radele
Probationary Member
- 1
- 0
- Jul 6, 2004
-
Mankato,
Minnesota
FYI to all who are selling cars on DSM Tuners/Trader or know some one who is.
I recived an email inquiry about my car for sale on DSM tuner the guy seemed real at first but then told me he was from Greece and was "representing" a client from the states. Heres the actual email:
Thanks for the mail I am making an offer of $5500. you don't have to bother about the shippment of the car to greece i have a shiping firm that would be coming for the pick up of the car as soon as the deal goes thru. in respect of payment, i'll need you to provide
me with the following details:
Your Name
Your Address:
Your Telephone number home,cell and office:
Once these details are provided, i'll forward it to my client in the state that is about to help to puchase a car to send the money to you direct in your name which is $10000. once it clears, deduct cost of the car and the excess to be remitted to the shippers thru Western Union Money Transfer. I'll be forwarding you with the shippers information as soon as the deal is completed. I hope to finalize this deal with you as soon as posible.
Thanks,
Oh and heres his email address:
alpho john [[email protected]]
Heres an article from DSM trader: Sounds Fishy ya think
The African Car Buyer Scam
A popular scam that has victimized many used car sellers is one in which the proposed buyer is nearly always from Africa, and more than likely from Nigeria.
How does it work?
You advertise your used car for sale in a newspaper classified ad or on an "auto trader" website. Your car may be one that is in less-than-perfect condition and has high mileage such that it may be difficult to find a buyer. You are anxious to sell.
You are contacted by an interested buyer who wants your car and is willing to pay your price, sight unseen. He tells you that he lives in Africa and that he will arrange to have the car picked up and shipped to him. He offers to send you a cashier's check right away.
You receive the cashier's check but the amount is more than the agreed-on price of the car. You deposit the check at your bank. The bank credits your account for the amount of the check, although the check has not actually cleared yet.
Uh-oh! Something's wrong
Meantime, the buyer contacts you again and tells you he mistakenly sent you too much money, and asks you to send him a money order or cashier's check for the excess amount, which might be a few hundred or a few thousand dollars. You do it.
A day or so later, the buyer contacts you again and informs you that he has changed his mind about purchasing your car, and asks you to send him the rest of the money. You do it.
It gets worse
The bank calls you a few days later and informs you that the cashier's check from the buyer is counterfeit and worthless. They debit your account for the full amount of the check.
They now want you to make good on the checks you've written from your account. Whatever money of your own that was in your account is now gone. The bank claims no responsibility in the matter.
You're out of luck
The "buyer" was using a bogus name and can't be located. You still have your used car and now owe the bank a substantial amount of money.
The details on this scam may vary, but the basic operation is always the same: bad cashier's check in payment for a used car, followed by a request for refund before the check clears the bank.
Don't get caught in this one. Many people have.
Please pass this along to anyone you know selling a car on the net.
