Should I Pass on the Buyer

[wdfifteen]

I'm selling my Z-3. Listed it on Craig's list. I got this email that has a lot of odd verbiage in - like:
"I would certainly want to take a look at it, the thing is I live out of your town. I will come where you live, no worries about that."
"I am in the process of getting a personal loan and I will need the VIN for the lender. THey said they need a report from (a web site called Lookupvindetails) because they are in partnership with them and it is a very trusty company."

I googled Lookupvindetails and get a lot of ViN services hits, but not this one.

I only sell a car every 8 or 10 years and it's a whole new landscape out there now. Should I tell him it's sold?

I didn't put the VIN in the ad. Should I include it?

[Eric 951]

scam--move on.

[LeeH]

100% scam.

[Amail]

If yer spidey senses are tingling...

[tevake]

Does sound dicey . On to the next buyer.
What are you going to replace the Z 3 with?

[SweetWaterSurprise]

Scam

[Dantilla]

Tell him if he is serious, he can come inspect the car, and see the VIN for himself.
If he likes the car and leaves a cash deposit, you will hold the car long enough for him to secure financing.

I doubt you will hear from him again.



Edit: "....and it is a very trusty company."

With language like this, 100% scam.

[john70t]

He's spending tens of thousands on a car?
He can afford a bus ticket.

You will plan to meet him at the local parking lot. As of now.

[SoCal911T]

And you don't need a VIN for a personal loan.

[LeeH]

There's no doubt that this is a scam. In the future, if you want to send someone like this packing, just ask for specific info from them.

"Can I have the name and number of the lending institution? Sorry, but there are so many scams going on these days I just want to verify things with them."

Once you let on that you're aware of the possibility you're dealing with a scammer, you'll likely never hear from him again.

If you want to put a quick end to it, just say, "Sorry, I will only accept cash and deal with local buyers," or my favorite... "Do people still fall for this sort of BS???"

[gacook]

It's an obvious scam. The easiest way to deal with it is to ignore it.

[wdfifteen]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions guys. If he contacts me again I'll brush him off.

tevake, I'm not replacing it. It's a fun car, but we only use if for drives with the top down on nice sunny days any more. We're going to use my Speedster for that now. It's been gathering dust way too long.

[Laneco]

I would not provide a Craigslist buyer with a VIN. You'll find the VIN and car relisted all over the united states as part of their scam. For Craiglist, buyer shows up in person to inspect and get the VIN then or buyer get a pre-purchase inspection from a reputable shop at your expense where the VIN will be provided.

A legitimate buyer will show up (or their representative) and provide a deposit if they are making a loan. Any secured loan will REQUIRE a VIN, but at the point where the inspection is done and I have a deposit - they can have the VIN. I also run a CARFAX for the vehicle I'm selling (81 and newer) and if conversing by email, they get a PDF version where I've blacked out the VIN. After a cash deposit - they can have the unmarked version. With Craigslist - seller beware.

angela

[sugarwood]

If you want a VIN, you don't need to trick someone out of theirs. You just go on Ebay where there are dozens of examples with a VIN. But cars are listed all over Ebay with their VIN b/c of the Experian AutoCheck feature.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

If you want a VIN, you don't need to trick someone out of theirs. You just go on Ebay where there are dozens of examples with a VIN. But cars are listed all over Ebay with their VIN b/c of the Experian AutoCheck feature.

Yeah, the whole "won't share a VIN" is stupid. I always request the VIN to run a Carfax and search the Internet for history. Buyers looking into a loan will need it for their bank. There are thousands of cars listed online with a VIN for the scammers to grab.

With that said, the response sounds a little odd. I would probably give it one response or ask them to call me, only because I've had a few "scams" end up to be legitimate buyers that purchase the car. If English isn't your first language or you type like some of the folks on here do, sometimes you come across like a Nigerian scammer.

[Otter74]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

If English isn't your first language or you type like some of the folks on here do, sometimes you come across like a Nigerian scammer.

That is true, but there are some telltale subtleties, for instance:

"I would certainly want to take a look at it, the thing is I live out of your town." - this is generic language that can be used to refer to anything, anywhere.

[onewhippedpuppy]

True, but I've had several cars that I was 99% scam and ended up being legit. One was a Mexican who spoke broken English, another a Porsche buyer that was a lazy typist. Normally one reply is all it takes.

[sugarwood]

I agree. AFAIC, any caller who is demanding any sort of info besides your address and a time to see the car is full of crap.
Oh, as a seller, I won't even discuss the car via email. Email me your cell phone, and I will call you back.
You want a VIN, you get it once you see the car, in person. Have a nice day.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I agree. AFAIC, any caller who is demanding any sort of info besides your address and a time to see the car is full of crap.
Oh, as a seller, I won't even discuss the car via email. Email me your cell phone, and I will call you back.
You want a VIN, you get it once you see the car, in person. Have a nice day.

LOL, good luck with that!

[gshase]

If you are going to do the DEAL I say hurry because the Nigerian Naira is dropping like a rock.
XE: (NGN/USD) Nigerian Naira to US Dollar Rate