Does this sound legit or should I be wary?

[elanmars]

As some of you know, I'm selling my '73 in order to get a '69. Unfortunately I can't have them both.

I've gotten plenty of daydreamers, lowballers and even strange emails from Europe and such.

But how does THIS interaction sound? am I just being paranoid? I've never done this before, so any help is appreciated. I'll post the emails as they were sent to me and as I wrote the person back with no editing.

here's the ad-

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/1196779181.html



first email-

> Interested in buying the above item posted for sale, and am willing to
> know more details.-Thanks

-----

reply-

> > Hello, what else would you like to know about the car? And where are you
> > from? just curious, since I posted this ad in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and
> > Houston Craiglists.

> > The car runs great, the 400 engine is strong and mean, has the legendary
> > Chrysler 727 transmission and after-market edelbrock 4 barrel carburetor.

> > Interior is excellent, what the car really needs is exterior attention to
> > minor details-the paint is a little old (last owner repainted it around the
> > late 80's/early 90's) and the car could use new paint if you want to make it
> > look very nice, for now it looks great from 10-20 feet. It has very minor
> > scratches/chips here and there from being driven all it's life, the bumpers
> > could use re-chroming/paint (depends on the buyer's preference). There's no
> > bondo or rust. The body is very straight and is top notch, specially
> > considering it's age and rarity, Mopars aren't as common as Fords or GMs.

> > The car is not a trailer queen but it's not in terrible shape either, it
> > wouldn't take much to get the Charger looking VERY nice. Unfortunately I
> > can't get it to that next level, since I'm using the money I get for this
> > one in order to purchase a '69, I wish I could have both!!

> > Anyway, if you have any more questions or what details you'd like to know,
> > let me know. I'll be available after 5pm today if you want to give me a call
> > or would like to personally check out the car.

----
his reply-

> I really appreciate your respond to my enquiries..Am okay with your
> describtion of the item you are selling, and I guess the item is in
> perfect condition..I want to let you know that i will be making an
> outright payment for the item..Am a joiner (i fits kitchens, bedrooms
> etc). Am located in athen, Ohio..Am always busy at work and i hope you
> will help me in the handling of the shippement of the item as soon as
> you are being paid.As soon as you get back to me , I will instruct my
> financier to write out a paycheck which will include the shipper
> charges to your mailing
> address..So, kindly email me
> Your full name :
> your physical address to mail the paycheck to:
>
> Please , delete the ad from the list and choose me as the wrightful
> buyer of your item..Thanks and am looking forward to read from you
> soon.

----

HELP?? not sure what to write back, except to make sure he understand that the car is NOT perfect, just that it wouldn't take much to get it to that next level, just again, minor exterior work, etc.

thanks.

[FLG]

SCAM!!

Run Boy!

[elanmars]

So I wasn't off by "having a bad feeling" about it. Is that a typical type email sent to sellers? Would they get something out of my name and address?

Just curious.

[Belgium R/T -68]

I had it several times when posting carads overhere aswell, the "Nigerians" pretending to be US soldiers in Iraq.
In the final end they want your bankaccount and/or that you ship the car before it's payed.

[69bronzeT5]

SCAM!!

Run Boy!

[suntech]

To be honest, i dont understand what the worry should be about!!

Give a Name and adress for him to send a check, is nothing to worry about.

Why not send him an email, that everything is ok, and the ad will be taken off internet as soon as you have recieved and cleared the check.
I mean, if there are other people that is calling/ emailing about the car, you explain to them that there is a buyer that is supposed to send you money, and if he doesnt, you will get back to them.

If you are going to help him to ship the car, you would need HIS name and adress too, and it would be for him to pay for shipping when he recieves it, with car as collateral, right??

Sitting on the other side of the table, is a hell of a risk compared to yours!! He is the one that is supposed to send money for a car he has not seen.....right??

As for bank accounts..........only thing other people than YOU can do, is to put money IN to the account.........NOT withdraw!!! If that would happen, the bank will be responsable for your money!!!!!

He will be the one that needs to put his money where his mouth is, before you let the car go, so you are safe, he is not!

[Marck]

Just the fact that he uses "item" and not "car" would have me running for the hills...

[tecmopar]

Notice that he never calls it a car, just the ITEM you are selling. Also he is going to include the shipping amount so YOU will have to write a check to the transport company. People don't realize that sometimes these checks take a month to clear and by then the car is gone and so is the buyer. I've recieved more then a few of these responses on Craigslist for things I was selling and they are worded the same way, I just delete them.

[Tilar]

I've recieved more then a few of these responses on Craigslist for things I was selling and they are worded the same way, I just delete them.

Same her. I just tell them to send cash with whoever is picking the car up and if they send any other form of payment to be sure to wait until it has cleared the bank.  That way they don't have hotel charges for their driver while I'm waiting for their payment to clear. You won't hear from them again.

[69*F5*SE]

Sounds fishy to me too.  Yeah, I don't trust how he calls the car "the item". 

[mjwebb]

total BS, trust me...google FBI scams...there's a name for that type of fraud

[r_biccum]

  SCAM

[hotrod98]

Scam, most deifnitely.
I never, never, never, ever take a check. Even if after cashing the check the money shows to be in your account, the check can bounce at a much later date and the money withdrawn. I only deal in cash.
Besides, "big brother" doesn't need to know everything that we do. Wait until you're audited by the IRS some day and you'll feel the same way that I do. With the IRS you're considered guilty until proven innocent. They don't give a ratsass about the constitution. To them, we're all criminals.
Sorry about that extra commentary.

[r_biccum]

  better safe than sorry! The IRS 

[Old Moparz]

Scam, most deifnitely.
I never, never, never, ever take a check. Even if after cashing the check the money shows to be in your account, the check can bounce at a much later date and the money withdrawn. I only deal in cash.
Besides, "big brother" doesn't need to know everything that we do. Wait until you're audited by the IRS some day and you'll feel the same way that I do. With the IRS you're considered guilty until proven innocent. They don't give a ratsass about the constitution. To them, we're all criminals.
Sorry about that extra commentary.

I'd do the same thing with a large amount, cash only. I'd consider a bank check if the buyer was willing to wait for both the car & the title until after the check clears & the money is actually available to me. With parts, I ask for postal money orders & now cash them at the post office since the people at the bank told me they weren't 100% sure whether the postal money order was real or fake. If it's fake it doesn't come out of my account.

[Neal_J]

Um, when was the last time you heard any car guy or contractor use the word "financier"?

Really, c'mon...

[68charger383]

Ask for a phone number to work out details and talk to the guy in Ohio. Check Prefix online to confirm Ohio.

I sold a car to a guy from Holland. At first I thought it was a scam. He mentioned that once we had a deal, I would be dealing with his partner who was in Texas. It turned out to be on the up and up. We worked out the deal, I got a bank certified check in the mail and the shipper showed up at my door to take the car.

So work it through a little more. As stated, give the guy an address to send the bank certified check. Then see if it shows up.

[Rallye]

Anyone using spelling and grammar this bad is not a serious buyer.  This guy is out to screw you over.  Don't waste your time with this one. 

[Kevin68N71]

Ok guys, here is how it works.

The guy sends you a check for the car PLUS shipping, say $15,000 for the car plus $1500 for the shipping, a check for $16,500.

You get the check, and deposit in your bank.  He asks you to go ahead and pay for his shipping guy, who may show up or you might mail him the shipping money.

Then the car may or may not get picked up.

Here's what happens.  Most people don't know that just because a check "clears" your bank does not mean you are free and clear.  If your bank attempts to get funds for that check--and it's bogus, YOU are responsible, not your bank.  They can hold your other funds and come after you as well.

Meanwhile, the scammers have made off with, at the least, the shipping dollars, at the worst, the shipping dollars AND your car, which could be stripped for valuable parts or exported to some country that doesn't care.

I only sell a car two ways.  A briefcase full of cash, and the buyer goes with me to my bank, or a wire to my bank from a legitimate bank.  If someone is not willing to go to their or your bank with you and do a real transaction, F-them.

This is a scam, plain and clear, and it has been done over and over again.  The reason he doesn't mention car is that the same scam is used for motorcyles, RVs, boats, farm equipment, anything that would have to be "shipped".

[Kevin68N71]

I don't care for wikipedia, but look under the Online Automotive Fraud section.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_fraud

[skip68]

     This is a standard reply that covers any "item".   1000%  scam.   

[2Gunz]

Scam.

If I think something is a scam I do 2 things.

Ask for HIS number, block yours and call. (assuming you actually get one)

If the word check comes up, I say I will only take a check IF they pay some crazy extra amount.
A REAL person isnt going to agree to pay an extra $3000 on top of $10000.


A real email would look something like this...........

-------------------------------------------------------
Hiya,

Im interested in your car.

I live pretty close and would like to come look at it as soon as possible.

Please call me,  ( my phone number)

Thanks,

2Gunz
------------------------------------------------------------------


Anytime an email is more than a few lines I just assume its a scam.
"Normal" people dont go on like that.



Good luck,

And take CASH ONLY.

[skip68]

     Next time ask  "what item do you want".   Some times people have more than one thing for sale.  This is why I never give out my email.   If they really want my "item" they can call me on the phone.