should this raise a huge red flag???

[jlindy]

I finally listed my car on autotrader today as I had intended to do it for the last few weeks, but had just been lazy. The ad went in today and I just got an e mail about a guy representing a client that is interested in purchasing:

The following lead was generated from AutoTrader.com's web site at http://www.autotrader.com.
To view the vehicle, click the link below:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=178378781



BUYER INFO
Name: Kevin Shriver
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
Comments: I am Kevin Shriver,I have a customer
interested in purchasing your car for
$28,500.Tell me the condition of the car
to confirm what I saw in the advert and
if possible,your last asking price

This price is close to what I have listed it for, but not only am I skeptical about someone making offers without any questions and only one picture, but someone that is representing someone. Who does that? Given all the fraud on the internet, something isn't right here.

I think this is a scam, but how can I be sure? I've heard that a wire transfer between banks is probably the most secure way to transfer money, but I don't want to give out any account info especially if the bank is a fake. I want to make sure that I am protected and don't get burned when someone buys it although I doubt this is legit. Any thoughts how to do this?

 

[brahtw8]

Proceed with caution. Wire transfer or 3rd party escrow service is the way to go. Talk to your bank and find out what they need to be secure and demand that from any buyer or buyer's representative. I got a number of scam emails when I listed my BMW on autotrader.

 

[hlweyl]

You will get at least a dozen offers like that (ask me how I know). They are all scams, whenever they start out "my client", ignore it.

I played along a couple times for fun when my car was listed, I told them I had several offers and please deposit $50 into my paypal account if they are serious. I couldn't get anything out of them though.

 

[jlindy]

would paypal be safe to do the whole transaction?

 

[NsXMas]

would paypal be safe to do the whole transaction?

As long as you're the receiver, it should be safe.

However, I'd check with PayPal to make sure the sender's account is not cracked or compromised in anyway, otherwise the sender (if it was compromised) may come knocking for his/her funds back.

Your best bet is probably a certified check, from a local, well known bank, or a wire transfer, to a temporary account you set up for this transaction (that way if the other party is fraud, you can cancel the account).

 

[hlweyl]

I think paypal is pretty secure although I would prefer a wire transfer.

Depending on how the buyers pays paypal, paypal can charge you a fee for certain types of transactions. When I sold my old Camaro last year, the buyer sent a $500 deposit, which paypal charge $14.80 for that type of transaction.

good luck

 

[Casper91]

There are lots of scams like this. If you proceed, be sure you get all the money. And that means checks will have to clear first.

 

[hlweyl]

One thing I want to add is it is NOT good enough just to wait the standard 3-4 business days for a check to clear. There are alot of bogus bank checks out there that will indeed clear in a few days... you let your car go.... then find out about a month later that the check is bad.

This did happen to one of our own prime members. That way to handle this properly is to contact the bank who issues the check and confirm the identity and available funds, then deposit the check.

 

[nsxtasy]

Yes, it raises a huge red flag.

Note the use of the term "advert" in the reply. This implies that the person writing to you is British, or is European (where they tend to learn English with British terminology, rather than American terminology). I would never sell a car to someone in Europe, from which many of the recent scams seem to be emanating. It's just too easy to be scammed with no recourse on an international transaction, and besides, there's no reason for someone in Europe to buy a car from here to ship over there. There may be specific circumstances where an exception might be made, but not for a buyer you've never had previous contact with.

Feel free to reply to this person, but don't be surprised if he asks you to send HIM money so that he buys it for a higher price, or some other scam.

Your best bet is probably a certified check, from a local, well known bank, or a wire transfer, to a temporary account you set up for this transaction (that way if the other party is fraud, you can cancel the account).

I would not accept a certified check, based on the experience of someone here (it was one of the LA owners - SNDSOUL or NSXinBRLA) who accepted one that turned out to be fraudulent. A wire transfer is best for a remote buyer. (There would be other ways of handling a transaction with a local buyer, where you can verify his residence and other information.)

 

[jlindy]

ha, what a joke. I was 95% sure it was a fake when I got the reply, but thought I would wait and see just in case. I got the shipping and payment info from "Kevin" :wink: and affirmed my beliefs. Same ol story. You think they could come up with something different and better.

Here is his reposne.

Dear ,
Thank you for your response,after discussing with
my client who really commended your vehicle has
instructed to move on with the deal at the price of
$28500 ,he said he will be going on a vacation soon
and will rest virtually all the transaction on my
shoulder and assign a shipper like wise that i will
work with and stressed that he will be issuing out a
cashier check of ($38000) which was a refund payment
of a cancelled order earlier made by him but will be
filed in your name,you are only required to deduct the
cost of your vehicle ($28500) and send the differece
($9500) when payment gets to you to a shipping agent
whoose information will be given to you as at when
due, he will be needing the fund to offset shipping
charges, taxes and other cosmetic repairs/touches,the
agent will be responsible for signing and transfering
of title paper and also pick-up.
So i require of you to send me your NAME,A! DDRESS AND
PHONE ! NUMBER for payment to be delivered to you via
fedex courier services .All other information needed
in completion of this transaction will be given to you
in due time.
Best Regards

hmmmm...I wonder if it is real. :wink:

 

[martin]

Yes, it raises a huge red flag.

Note the use of the term "advert" in the reply. This implies that the person writing to you is British, or is European (where they tend to learn English with British terminology, rather than American terminology). I would never sell a car to someone in Europe, from which many of the recent scams seem to be emanating. It's just too easy to be scammed with no recourse on an international transaction, and besides, there's no reason for someone in Europe to buy a car from here to ship over there. There may be specific circumstances where an exception might be made, but not for a buyer you've never had previous contact with..)

Hi

I would like to point out that there are many reasons to buy cars from the US. This car is now in Norway.

I have a friend that had a NSX and was a member here that imports cars from the US. He was involved getting the Civic above to Norway. This car is also on its way to Norway from the US.

Price is one thing that makes it interesting to import from the US. I am not sure what $ are compared to the norwegian now. Finding nice cars of the kind you are looking for can be difficult in europe. The US market is a little bit bigger than the european.

We are not all crooks over here.

I am just glad that Gheba did not think that I was a crook when I talked with him about buying his car.

But I agree that that reply to the advert sound a little bit bogus.

Edit: Yes a fake for sure..same old..

Regards