Johnny@CustomAuto
10-22-2003, 12:17 PM
For those of you who post your cars on the net for sale, beware of the scams that are rampant. Here's what happened to me about a year ago when I was trying to sell my 4Runner. I had posted it on the Calgary Sun's website.
I had a gentleman interested in the truck and he had emailed me. He said was on business in Africa. He asked me the condition of the vehicle and I told him. I listed to the truck more than what it was worth so I could have some room for negotiation. But this guy never bargained with me at all. After finalizing the deal, he told me he had an associate in the US who owes him money. This person was to send me the money, and I was too call his contact here to pick up the truck. But the funds coming, would be worth more than the truck. He had asked to be honest with him and send him the remaining amount. Soon I received a Royal Bank money order in the mail by FEDEX. It had come from Africa and not the USA. I opened it and sure enough it was for $25,000 USD. My asking price on the truck was only $9000 CAD. I was thinking to myself, why the hell would this guy trust me with this much money? I was very suspicious. I went to my home branch at the Royal, and most of the tellers know me there. I got my usual teller and chit chatted with her for a bit. I asked to check this money order to make sure it was real. She went to the back of the bank and called the money order in. Then she came back to me 3 mins later with a disturbed look on her face. She told me they had to call her back, because systems where down, and they have to contact the issuer. Then she started asking me a whole bunch of questions like where I got it, and what is was for. Stuff like that is none of her business and she never asks me. I waitied and waited.. by now I had a bad feeling. I looked at the door and I saw 3 uniformed officers and 1 plain clothes detective come in the bank. They looked right at me, and I knew they were there for me. They grabbed and led me out of the bank. I was told I was being arrested for attempt to cash a fraudulent check. In the cop car I told them the story and they let me go. I was very embarrased. But I was also glad, I did what I did. I could have just deposited that check, get a money order for $19,000 USD and send the f**ker a real money order. Then 30 days later, I would have the bank on my ass for the missing money. Anyways, this is a wicked scam. I bet many people have been taken. And those money order look soooo real!! Be careful guys, if it's too good to be true, then it is. I also know Marlon from Silent Rage also received one of these money orders. Before he went to the bank, I told my story, and it was exactly the same.
Here's another guy with the same story: http://ef-1.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=650
I had a gentleman interested in the truck and he had emailed me. He said was on business in Africa. He asked me the condition of the vehicle and I told him. I listed to the truck more than what it was worth so I could have some room for negotiation. But this guy never bargained with me at all. After finalizing the deal, he told me he had an associate in the US who owes him money. This person was to send me the money, and I was too call his contact here to pick up the truck. But the funds coming, would be worth more than the truck. He had asked to be honest with him and send him the remaining amount. Soon I received a Royal Bank money order in the mail by FEDEX. It had come from Africa and not the USA. I opened it and sure enough it was for $25,000 USD. My asking price on the truck was only $9000 CAD. I was thinking to myself, why the hell would this guy trust me with this much money? I was very suspicious. I went to my home branch at the Royal, and most of the tellers know me there. I got my usual teller and chit chatted with her for a bit. I asked to check this money order to make sure it was real. She went to the back of the bank and called the money order in. Then she came back to me 3 mins later with a disturbed look on her face. She told me they had to call her back, because systems where down, and they have to contact the issuer. Then she started asking me a whole bunch of questions like where I got it, and what is was for. Stuff like that is none of her business and she never asks me. I waitied and waited.. by now I had a bad feeling. I looked at the door and I saw 3 uniformed officers and 1 plain clothes detective come in the bank. They looked right at me, and I knew they were there for me. They grabbed and led me out of the bank. I was told I was being arrested for attempt to cash a fraudulent check. In the cop car I told them the story and they let me go. I was very embarrased. But I was also glad, I did what I did. I could have just deposited that check, get a money order for $19,000 USD and send the f**ker a real money order. Then 30 days later, I would have the bank on my ass for the missing money. Anyways, this is a wicked scam. I bet many people have been taken. And those money order look soooo real!! Be careful guys, if it's too good to be true, then it is. I also know Marlon from Silent Rage also received one of these money orders. Before he went to the bank, I told my story, and it was exactly the same.
Here's another guy with the same story: http://ef-1.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=650