot, but I'd like to see these creeps get caught.
Just want to warn anyone else who might run into this situation.
Meanwhile, is anyone in the market for a used Nissan Frontier pickup? I have a nice one for sale! ;)
So you have a vehicle for sale. You post a classified ad on carsearch.com and many other sites like it. A "broker" contacts you, saying he has a "client" who may want to buy your vehicle and have it shipped overseas (often to Africa). The broker has an "agent" in the US who will handle the pickup and shipment. He asks about the condition of the vehicle, he may even ask you to email pictures of it to him. You exchange emails, he says he's contacted his client who is ready to purchase it.
You agree on a price. He asks for your name and address, and he will send you a cashier's check ("guaranteed funds") and have his agent make shipping arrangements. The catch is, because of some situation with the client being out of the country, he will have to send you a check for several thousand dollars more than the agreed purchase amount, and you will refund the balance via a Western Union transfer.
Sounds a little wierd so far, but hey, there's no risk to you -- they're sending you a guaranteed funds cashier's check drawn on a US bank, and you retain possession of your vehicle until after you have the money.
The cashier's check arrives via Fedex as promised. You take it to your bank and deposit it (they gladly accept it), then withdraw the cash and head over to the Western Union station to send the broker/buyer his refund.
A few days later, your bank contacts you...the cashier's check you deposited, it seems, was counterfeit, and can you please deposit money back in your account to cover the cash withdrawl you made the other day (and any other checks you've written since then).
Luckily, I got suspicious long before I even received a check and found out about this. But I've had a total of 4 "buyers" (so far!) from overseas contact me about the truck I have for sale.
Don't take my word for it, if you google "internet car sales scam" you'll find many other reports of this. Here are a few:
http://www.malilink.net/archive-052003/0006.html
http://www.iowaattorneygeneral.org/latest_news/releases/feb_2003/nig_scam.html
http://www.pacifichotrods.com/scamexample1.html
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/call4action/1776180/detail.html
I plan to wait until I've actually received a check, go to the bank to verify it's bogus, and then contact the FBI about it. I realize it's a long shot, but I'd like to see these creeps get caught.
Just want to warn anyone else who might run into this situation.
Meanwhile, is anyone in the market for a used Nissan Frontier pickup? I have a nice one for sale! ;)