I have a couple of cars for sale and have only advertised here on Rennlist. This morning I received an email from someone interested in buying one of my cars.

Maybe I'm being too cautious? Anyone know this guy? (Bob Haley) Says he's in Houston.

Email chain:
Hi,
1)is this car still available for sale??
2)where are you located?
3)may i know why, you want to sell it?
4)Has this car involved in any Accident before?
5)can i see more picx??
6)do i need to repair?
7)what year is this car manufactured?
8)what is the final price?
9)can you help me determine the weigth?
10)i will like to know if you do accept a certified cashiers check or money order as mode of payment?
11)i have a freight company on my own will be available for them? because the operate 7:00am to7:00pm mon-saturday i will be glad to read from you soonest..

My Reply:
Bob,

1. It is still available.
2. I'm located just outside the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Area. NorthEast. Nearest town is Leonard, Zip 75452.
3. Several reasons. Other goals I want to accomplish. Too many cars, not enough time and space.
4. I'm not aware of any accidents. The carfax I purchased before buying the car shows to be clean. The slight damage to the rear bumper cover occurred inside my garage when it rolled off a block and into my 944. (not enough space) 5. What additional pictures would you like to see? Have you looked at my website?
6. My next project on this car was to refresh the intake and replace all vacumn lines. There are no major repairs or service required. I would say it's mostly cosmetic.
7. I'll have to verify. Believe the date is 11/86.
8. Price is $12,500. If you're familiar with these cars you know you can buy one for less money, but they usually need money put in them to be equal.
9. Documentation shows Curb weight = 3,550(auto) 10. I haven't given that a lot of thought. It will have to be in a form that can be verified valid before transfer of ownership.
11. ?



How did you find out about the car?
Where are you located at?
Are you familiar with 928's?
Are you a Rennlist member?
If serious I would suggest a PPI.


Richard

His Reply:
Hi,
Thanks for the fast response and i'm very much satisfied with the condition of the car and the total agreement with the final price.i'm located in Houston,TX 77002,all i need you to do now is to consider the car sold to me.i will like to have your full name and address with your phone number in order to mail out the check to you. Right now i'm out of office to london U.K for a business trip but i will instruct my secretary to issue the certified check out to you immediatly.notice you don't need to bother your self about the shippment,i have an international courier shipping company that will come for pick-up,they will also determine and secure the shippment because i have some item which will be ship together with the car so let me have the weight very well so that a waybill can be created before shippment will be done,because i will be adding some extra fee to the check which is meant for the shipping and insurance.all you need to know is as soon as you recieve the check you will deduct your car fee and send the rest funds to the shipping company information that will be provided to you in the meantime.get back to me with the more picx for proper documentation and i will also tell my secretary to call you,get back to me immediately to know your decision and make sure you also get back to me with your FULL NAME and ADDRESS with your contact phone number for payment,hope to read from you soon...

My Reply:
Bob,

I could be wrong, but this all seems too much like all the scams I've heard about associated with car buying/selling.

I don't feel comfortable selling the car in this manner.

Richard Maddox

 

Scama rama doo..........

 

Scam.

 

Click on classifieds in the "go to " box at the top of the page and you'll find a warning about this peticular scam.

 

That is a scam. I buddy of mine in Houston got hit on a similar one but it was for an ATV vehicle.

 

Had a similar scam from my craigslist add. Almost identical. I just didn't bother to respond.

 

And rennlist has a section on reporting scams to help prevent same. They keep a list, please report this to rennlist.

 

Classic scam ..... some of our poorly forged 928 International checks have been sent to people selling cars and other things...all they ask is that you forward the "extra" to the shipping company etc. Then of course the check bounces AFTER you have sent real money. These scams have be going on for a long long time the internet just made it so much easier.

 

If they don't use a capital I when referring to themselves, then use improper language such as, "i will be glad to read from you soonest.., " then ask if a cashiers check or money order are OK...

If you still wonder, tell him you want cash.

 

Write him that you happen to be in his town on business and would be happy to meet his "secretary" and go with her to the bank to perform a cash transaction in person

 

Uh OH. I just received the same from the same guy and smelling a scam did a search on his name and found your thread.

Here's what I received:

Seller,
I just read your listing and I am highly interested in its purchase. Well, you can signify your interest in selling the, item for me by thus forwarding the last asking price of the ITEM?.and more pictures of the item if available?,what is the method of your payment?, Please make sure I have your reply at your earliest conviniency. Sincerely.

 

yeah, play with them a bit.

 

I usually tell them something like:
"Wow, what a fortunate coincidence, my Brother is an FBI agent working with Interpol in (insert whatever European location they say they are in or traveling to) and he said he could just pick up the payment in cash from you in person once he tells me the deal is good I'll release the car to your company. Easy and safe. So just send me your address...."

They never reply after that lol!

 

When they use .."item for me by thus forwarding the last asking price of the ITEM?.and more pictures of the item " a response that uses such a lack of a specific reference to what you are selling.."item" . It is obvious that they are sending that to many many people but are too lazy to actually mantion what it is you are selling...But if they send out enough someone somewhere who is really eager to sell might just go for the scam. There have been several people attempt to cash the forged bogus 928 International checks....!!

 

Had a very similar offer on a 928 I sold a few years back. Ask for their phone number so you can call & talk about the details. See what kind of response you get. Definately a scam.

Brian