Foreign buyer asking for bank info for wire transfer...

[LeeH]

I'm 99.9% sure this is some sort of scam. "Buyer" hasn't asked for photos or further info on the car beyond what's in the ad. Just, "I'm ready to buy, where do I send the money?" I've seriously been considering opening a new bank account and thought I might do that and only risk $20. I've had several contacts like this, but this is the only one that wanted do a wire transfer. Thoughts?

[scottb]

Sounds fishy to me. I would either open up a new account or use an escrow service. Don't accept a cashier's check, as they can be forged and it could take a couple of weeks before your bank discovers that. Then, you're out the car and the money. If you're going to do this, and I have serious reservations that this is actually a pretty well-documented type of scam, you should not give him your primary account or any personal information and should only accept a wire transfer of cash. Beware, however.

[RickM]

Beware!!! This just in...a similar scam.

My nephew is into motocross big time. He just put a bike up for sale. Recieved an offer from a guy in Ireland..but had to:

- Accept a Certified Bank Check payment for $10k (4k more than the bike). It was owed to him by a friend in the US. Heh!

- Give the remainder back in cash upon purchaser picking up

- Hand the bike over the day he received payment via Fedex

He received the check which looked real and from a bank in Florida. The international markings on the FEDEX envelope had NG on it...???Nigeria??? He was smart enough not to go through with the transaction.

Get this...He's 19 and never heard of this scam but became suspicious because the guy didn't ask one question about the bike and wanted to rush the transaction. Sound familiar?

[Embs]

Any one who can electronically deposit money in an account can also electronically withdrawl money out of that same account. Federal law. It's in case of mistakes, like if they deposit to much etc. Why pi$$ with it, you KNOW it's a scam.

[Paul Franssen]

It doesn't sound fishy, it stinks from an Atlantic Ocean + an added continental expanse, including deserts, away!!!

Please, for your own good:
Don't EVER reply to such attempts at pure fraud!!
The next step, if you were to give this "person" your bank account number may be some flimsy excuse for your signature (like "please confirm by signing your approval for me to donate you $10 million, oh thaaaanks") and then they have your signature for them to counterfeit, etcetera etcetera...

It's an age-old scam, we used to get this kind of stuff (before by fax, now by email) from especially Nigeria...

Serious!!!

[MarkY]

There was a thread on this about a week ago. I think it got moved, you might want to do a search.

Lee, are you thinking of selling your 911?

[VaSteve]

I think it was moved to off topic - but still relevent. Trust you nose on this one. It smells baaaad.

[HawgRyder]

Just do a web search under "419" for all the updates on this type of scam.
You will laugh your head off at some of the stories.
Bob

[Wavey]

Also check this site:

http://www.frudster.com/

[LeeH]

Wow Wavey... that's great reading. I've contemplated messing with those guys like that. It's fun to read about someone who did. I need to figure out a way to play with my "buyer." I'll just string him along for now.

Mark,

I've got it in the Trader right now. There's been a few calls and a few lookers. The response is always the same. They say it's the nicest one they've seen, but there's always a reason for delay. At this time I'm assuming it's not going to sell and am fixing a few things. That will insure a buyer will show up!

[thabaer]

Check out this site http://www.419eater.com/

Maybe you can have some fun with the jerk, get him to pose with a sign that says "I Shag Sheep"

[89911]

Common fraud.

Buyer overpays with "bogus" check. You refund him with "good"check. Months later his "bogus" check bounces due to the many loopholes in the country of origin. Stay away.

[diy83sc]

Lee,

I have the same thing going on with a potential buyer! My experience with the car in the ads is similar... but know that someday a buyer will show up. For now, I find it entertainign to work this other "deal." We should compare notes, if you don't mind.

Tony

[speeder]

I think that this one dates back to the Paleolithic age, with cavemen offering to buy each other's clubs for more than they were worth from far away places. "Just send back the overcharge to....."

Anyone who even needs to ask about this needs a serious primer on scams, or is liable for a clock-cleaning by the Gypsies of the world.

In leiu of that, just remember: If it sounds to good to be true, it is too good to be true for the person doing the scam, not for you. You are what is known as "a hook".

$10,000 for my '78 Ford Fairmont! Never knew that they were so special in third world countries! I smell a business oportunity!

I always reply to these with something like, "Kindly remit the X amount of $$, and stick your nuts in a Cuisinart until the car arrives. Deal?

[vash]

keep it simple: tell him to go EFF himself.

[DonDavis]

If anyone could take one of these nuts...(hmm, strike that) scamsters for a ride, I think Lee could. It would be fun though.

[Moneyguy1]

Type in "Quatloos". It is a site that describes the various scams out there in very entertaining detail

[MarkY]

How come you're selling Lee. Are you going to follow Gary into the 993 world?

[LeeH]

I'd love a 993, but not right now. OK, let me clarify that. I'd love a 993 RIGHT NOW, but wouldn't want to PAY for it at this time! My daughter just started pre-school so we're going to be poor for a while. And, my wife is trying to get on with Southwest Airlines. If that happens I'll be looking for handouts from you guys as she'll take a >50% pay cut!

I think I'd like an early car or some sort of RS replica. I've seen a few 3.6 conversions that went ralatively cheap, too. Honestly I have no idea what I want or what I'd do if my car sold! At least if it sold then all the time I spend reading eBay and AutoTrader ads would be justified!

I haven't heard from my "buyer" since I sent him a note explaining that I'd be happy to pay for an escrow service and that "you can't be too careful - you know, a lot of people use the internet to scam people out of their money!" Meanwhile my fan and housing are at the powder coaters. At least I won't be too embarassed to open my engine compartment next time I'm at Pavillions.

[diy83sc]

After telling the buyer I would not entertain an overpayment transaction, I recevied a check today for $24000! I called FedEx and they will pickup tomorrow. Sadly enough, the origin of the check is the same as that posted by Wavey - http://www.frudster.com/

My tracking sheet is almost identical, as is the brown envelope and the city of Maryland!