I thinks someone is trying to Scam me!

[BriarfoxinWA]

We've been trying to sell DH pickup truck on an online autotrader and the local paper. I had an email a couple of days ago from the online ad that was a prospective buyer. The person says they are representing a buyer that will pay $100 less than what we were asking for. I would just like to get rid of it - so I replied and said that would be fine. So today I get an email that his client will be sending an agent with a cashier's check for $16,000 - wer'e selling the truck for $9,900. They want us to reimburse them $6,100 to cover shipping of the vehicle (I'm have no idea where they plan to send it.)

Now I work for a bank and see scams all the time. I emailed him back and said that I would be more than happy to do this HOWEVER, I will reimburse them after the cashier's check clears my bank (yes there are a lot of forged cashier's checks out there). I also will not release the vehicle to them until the check clears.

So he answers back fine - consider the vehicle sold and remove the ad. I have other interested parties but so far nobody has come up with cash.

What do you guys think. I just have a bad feeling about this one...

 

[robinb]

Oh yes. This is a scam. The cashiers check will be fake, you will be out of $6000 and a car. Don't do it! Your radar is right on.

 

[buzzlady]

It's a scam. A few weeks ago I remember reading a thread on the same exact thing.

 

[mickeyfan1]

My son had the same thing happen to him. He wrote the guy back and said if you want the truck, just bring the cash. Never heard from him again. Not only is this a scam, you can be prosecuted for doing it. It is money laundering at it's finest, the cashiers check will clear your bank but a month later it will be found to be forged and you will be out all the money and your vehicle. Just ignore them, and hope for an honest buyer.

 

[FroggyinArk]

no dont ignore them, calllocal poliec and turn the info over to them, scams like this are illeagal and can back fire onto the person scamed.

 

[Lil_Tink]

Sounds like a scam to me. I agree. Turn them into the police and hope for a honest buyer. I agree. "Bring me the cash and its yours"

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

I remember reading a thread on this not too long ago also.... it is a scam. don't do it!!!!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Much to DH dismay I have emailed them the following:


Bill,
I was advised by a close friend in the local police department that the way you want to structure this payment, and have the excess funds transferred back to you, is a common method used for money laundering which is a felony.

I would be more than happy to sell you the truck for a cash price of $9,500 but I'm afraid that I will not be able to take your check for $16,000 and reimburse you the large amount you have requested.

I'm sorry if this causes you any inconvenience but as a legitimate car dealer you should be able to have your client pay you directly and then you can purchase the vehicle from me for cash at the reduced price.

Valli

PS - I looked your address up on the internet and there is no such address in Seattle.

Dh is going to be out of town but thinks that I should have "played along" and advised the local PD. Yeah - me at home, two kids, possibly mob or drug dealers involved....sorry I've watched to many episodes of CSI...

 

[2angelsinheaven]

SCAM! SCAM! SCAM! I almost fell for this one time about three years ago. I was selling a hospital bed, I got a call saying they would pay the whole amount I was asking, then I get an email saying they will pay the whole amount plus $7500 over, I was to use the extra to ship and whatever was left send back... well I was 21 broke and D U M B, I almost cashed it, but then I thought... hum I could save $$$ by depositing it into my bank to save the cashing fees, so I did, a week later the bank calls to say it's a stolen Cashier's Check and they will be taking back the $$$ ( no problem, luckily something in me told me not to spend it till it cleared).

Ended up having to call a bank in GA that it was stolen from, give them all info I had, call the FBI and file a report with the police, it was a bid headache. Please forward his info to the FBI I believe there is a site for this scam, do a google for it.

 

[LtlTee]

Someone posted about this a long while ago (can't remember who) -- there is a woman who has a horse farm and gets a lot of these scam emails when she has horses to sell. It is really hard to get these people prosecuted, but she posts all of her emails back and forth with these people on her web site. I don't know if it's OK to post the link, but it is some of the funniest stuff I have ever read.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Scam!
When dh listed his car in "Craig's List" he got so many emails like like. We ignored them.