#3127637 - 10/19/08 06:46 PM
Selling car/scooter long distances... how to spot a scammer?
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NOT spotch...
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 07/25/00
Posts: 57155
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So I put the scooter up on craigslist because the first buyer flaked on me and the first time I listed it I got this shortly after::
Him::
hello,
I saw your ads on the site, I will like to know if still avaliable, If yes kindly get back to me.
Thanks.
I told him it was still available and explained the times that I would be available for him to come check it out, and he responded with:
Hello thanks for your fast update about my enquires, so like you know about my interest of purchasing the item from you with no delay, i will like you to get back to me with the details below since i,m quite ok with its present state, and my payment will be will be check,
The Name you want on check
The address where check is to reach you
Your contact phone number Mobile and home
And your final asking price
So kindly get back to me with this details so that i can proceed with the payment as more question related to this item furthetmores thank you
Regards.
Mind you, this guy's never seen it in its 'present state'. I told him my name, and that I would only take a cashiers check, and that they shouldn't need all the information he's asking for in order to process one. That was the last I heard from him. Well today (day after original posting) I get this (from someone else?)::
Hi, how are you doing today? i hope fine. I saw your advert online and i would like to let you know am interested, kindly get back to me if its still available for sale i will be looking forward to hear back from you.
Best regards,
Kim.
I tell her it's still available, tell her when I'd be free to meet for her to look at it, and this is the next reply I get.
Hello
How are you doing, i hope fine and thanks for the reply. so i want to let you know am interested in buying it, i would want to know if it is in a good condition and no accidents history,also i would like to know your finial offer.I hope you accept a bank certified check as mode of payment,i have a shipper that will handle with the shipment.let me know if you are down with this. hope to hear back from you soon.take care and bye for now.
Kim.
So now I'm like 'wtf'. Not that someone buying from far away ALWAYS means a scam, but I'm leery. I remember hearing a consumer advocate warn of a scam where people send you a check, you deposit it, you ship the item out, and then 3-4 weeks later your bank sends you a letter 'oh btw, that check was a really good fraudulent check, we just caught it, now you don't have that money in your account and you're severely overdrawn'.
So wtf. How can you tell if it's a scammer, and what forms of payment should you accept and which should you refuse. I haven't replied back to this last email yet, I'm still trying to figure out if there's any chance that it's legit.
Edited by spotch (10/19/08 06:48 PM)
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#3127657 - 10/19/08 06:59 PM
Re: Selling car/scooter long distances... how to spot a scammer?
[Re: NOT spotch...]
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AMGSiR
Post Master Sr
Registered: 08/23/04
Posts: 7730
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Yes, they are both scammers..
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#3127737 - 10/19/08 07:47 PM
Re: Selling car/scooter long distances... how to spot a scammer?
[Re: allan r]
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LNXGUY
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 08/06/00
Posts: 106974
Loc: Barrie, Ont,
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One thing about the scammers is that they never ask specifically about the item, it's just "the item" or something stupid like that.
_________________________
-Bill The GN would OWN you, your children and your children's children. '09 E90 335 d 
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#3128231 - 10/19/08 10:36 PM
Re: Selling car/scooter long distances... how to spot a scammer?
[Re: scootergeek]
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theLoon
Post Master Sr
Registered: 01/06/03
Posts: 3275
Loc: MN
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Seriously? Put down the crack pipe saspotch. If you can't tell that those are scammers, you need to unplug your internets.
_________________________
 I'm a badge whore
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#3128415 - 10/19/08 11:17 PM
Re: Selling car/scooter long distances... how to spot a scammer?
[Re: theLoon]
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Nealoc187
<3
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 05/07/01
Posts: 32535
Loc: Lisle, IL formerly Kalamazoo, ...
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Both of those emails are so fucking scammalicious it's retarded. No one from this country types like that. Sell the shit on a forum, forget craigslist.
_________________________
95 maxima
11.7 @ 123mph - stock 3.0L tuned by me on 93octane
12.9 @ 104mph - stock 3.5L w/ bolt ons
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#3128999 - 10/20/08 09:15 AM
Re: Selling car/scooter long distances... how to spot a scam
[Re: fellfrosch7]
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Vandemar
Post Master Sr
Registered: 02/05/02
Posts: 5254
Loc: Seattle
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Don't do it unless you can call the bank that issued the check and verify the check number/account number on it.
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#3129103 - 10/20/08 09:56 AM
Re: Selling car/scooter long distances... how to spot a scammer?
[Re: NOT spotch...]
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CommonGutterTrash
This user is more useless than a half-baked compost pile.
Post Master Sr
Registered: 09/16/02
Posts: 6437
Loc: Boston MA
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to add to THAT.
do NOT call the number embossed in the check.
google the bank, and call a different branch than what's listed on the cashiers check.
I know with BofA, our branch numbers are put on the check, as well as a #.
Some of the thorough scammers will list a phone #, or set up fake sites for the banks listed. when you call the #, someone, part of the scam) is sitting
there, and introduces themself as an employee of the bank, and they're glad to verify the funds on the check; sometimes with VERY little info.
It had happened to me a couple times, actually. customers would have called the number and been told the check was good, but when I googled the bank and called the actual customer service #, they'd almost-immediately be able to tell me that checks had been stolen, or duplicated.
There was a while where someone had gotten something like 1000 corporate checks from Staples, and was scamming people with scholarships/business grants.
_________________________
Craig R. 2000 9-5 Gary Fisher Wagon 1995 850 T-5R 1996 Galant  AIM = gclipse96
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#3129164 - 10/20/08 10:18 AM
Re: Selling car/scooter long distances... how to spot a scammer?
[Re: NOT spotch...]
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pete5332000
Member
Registered: 07/02/02
Posts: 993
Loc: 7426 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton...
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Seriously? Put down the crack pipe saspotch. If you can't tell that those are scammers, you need to unplug your internets. HEY I SAID I HAD A FEELING DIDN'T I!? I knew the first guy was, I think the 2nd one was just wishful thinking. When I re-read my post here I was like "Motherfuck, there isn't a chance in hell she's legit". Who the fuck gets scammed twice in 24 hours or less on a goddamn scooter for sale!? Why don't they go find someone selling an r6 or something valuable lol. What's next, scamming people out of used toasters and disks 1, 2, 4 and 7 of the full house season 17 boxed set?
I listed one of my beatup trucks for $500 on craigslist, got 2 scammers in the first 4 hours. Seriously, who wants to ship a 20 year old $500 truck? It still had deer hair in the grill. Personally I wouldn't take a check for anything I list on craigslist unless the person is local. I live outside of a town of ~1800 where it seems like everyone is related so I'm damn sure I can track them down if necessary lol in-breeding.
_________________________
'00 Civic Si '90 GMC Sierra (broken) '88 Chevy 1/2 ton (fixed)
Oh, this is the new, kinder, gentler SvA. None of that sarcastic, hateful, flaming for the sake of flaming crap. We're just gonna discuss tech stuff & get along with everyone. If you like, later on we're gonna toast marshmallows & make smores around a burning barrel of diesel while the diabetics & Atkins freaks sing kumbaya & braid each others' hair. - NOHC
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#3134403 - 10/21/08 08:16 PM
Re: Selling car/scooter long distances... how to spot a scam
[Re: theLoon]
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89GT50
Post Master Sr
Registered: 06/14/00
Posts: 8452
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I've had great luck with Craigslist, too, but I always get those messages when I list something. The more you follow them up the more they'll flat out turn into one of those Nigerian prince emails. It's funny.
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#3135891 - 10/22/08 10:12 AM
Re: Selling car/scooter long distances... how to spot a scam
[Re: 89GT50]
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normaspirated
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 11/04/99
Posts: 22031
Loc: Nevada
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The more you follow them up the more they'll flat out turn into one of those Nigerian prince emails. It's funny.
BUT HE IS THE HEIR TO THE THRONE OF ZAMUNDA!
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