Is this some kind of new scam?
 

So Julie and I are selling her Audi. In two days, we've gotten two almost identical e-mails from different e-mail addresses. Is this some kind of new scam? The e-mails read:

Hey there

Your ad for (certified 2005 audi a4 3.0 convertible)

It looks just the kind of thing my sister is looking for and she is
actually in cincinnati area right now and she could be really really
interested in this.

Can you get back to me real quick if it is still available so I can
tell her today?

:)

Thanks for your help

Can't figure out how it could be a scam (yet), but is it something I don't know about? I've sold enough cars to not buy into stupid sht, but I just want to be aware of what's "next" if this is a scam attempt.

Any help is appreciated!

SmileWavy

could be an expedited sale at premium price and then the check bounces. If they come and pay with cash is about the only way I'd entertain it. You never know these days.

Good guess. I'll keep my wits about me...

Remember, even a certified or cashiers check can bounce.

Another ploy being used is the buyer shows up with a bunch of cash and makes an offer you can't refuse. He then says "just to be sure" Let me go for a drive. The seller is so happy that he's getting a good price he lets his guard down and at that time, the scam buyer pulls a gun, boots you out of the car and steals the car.

Wow...thanks for the horror stories! Yeah, selling a car sucks.

So it turns out this doesn't appear to be a scam, but an elaborate advertisement for a "sell your car" site. I got this after responding to the e-mail

Hey thanks for the quick reply :)

I told her that it was still for sale and she just mailed me back this...

"Hi i found one yesday !!! thx I told ya craigs sucks lol! got it here http://carsales1.info/best-sales-advice/ (better choice an ezr to use!) thanks for tryiong tho - wanna go for a drive? :) "

Seems like you might be missing something ?

Next tiem maybe? Good luck with the selling and thanks again.

Seriously...

:rolleyes:

That's douchtastic and sure is a lot of work to draw people to your site.

They have been doing this for years. In 1995 when I was selling my Nissan in the paper, Autotrader (paper version) would call me up and want to show it. In 2008 when I was selling my 944 on CL, I would get calls for some other site and emails to list with PorshaTrader. Good grief.

I get calls all the time for people wanting to "help" me sell my car. I hate it but they're easy to just say "no thanks" to. This is the most elaborate attempt at this I've seen. Do they really get people with this? How stupid do they think I am? And why would I use a business that takes such a shady path to reach customers? Duh...

Can't hurt to reply and see where it goes, but expect the worst. I've got the "carrier, certified check, remit extra cash" scam email that follows the "is it still for sale?" email.

I sell quite a bit on craigslist and got the "is it still for sale?" emails constantly.

Now on every ad I've added this line

"IF YOU ARE READING THIS, THE ITEM IS STILL AVAILALBE. AD WILL BE REMOVED IF SOLD. THANK YOU!"


Now if someone asks the stupid redundant question. I ignore. The items not only sell faster, but I don't get so much crap anymore.