Scam Alert! -- Atlanta Craigslist

[FRHeinsohn]

Possible scam here (maybe it was the picture?):

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/pts/d/atlanta-911-carrera/6890634569.html

[john walker's workshop]

Same ad on seattle CL. Maybe it was the description....

[75 911s]

Guys it's legit - It's a 3.6 993 motor with a 6 speed that was stuffed in there. Also a water pump was added to help cool the air cooled motor, duh! I just wired him $20,000 via Western Union. The car belonged to a former East African prince! He also said he has recently inherited $10 million dollars and he just needs $25,000 wired to him to free up the 10 million which is in escrow right now, then he will give me a million dollars.

[4flyboy]

^^^^^ Crap, so did I ! ^^^^^

I was first, my car!

It's had the IMS bearing done, it's a steal?

[RedCoupe]

Can anyone tell me where the hydraulic cylinders are on my Targa? I'm sure they need replacement after all these years!

[catuck]

Ad reads like it's for a 996 - could it just be the wrong photo? $20k for an early 996 seems about right to me.

[drola]

same ad here in Florida
https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/pts/d/cape-coral-porsche/6894071141.html

[ossiblue]

Well, the Ft. Meyers ad describes the car as Silver/Gray so either the photo is incorrect or the scam is over the top obvious. Even if the description fits a 996, a one photo ad, minimal description and multiple postings across the country tag this as a fraud, IMO.

[HarryD]

Factory options include xenon headlights, power/heated seats, Bose high-end sound, 18″ wheels, and Porsche Stability Management. Power is from a 3.6-liter flat-six mated to a 6-speed manual transaxle, and over $10k in recent service included a replacement IMS bearing, rear main seal, clutch, water pump, convertible top hydraulic cylinders, instrument cluster, and more as outlined below.


Wow, I wonder how the convertible top cylinder works with that Targa top! Must be an upgrade my car needs.

[darrin]

interesting -- googled "recent service included a replacement IMS bearing, rear main seal, clutch, water pump, convertible top hydraulic cylinders"

and found:

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1217892/2003-porsche-911-for-sale-in-marietta-georgia-30062

and
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-porsche-911-carrera-cabriolet-6/

strange scam . . . .

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by darrin

interesting -- googled "recent service included a replacement IMS bearing, rear main seal, clutch, water pump, convertible top hydraulic cylinders"

and found:

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1217892/2003-porsche-911-for-sale-in-marietta-georgia-30062

and
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-porsche-911-carrera-cabriolet-6/

strange scam . . . .

Can’t be the same. The pictures of those two cars does not look the original ad.

[SCadaddle]

Hell, why would you waste your money on an old Targa (even with the new convertible top hydraulic cylinder upgrade) when you can get a really nice 993 twin turbo coupe on the Mississippi Gulf Coast where the Fir trees grow to amazing heights?

https://jackson.craigslist.org/cto/d/gulfport-1997-porsche-911-twin-turbo/6906321743.html

[Trackrash]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

Hell, why would you waste your money on an old Targa (even with the new convertible top hydraulic cylinder upgrade) when you can get a really nice 993 twin turbo coupe on the Mississippi Gulf Coast where the Fir trees grow to amazing heights?

https://jackson.craigslist.org/cto/d/gulfport-1997-porsche-911-twin-turbo/6906321743.html

So what is the scam? Has anyone tried to contact the seller?

[rwest]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

Hell, why would you waste your money on an old Targa (even with the new convertible top hydraulic cylinder upgrade) when you can get a really nice 993 twin turbo coupe on the Mississippi Gulf Coast where the Fir trees grow to amazing heights?

https://jackson.craigslist.org/cto/d/gulfport-1997-porsche-911-twin-turbo/6906321743.html

...and they except crypto currency.

[SCadaddle]

Originally Posted by Trackrash

So what is the scam? Has anyone tried to contact the seller?

Most of the time I can spot the *probable at least* scammers by noting what is in the rest of the photos of the vehicle. Non native flora and fauna, mountains on a horizon (in Mississippi) and architecture to name a few.

[Trackrash]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

Most of the time I can spot the *probable at least* scammers by noting what is in the rest of the photos of the vehicle. Non native flora and fauna, mountains on a horizon (in Mississippi) and architecture to name a few.

What I mean is, what are they trying to do? Get you to send them a deposit? Or the entire amount by wire? In other words, how does the scam work?

[wildthing]

Couple of scenarios:

1. Advanced fee fraud - get you to give a deposit to hold the non-existent car, rushing you because there's another buyer, or, have to leave the country, etc. etc.
2. Identity theft - convince you to put the money in "escrow" and send you a bogus link to a site that will collect your information when you "enroll".