Warning for Buyers

[SFThomas993]

Scam targets folks looking to buy Porsches



(Original publication: December 8, 2007)
BALDWIN, N.Y. (AP) — Police say robbers who use an online offer for a Porsche as bait have snared a new set of victims.


Nassau County Police Detective Lt. Karl Schoepp says the latest victims made a deal to buy a 2002 Porsche for $44,000 after spotting the offer on the online clearinghouse Craigslist. A Craigslist spokeswoman didn’t immediately reply to an e-mail early Saturday.


Schoepp says a group of five men — one with a gun — beat the two would-be buyers when they went to pick up the car Thursday in Baldwin, on Long Island. The victims had been told to bring $22,000 in cash, but Schoepp says they surrendered only $50 before getting away.


Police say a Pennsylvania couple was similarly assaulted late last month after driving to Freeport to seal a deal on a Porsche. They had also spotted an offer on Craigslist.

[matt13421342]

Wow, that's right in my backyard. Very scary. Pretty much any one of us could find ourselves in this situation.

[onlycafe]

won't find me on that list until they offer a '72 or '73e.

[real550A]

"Pretty much any one of us could find ourselves in this situation."

matt- With all due respect, I disagree. Maybe 15 years ago, I'd show up
somewhere with $22k to look at a used car. Not anymore. Those days are
long gone.
Anyone even thinking about transporting that amount of cash, let alone into
a questionable business deal, had better cover their back. I mean goons
with guns.
Car deals normally don't involve "blind faith". Wouldn't you see the car, test
drive it, maybe a PPI, before even talking about $$? By then, you should have
a "feel" for whom you are dealing with. Buyer beware!

[matt13421342]

I agree that it's unwise to show up to a strange location with $22k, but the buyer in the original poster's example was ultimately only robbed of $50, which means that it could have happened to anybody who was going to look at a car for the first time.

You're more than right about doing a little background. For instance, I would never consider looking at a car I found online without:

1-Have at least one phone conversation with the "seller." Not only will you be able to verify the situation. You'll have a phone number and get a feel for the seller.

2-Ask for at least one additional photo of a specific part of the car. An honest seller will have no problem taking a snapshot of the left-rear widget adapter, but a scammer will have no way of doing this since there isn't even a car for sale.

Of course, there's no guaranteed way to be safe, but taking precautions and using your best judgment is the way to go. If something feels fishy, chances are it is, or at the very least you should put a mental asterisk next to the deal to remind you to pay close attention.

[laughac]

This is why sellers must meet me at the bank of my choice with the car for a test drive. This puts us all on security video and I phone a friend to inform them of place and time in case I go missing. Also important to arrive early and prep bank staff.

Paranoid? Maybe, but I also like having a notary on hand and a valid way to wire funds.

Sellers also must bring the title if they intend to sell that day. This is shown to me inside the bank prior to test drive and PPI.