scam or sale ?

[hcariss]

I have someone wanting to buy my car but there are some very weird aspects to it. Im thinking its some kind of scam :
The buyer only communicates via email
He has not asked about service history or any really pertinent tech questions (he clams its his first Porsche)
He has never seen the car or had a PPI done.
He wants his 'Dad' to come and get it for him because he is too busy with work / school
He agreed to a cash deal
He wants me to leave the NYS sale form blank he will fill out 'later'
Originally he wanted me to deliver the car to his dad in CT. (Im not going to do that because I need to have the notes checked at the bank before 'Dad ' walks with the car)
He agreed to 'Dad' coming to get the car for him. He claims Dad is a doctor and exceptionally busy (this sounds very Nigerian to me but the english prose in his e mails is not ...)

He is getting an amazing deal but I need the space so a car has to go, however I am away for work for the next 12 days and he has been really trying to pressure the deal.
I dont want to be rude and maybe he is just young and enthusiastic about a first Porsche ? ... but OTOH he could be in downtown Lagos.

Im thinking something is wrong at this point.

[GLASEM]

IMO.......scam

Had several like this when I was selling my 1968 912 a few years ago

[BK911]

What is the possible risk? Meet his dad at a bank to do the deal.

[hcariss]

Thats true but its my gut feeling. The whole selling process has been a slog as it always is.
I had someone who wanted to buy it as soon as I posted it then backed out after getting very abusive because my terms didn't meet his. My gut tells me this 'buyer' has something to do with him and this whole sale could be a total waste of time.

The current 'buyer' claims to want to secure the car so I don't sell it to anyone else but already during this whole selling process I've had a two cash deposits from two 'committed' buyers both who lost their deposits, one brought a Carrera for mid teens the same day 4 hours after he gave me $500 (because it had AC), the other decided on a 356 after 2 weeks of really messing me around and again lost his deposit. Its impossible for me to make a sale right now because I'm away on location shooting nights for work and email communication is difficult out here so I haven't really pushed the sale but at this point something just feels wrong ?
Im trying to figure out how I could be getting scammed or if I've been working out here in the boonies for too long ... ha ha

[DDDD]

There are dozens of active ongoing scams involving porsches and they all follow the theme you describe.

THIS IS A SCAM.

[hcariss]

... its a scam when I asked for contact # i got this back

"This has gotten way too complicated. As I mentioned in my last email, I have another option, and it is local to me, and it is cheaper, so I am going to go with it. Good luck with your car. It really is a beauty, and I'm sure it'll make someone very happy"

Too complicated for the 'real' buyer to speak on the phone to the seller ... methinks not.
Thanks for the input.

[BK911]

I am not doubting it is a scam, but how does it work?

He never shows up?
He shows up and gives monopoly money?

Just curious.

[techweenie]

No way to know for sure, but I'd bet "dad" would have misunderstood and brought a cashiers check for a couple grand over asking... you can guess the rest.

[hcariss]

I think its something like this 'Dad' the doctor shows up with some cash but not all of it, but as he is a reputable and I quote "very busy Doctor" he proffers a check of some kind for the balance.
Car is gone and the 'check' is worthless.

[DDDD]

I have seen every scam in the book after dealing with craiglist a few times.

Some people literally only ask you questions about your item in order to steal your email address and spam you from overseas.

Some people sell items that don't exist either to get your info or email or hopefully both.

Some people buy items with fake checks or credit cards that they don't own.

Most of the stories have similiar commonalities. They will not talk on the phone. They have no pictures of the item and will not email any real information. Often the entire ad is simply lifted off another person. Further, the excuse for not dealing with you directly, whether buying or selling an item is usually that their mom,dad,sis,bro,uncle,aunt,grandma,grandpa owns the item and they are just doing you a favor by ripping you off so don't ask questions about anything.

[trader220]

I am guessing he was going to show with a phoney cashiers check which looked good enough for your bank to take but then a week or two later when they find its a phony they'll take your cash back.

More interesting is how ypu keep getting to make money on deposits.

[bwall]

The best way that I found to cut to the chase is to ask for a telephone number. If it's a scam they won't give you one. If it's real then they'll call . . . when was the last time you wanted to give someone thousands of dollars but wouldn't speak to them on the phone?

[DDDD]

people seriously underestimate the amound of scamming going on right now. You can search any item or category on ebay or craigslist and find an active scam or two.

even if you respond to an ad but get no reply and then a week later start getting spam about winning lotteries and whatnot, you have been scammed for your email address.