Identify the scam?

[89911]

Open my local paper on Saturday and like any Porsche owner look at the classifieds for Porsches. This being Pittsburgh, there is rarely more then one or two vehicles and those are usually of little interest. Well Saturday this appears:

PittsburgNet Listings - 2004 Porsche 911

I immediatly get on the horn Saturday morning and call my track driving brother who has been considering one of these for the past few years. He calls the number and is told by a female with a foreign accent that no information can be given but to leave his email and it will be sent. The phone number isn't local but a Nebraska number. He gets this email later on Saturday:

Thank you for showing interest in my 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 Coupe!
The general condition of the car is excellent, very well maintained, no damages, no mechanical problems and no electrical issues. It has a clear title free of any liens or loans and a clean carfax, free of accidents. The mileage is 40,278 and the price is $26,300.
We are selling the car because my husband got a new vehicle from work to drive around.
We just moved with his new job so get back with me to organize this sale.
Thank You!

My brother replies back that he is interested and then gets this email:

Hello John, first let explain you the process of this transaction, and we will take it from there.
As I told you in my first email, i divorced, i got a new job and moved to Omaha Nebraska. Before leaving I had prearranged the deal with eBay so my presence isn't necessary. The car is located in Omaha, at the shipping company, ready to be delivered. The car will arrive at your address in 3-5 working days. The shipping cost is included in the total price of the car! You will have 5 days to test it and inspect the car prior to make any purchase. So if you want to make this deal I need the following details from you:
full name and address
phone #
After I will have all this details I will forward them to eBay and I will proceed this transaction. eBay Motors will contact you with all the details that you need to complete this deal and also to see that i am covered by them and that I am legit seller. Waiting your email with the requested details.
Regards!!

Obviously the stories don't match. A check of the vin showed a similar car being sold for the correct price in New York. No car like this being sold on Ebay. So the $100 question is: Where is this scam going?

[A930Rocket]

It's going to Nigeria....

[Drdogface]

He'll string you along after you reply with the info requested. Eventually one of two things will happen. He will ask for money in some way or he will get info from you to steal your identity. Anyone, or most, looking to buy a high end car like the one he mentions likely has money to steal if they can get the right info from you. It's a scam and you know it...goood...these are the things I see right off the bat.

[mikesride]

I had three scammers reply to my ad this week on Auto Trader....What idiots!

[89911]

Checked gt3 and the phone number and got this:

Google

I know there are tons of scams on the web. Just never saw one show up in our local paper.

[andyt11]

I actually got a letter in the mail a few weeks back. Telling me a long lost relative was dead and that he was minted and that I should come forward and present myself as the next of kin, we can split the money 50/50 etc etc..... same old stuff. But it was the first time I got an actual letter mailed to the house on paper. Usually this crud comes via email.

[dienstuhr]

The OP's story reminds me of one of my favorite scams, involving stolen CC numbers in the former East Bloc.

Scammer advertises electronics at below-market super-sale prices. Plasma TVs, digital cameras, etc. This might be done via eBay or otherwise.

You respond but are hesitant because it's such a great deal. Is this a scam? Don't worry, scammer says, I'll send you your item first. Once you get it and all is in order, you pay me by Western Union.

How can you lose? You'll have the item in your hands before you even have to pay. You say yes. In a week or so you get a box from Best Buy containing your item. It's perfect! You don't notice that the invoice amount doesn't match what you agreed to pay the scammer. But all is good and you wire him the money.

In another week or so you're contacted by Best Buy and/or the police. Your item was purchased using a stolen credit card! You are being investigated for CC fraud!

In the meantime you are out the money you wired to the scammer and he is on to the next scam...

Genius...

edit: the relevance to this story may be that there is an actual GT3 that is stolen, that you will pay the scammer for. He disappears with your money and you are in possession of stolen property.

d.

[azasadny]

Can we just send the Nigerian scammers to Afghanistan?

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by a930rocket

it's going to nigeria....

10-4!!!!

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by andyt11

I actually got a letter in the mail a few weeks back. Telling me a long lost relative was dead and that he was minted and that I should come forward and present myself as the next of kin, we can split the money 50/50 etc etc..... same old stuff. But it was the first time I got an actual letter mailed to the house on paper. Usually this crud comes via email.

Mail fraud...give the letter to postal inspectors.

[fastfredracing]

AH ha! Same vehicle, same story, same price. woman divorced etc... I remember reading this thread, and did not put 2+2 together. But it really did have all the ingredients of the typical nigerian scam .

[911pcars]

89911,
I also saw the same ad in last weekend's LA Times classified and called to inquire. How many times will an '04 GT3 w/ 40K miles sell for $26K? Well, maybe at a Pick-A-Part wrecking yard nearest you. Got the same response - received the same message via email. Phone number prefix was in Oklahoma (but cell phone in Nigeria or elsewhere). At that point, I stopped when eBay was supposedly involved in the transaction, but wondered too where the scam begins. Yeah, probably a matter of slowly accumulating one's personal data, enough to extricate funds from you directly or indirectly.



If anyone is interested in buying this, let me know. I have her email address.

Sherwood

[89911]

The sad things is that I REALLY want this car and its price to exist. The few hours I had between seeing the car in the paper and when I finally caught wind of the scam were filled with all kinds of imagining and contemplation about how I could fit this into my home. Oh well.