Just figured I'd post this here as it looks like I have been contacted by a scam buyer on craigslist. Does someone seriously think I will believe they want to ship 9 year old minivans overseas for business use!

The details;
Posted a 1998 Ford Windstar van with 113K mi that needs some work (listed all issues I know of) Price is listed as $2000 best offer.

Got the following in a quick response;


Hi,if this auction for your car with all these features,then have got to ask you this before i can proceed.Actually,i like your car so much and am interested in buying it,but i want to be sure all parts and features are in good working condition.If not please let me know where or which exactly is not functioning.Also is there a minimum price for this car?If so i`ll gladly appreciate it.Please let me hear from you as soon as you can. Also is the car also taxed,if so,until when and What groups insurance is it?
Best regards,
David.


I sent back the following;
David,

I dont undestand all your questions.
Craigslist is not an auction like ebay. You can offer
the aasking price and the car is yours, or you can
make a different offer.

Condition was described
Engine runs fine
transmission works fiine
AC and heat work
Cruse control radio etc work
Interior is clean
Issues list.
ABS light comes on after the car is moving - this
indicates a wheel sensor
Service engine soon light
Needs two tires
missing one hub cap (I have it but its cracked)
front cupholder is broken
rear windows can be flaky in opening and closing
Interior lights can be flaky (taking time to turn off)
this is a tipical windstar issue.
The van is registered
Current inspection sticker expires end of May
I dont know what you mean by the tax question - In MA
excise tax is based on the original sales price.
I also dont know what your question is about groups of
insurance - MA insurance by my understanding is based
on the place you live and your driving record.

I then received this response;


Thanks for the prompt reply,i greatly appreciate your honesty.So i shall arrange on how to send you payment as soon as i can,so please bear it in mind that am making a purchase for the car,ok.However,i may have to contact my shipper in the UK to get set for the pick up of the car as soon as you receive your funds because i may have to leave for a conference in India any moment from now. If you`ld like to know,i own a car/bike hire services there in UK which served me well to my satisfaction and that`s why am seriously interested in buying it quickly! before someone else grab it.Though i reside here in the US,but got a conference to attend this weekend and will last for 2weeks.
Though am yet to give you a call to be sure i can get in touch with you on phone because as it is now i may have to send you an overdraft which will include my shippers fees as well.Am doing this bacause am away to india for my conference as i told you.And my shipper has requested for an upfront to be sent to him before he can pick the car up from your place.Anyway,i guess i can expalin this better to you on phone. thanks again,and am still very much interested in buying the car!

P.S:in the main time i`ll require that you send me your full information (name and address as well as your phone number)so that i can contact my bank with it before sending
you a check.
Best regards,
David.

Which I followed up with;
Look its a $2000 car that needs work. Your message of
shiping to the UK (or further) etc does not sound
realistic as shipping will cost at least 1/2 what I am
asking. The usual way with cars at this price is you
show up and pay with cash and drive it away.

There is NO WAY I will supply any banking info. If
you are serious arrange to come by and take a look at
the car and bring money. I will not hold the car
based on an email.


Figured some of you may be amused.

It would be fun to screw with him...

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yea - that was my thought if I get a response back , but at this point nothing.

Ya lift yer arse off the ring and see brown logs floating in the bowl it's time to flush and wipe.................

__________________

Cracks me up that these idiots are still trying to scam people out of their cars.

I was selling my 1983 300D. I kept getting these email from people overseas. One guy was from Yemen, one from Costa Rica, one was in NY and acted as middleman for rich arabs to buy and ship cars to the middle east.

These guys will send you a counterfeit cashiers check (even made out to look like it is from your local bank). You will cash the check. After a coupla' days you see the money go into your account. You think it's legit. You now sign the title and release the car to a local transport shipping company. After 10 days your bank finds out that the check is counterfeit and hold you liable for the funds. You now have NO car and the bank is breathing down your neck to return the funds.

The guys will tell you all kinds of stories such as they are running a taxi service and use ony MB's, etc.

Don't fall for this crap.

__________________
Frank
84 500SEL EURO 101K ( JUST LIKE MY 1ST WIFE. GLAD TO GET RID OF HER! )
85 300D 310K (sold)
90 350SDL 184K sold
83 300D 118K (sold)
88 300E 153k (sold)
93 400E 105K (sold)

There are alot of scammers on ebay as well. Easiest way to fix them, is to include a phone number in the listing AND the phrase "If you get a second chance offer please call the phone number in the listing"

Stops those arse holes in their tracks as even if they hijack your ebay account, once a bid is placed noone can chance the phone number in the original listing.

please take my 2¢ out of this hundred dollar bill.

__________________
Closing the store
Benzbonz.biz on your smart phone or tablet.

Don't you mean check?

I liked craigslist until I tried to run an ad. The staff there deletes my ads with no explanation of why. I cannot post to their forums, I get a message that says I must login and register even though I am registered and logged-in. My impression is that it is more trouble than it is worth.

Despite the scam artists I have had great luck on craigslist both buying and selling just about anything.

__________________
1994 C 280 117.5k, White (Good as new)
1997 Toyota Camry 149k Miles (Not so pretty anymore)

1990 190e 2.6 95k (Sold-Should not have)
1981 240d Stick ??? Miles...sold

I use craigslist alot
I allso flag deals that are too good to be real
like a just restored 69 chevy with a 454 for 5k
or a high end new bike for a 1/4 of its value
if and only if no ph# or location listed
so some good deals may get pulled along with a few 1000 scammers