Okay everyone, I need your opinions on this 2003 SL
 

Here is the message I received in response to my inquiry into his 2003 SL:
Hello There,

Thank you for your interest in purchasing my car. First of all I must inform you that currently I'm in Amsterdam, Holland and I have to let you know that the SL500 car is here with me and it is in a perfect condition.

The car is still for sale and it has never been damaged in any way. It's condition is outstanding and most important I have a clear title which you will receive it with the car. It can be registered into your name, so stay cool about this. The odometer shows 9191 miles. The problem is that I had to move with my family in Holland, Europe. I brought the car here with me with the intention of driving it but when I found out about the very high holland import duties I have made up my mind and decided to sell the vehicle back to the USA.

I have to tell you that I have other serious offers that I have to consider and I will make a decision regarding this sale function or time of payment and price. I want to tell you that I've choosed this type of sale to escpape by the non-paying possible bidders.

The car is as new, with no scratches and it was never involved in an accident. You can check the VIN (WDBSK75F13F016491) on www.CarFax.com The paint looks just as new, the car was always garaged. As options, the car has all premium packages, premium sound, bixenon headlights etc.

The price I hope to obtain is USD 28.000 (this price includes the shipping and insurance because I am willing to cover the air freight to the USA) and if you agree with this price we can start to complete the transaction.

The payment method is by using a money order service. I prefer money order because in this way I will ship the car in the same day you make the payment. During the time I learned that the best deals are closed when the risk involved is minimum.

You will arrange payment through Western Union (www.WesternUnion.com). In case you want to ship you the car right now you have to make me a confirmation for 15% of the amount of money (USD 4200 ) and after you receive and inspect the car you have to send me the rest of the money. The inspection period for it is 10 days.

I have something safe for you because I want you to be sure that you will receive the car and I hope we will collaborate in future too.

Look what I can do for you:

- You will make the transfer to my location but not to my name (you will use your best friends name for example as receiver's name) so you can be sure that I will not pick up the money until you get the car. So you make a deposit at Western Union and you will give me the transfer's details (MTCN, SENDER'S NAME, RECEIVER'S NAME) so I can check that the deposit was made. After I verify I will send you the car immediately.

- Only after you will receive the car and check it if it ok you will have to change the receiver's name of the transfer to my name so I can collect my money. So until you will have the car in your hands the money w ill be deposited on your best friend's name at Western Union agent.

I think it is better to not inform Western Union that you will change the receiver's name in a few days because it is possible they ask you to pay the fees twice (fees that are quite big for such an amount). When you will go to the Western Union office to wire the money sometimes they ask you why are you doing that. If you will tell them that they are for something you have bought, I will have to pay when I pick up the money a very expensive tax for making commerce. Please say you send the money to your friends or to your partner.

Also, I can accept 2000$ through from the amount prior and in this case I will take you as a serious and possible buyer and arrange a further deal but in this case you have to come in person to the car's location to see the car and take it back with you or you can send a friend or agent that lives near by to inspect the car and pay the r est of the money.

If you are agree with this method you can transfer the 2000$ from your home using your credit card via phone calling 1-800 CALL CASH service of Western Union that is a free of charge phone number and is available 24 H a day.

After you've completed the transfer you will receive a confirmation that will allow me to track the transfer. Here are the details that I need:

- Sender's Name and address
- Receiver's name will be me
- Exact amount wired
- MTCN # (10 digits)
- If it is possible a scanned copy of the receipt format .JPEG for me to add to the files

As soon as the payment will be confirmed and the money properly sent, I will IMMEDIATELY proceed with shipping if you sent me the 15% of the amount or I will hold the car for you if you've deposited only 2000$.

In case you've payed the 15% of money I will ship the car via Lufthansa Airplane Cargo insured and i t will take 72 hours until you will have it at your door. The shipping is free. The shipping taxes will cost arround USD 2600, but of course that I will cover them.

The 15% of payment are fully refundable if for any reason you do not accept the car or if the car has scratches, hidden defects, or it is not as advertised. I will even pay for the shipping back to my location if you reject the car but since it is a state of the art Mercedes-Benz and works and looks perfectly I think it would get to this.

:

Hehe....way too complicated for me. :D

Hmmmmm

could be legit .. but

all that rigamarole would kinda scare me away. I would at least do further investigation if I were still interested

check this out:

http://www.autobaza.pl/ab/en/web/productaa0100

the numbers didn't come up for me and that site is European

other opinions?

Run, Run far.
And if the car does not show up, What recourse would you have in a foreign country. Fly over there to file charges? Can they find him?
This is like the Emails that you get that tell you that "I'm an African prince and I want to get some money out of my Country. Please be an idiot and let me use your bank account."

I would not touch this one!!!!!!!!1

Dave

No Way, Jose.

This looks like one of those Nigerian scams you see on TV news shows. The price is too low. The payment arrangement is full of holes. Don't even think about doing this.

I agree, something is wrong. 28 k for a 2003 ???

I wish I had the link, a woman had a whole website about how she reverse stung on one of those nigerian things.

In fact they wanted her to meet them, in Holland I believe, with about 15k paperwork money. They story was great how she dragged them on, even setup the meeting someplace that had an internet cam, and she thinks you can see them waiting for her. She of course never left her warm house here in the US.

I'll find it and post it.

Here it is, long but hysterical

http://www.geocities.com/wendy_willcox/


Also remember now the new scam is, your selling a car, I send you a bank check for more than agreed on, you wire the difference back to me, and the first check bounces !!!
Bank checks, or cashiers checks or ?? are not gauranteed.

C'mon folks! You telling me you are going to let this one go by?

Bond, James Bond

OK...I read 2 sentences and was able to recite the rest of the Email.

$28k ROFLMAO

And yes....this is one of the more complicated (or should I say convoluted) schemes.

Deal?
 

Anything with Amsterdam, Lagos and/or Western Union in the same paragraph means
Click

NO! Not me. Same old con just a different country.

First: anyone who writes this is bogus.

"I have something safe for you because I want you to be sure that you will receive the car and I hope we will collaborate in future too."

Next:
If it was me selling a legit car: it would go something like.

"Look, I'll sell you the car..I want 28K. You can do two things.>One, come on over, and ship it yourself, but I want a certified check. Whats an extra $800 to travel.>Come this weekend..I'll put you up. Otherwise, send me a cert check, use western, or some other transfer, and I'll ship it right over. Your call.."

What would you do?

"I have to tell you that I have other serious offers"


why don't you wite him back that you can't make up your mind but you don't want to stand in the way of his other offers and see what he says?:rolleyes:


actually you probably should turn this item over to some sort of network "police"

Well, I have actually written back and said I will fly over and do the business in person. So far I haven't heard back.

Here's another one, but this might be legit. This is for a '99 SL for $24K. Here's his response on my asking "what city are you in"

Dear Sir/Maddam,

I'm very glad you are interested in buying my 1999 Mercedes SL 500 Sport AMG.


The car is loaded with all standard equipment and comes with all books and keys. The body and interior are in excellent condition and is all original. This vehicle is CARFAX CERTIFIED.


Here are the selling conditions :

1) Before I ship/drive and/or meet you for inspection the car to you I request a minimum deposit of 10% which is $2420.

2) We will use an escrow service which will take care of this 10% deposit.

My lawyers advised that through an escrow company is the best way to close expensive deals.

Here is the link: http://www.escrow1st.com

The fees are very low (0.75%).
I'm already a member of them (jalford201@aol.com is my registered email address).
Also you can check my escrow1st.com rating (29 positive transactions and none of them negative) by
clicking "CHECK AN USER RATING" from their home page (just enter my email).

Here is how we will proceed:

1) start the transaction with me (or I can start it as a seller if you want,just let me know).
2) secure 10% ($2420) to escrow1st (it will act as a third
party securing the funds).
3) after you wire the money , I will ship/drive the car for inspection to you.You can choose up to 30 days for the inspection period.In case you dont like the car,you can send it back on my expense, or i will come to take it from you.escrow1st will refund the total amount sent to you.

After you will approve the car, you will have to wire the balance to me and also tell
escrow1st.com to release the secured funds to me.

This is the only way I can close this deal with you.

I have a very busy schedule and I can not meet or talk to all my potential buyers.

After the 10% deposit is confirmed ,we can move forward.I will arrange to drive/ship the car to you asap.

Why would you need to put up money before you inspect? Think about buying and selling cars. It shouldn't be difficult. Seller has car; buyer goes to look at it; buyer decides whether or not to buy. If it is any more complicated than that, it is a scam. Ask yourself: you pay the money into an escrow account in order to inspect. What happens if you don't like what you see? Do you get your money back?

Obviously: if a deal is too good to be true, that is because it is a scam. Nobody legit sells a 2003 SL500 for $28k. I even wonder whether you'd sell a 1999 SL500 for $24k.