Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Scammers! I'm just trying to sell a darn car…WTF?
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
July 28, 2013 at 3:57 pm #608436
dyn99ParticipantOkay, seriously?
I just posted our ’08 BMW 328xi wagon for sale on Craigslist and Auto Trader. It’s been less than 48 hours and I’ve already had two people attempt to scam me.
First, “Gary Nelson” e-mails that he wants to buy the car (sight unseen) and wants me to setup a PayPal account to handle the funds transfer. I e-mail him back that a wire transfer is faster/easier and to call me to discuss the details. He e-mails back 6 hours later with the exact same e-mail asking me to setup a PayPal account (but my prior response was now in the thread). I call BS and shut him down. (His e-mail address is g.nel55@hotmail.com so it’s out there in case he tries to do this to anyone else).
Earlier today, I get an e-mail from a guy named “Adnana” (the e-mail addresses he used is adnana.mansonn@gmail.com and gwerta.2845@gmail.com). He says that he’s buying the car for his daughter and needs to get a bank loan.
Okay, fine, makes sense.
But then he e-mails that his bank is “requiring” a vehicle history report (BS – banks don’t require that), and he wants me to buy a discount one from a website with a Chilean domain (.cl). I was already thinking this guy was a little sketch, and then I find out he’s doing the same thing all across the country:
http://dallas.en.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/3960250161.html
Seriously? Good thing I am an educated consumer who understands technology and the risks of it. What if I were 70 years old and not as familiar with technology and/or far too trusting of a person?
This is ridiculous!
And for those who will ask, I am absolutely reporting these attempted scams to Craiglist and Auto Trader, along with relevant e-mail addresses, phone numbers (one of them started with a text message), and e-mail headers.
Unbelievable. What is this world coming to?
July 28, 2013 at 4:14 pm #794894
dyn99ParticipantOkay, this pisses me off even more. Looks like the first scam is well known/documented too:
http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=69091
Unbelievable.
July 28, 2013 at 4:48 pm #794895
anonymeParticipantIMO, Craigslist has become almost impossible to use. Scammers and spammers are a big problem, but even “real” buyers have adopted a set of CL behaviors that are a major pain in the a$$. To list a few: no-shows, information junkies that ask endless, detailed questions with no intention of buying, folks who ‘seal the deal’ via email or phone, then show up with a ridiculous lowball offer…the list goes on.
It’s a great service, but it’s too bad there isn’t a better way to monitor it. Unfortunately, there’s no way for the website to ever screen out stupidity.
July 28, 2013 at 5:36 pm #794896
WFMemberthe scammer’s are getting more and more sophisticated; and it is very annoying. it would be nice if law enforcement can catch these folks and then put them on hard work detail or some other hard core punishment.
July 28, 2013 at 5:48 pm #794897
JanSParticipantsell a car on CL? Require face to face meeting at your house, and a cashier’s check. I’m sure people have fallen for this crap before, so eggs the scammers on. Here’s a story everyone should read…
http://www.koin.com/2013/07/27/scion-seller-stole-car-just-before-sale/
good on you, dyn, for not falling for any of this !
July 28, 2013 at 5:53 pm #794898
WFMembera good public location and cashiers check are very good
July 28, 2013 at 6:26 pm #794899
kgdlgParticipantI have bought and sold my last several vehicles on Craigslist. While I have run into my fair share of scammmers, I have also had wonderful transactions, with thousands of dollars being transferred in very public places. Yes, this requires some good intuition and know-how. It also requires a serious BS-meter. But, if you find the right person (buyer or seller), it works like a dream.
July 28, 2013 at 7:41 pm #794900
trickycooljParticipantCareful with cashiers checks. I read that they are easy to counterfeit and you are held liable when you cash it. For a $500 appliance maybe not a hardship, for a $10,000 car you are looking at financial ruin. Came across warnings of cashiers checks when I decided to sell the appliances that came with my house.
July 28, 2013 at 7:46 pm #794901
JanSParticipanttricky…what would you recommend instead?
July 28, 2013 at 8:37 pm #794902
kgdlgParticipantAlways ask for cash. If they can get a check they can get cash. But, meet in a very public place like a notary, a bank or a grocery customer service desk. And during the day.
July 28, 2013 at 9:11 pm #794903
WFMemberkgdlg cash is good, but also can be risky. a local bank cashiers check that can be verified might be a good approach. meeting in a public place is a very good idea. anyone not wanting to meet at a public space is not someone you want to deal with.
July 29, 2013 at 3:13 am #794904
trickycooljParticipanthttp://lifehacker.com/5915608/how-can-i-avoid-getting-screwed-when-selling-on-craigslist
I would recommend meeting at a bank during business hours. If you need a reason say that you need to deposit the money right away to get rent or a bill payed. Everyone understands money being tight. Also banks are covered in cameras, if you’re dealing with a high value small item you might have better luck not having someone try and run off with your item before giving you the money.
July 29, 2013 at 4:42 pm #794905
SueParticipantThis is why when I sold my Nissan that I sold it to the dealer. Everyone told me that I’d make more $ if I did a private sale, but whatever amount more I’d make wasn’t worth the hassle and risk of what you’re describing.
July 29, 2013 at 5:10 pm #794906
JoBParticipantScams while selling cars have been around forever..
the difference is that so many people have become accustomed to doing business over the internet that they forget to question exactly who they are doing business with…
when i sell a car, i require cash or a cashiers check that i can cash with the purchaser at a local bank
and i require the purchaser to meet me at the DMV to transfer the title in person..
yes, i know that’s a lot of demands
but most purchasers realize that going the extra step protects both of us.
July 29, 2013 at 7:38 pm #794907
lilithMemberIf they want to give you a cashier’s check, arrange to meet them at the bank the check is issued from, not your bank. A common scam is for them to “accidentally” make it out for more than you’re asking, then ask you to cash the check and give them the difference. Even if it’s for the amount, only the issuing bank will be able to tell if it’s not forged.
Also, I second the requirement that only in-person transactions happen. If they can’t come meet you and actually look at the car (or other item) then they aren’t really interested. I don’t even respond to anyone who replies to one of my ads unless they include a phone number, enough detail about the ad so I know they’re a human being, and give me a time frame to come and look at the item. You don’t have to be polite to spammers!
July 31, 2013 at 7:43 am #794908
markavuttiMemberI have a lot of experience with these emails, as I like to mess with the Nigerian scammers. I like to make them think I have shipped something to them, which reveals the next steps of the scam.
First, they mass email those generic emails to Craigslist ads, such as, “is the posted item still available?”. The higher priced your item is, the more likely you will get one. They always offer to pay more than the asking price. And it will never have a reference to the actual item in the ad, such as, “Is your iPhone still available?”.
Once they get a response, they come back with the whole “I’m out of town, it’s a gift for someone, I need to use Paypal, etc.” If you agree to ship something (or pick something up), they will send a few emails claiming to be from Paypal, which they clearly aren’t. These fake Paypal emails are very pushy urging you to ship the item ASAP and give them the shipping confirmation number. The fake Paypal emails also claim that the payment was successful, even though there will be no payment showing in your PP account.
They say that once there is a valid tracking number and the item has been shipped, then Paypal will release the funds into your account. I have convinced them a couple of times that I have shipped the item to their Nigerian address. Which then, of course when they think they will be receiving the item, there is a problem with the Paypal transaction and you won’t be getting the fake promised payment into your account.
So, for example, lets say you list a Rolex for $5,000. The scammer offers to pay $6,000 via Paypal. You cover the excess $1,000 mistake out of your bank account (real money) and send it to them via Western Union. You ship the Rolex expecting the payment to clear into your PP account after you give tracking details.
Then bam, there is a “problem” with the Paypal payment. So now, you have shipped the Rolex to them, so you lose that. And you lose $1,000 out of your bank account to them.
Sorry for the length of my comment, but it is a scam every time you get those types of emails. And that is the most common one. I really hope people don’t actually fall for it. But if it didn’t work, they probably wouldn’t bother to keep trying.
July 31, 2013 at 7:45 am #794909
markavuttiMember•DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON – follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.
•NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service – anyone who asks you to do so is likely a scammer.
•FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.
•CRAIGSLIST IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer “buyer protection” or “seller certification”
•NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
•AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL “GUARANTEE” YOUR TRANSACTION.
•DO NOT RENT HOUSING WITHOUT SEEING THE INTERIOR, OR PURCHASE EXPENSIVE ITEMS SIGHT-UNSEEN – in all likelihood that housing unit is not actually for rent and that cheap item does not exist.
•DO NOT SUBMIT TO CREDIT CHECKS OR BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR A JOB OR FOR HOUSING UNTIL YOU HAVE MET THE INTERVIEWER OR LANDLORD/AGENT IN PERSON.
July 31, 2013 at 3:35 pm #794910
JoBParticipantAugust 3, 2013 at 1:29 am #794911
WFMembermarkavutti – good ass advice. remember the old adage if it sounds to good to be true it is!
every day when i check my e-mails there is more spam; it is getting very annoying.
it would be nice if the FBI or some other agency could return the spam to the spammers and fry their computer in the porocess!
August 3, 2013 at 8:53 am #794912
JoBParticipant -
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.