Craigslist deal - european wire transfer - VIN + registration + ID picture

[TwitchKitty]

This guy emailed through CL and calls and says he wants the bike to ship to europe. He wants to wire transfer the money and needs transfer info. He also wants pictures of the VIN numbers on the frame and engine, my ID, the registration and a video of the bike running. I am not sure what they could do to me with the pictures. But in a way it is more appealing than meeting face to face with the people of craigslist.

Does it sound like it could be legit or absolutely a scam? If I get a transfer for the sale and my bank says it is clear before I turn over the bike then at least I get the money.

[P.C.]

Which is less uncomfortable to you, dealing face to face with a local buyer, or losing the cost of the bike plus shipping? If you have doubts about the legitimacy of the buyer, then there is no doubt. Find another buyer.

[TwitchKitty]

He says they are going to pick it up and ship it themselves. That says good and bad to me. They?

If the bank says the money is good, can they go back on that? Once I have the money I don't really care what the buyers do.

It wouldn't kill me to lose the bike but I do have plans for the money and the time I would lose is very important to me.

[gatorblue92]

It's a scam

[greazzer]

Sounds hokey to me ...

[DieselPaul]

Its tough to unwind a wire transfer, but him needing your ID is what screams red flag. I've sold cars overseas, wire transfer into my checking account, shipper picks it up, done. For overseas transactions they don't use your routing number usually.

Talk to your banker for legitimate answers but if they write the foreign bank a check of something and that bank wires your bank the money, and that check bounces, its on the bank who wires the money not you. Once the money clears into your account which can take a couple days international you should be solid. If you were to actually sell overseas talk to your banker and get his opinion on the safest way Togo about it.

Routing number and effectively a copy of your id is a no go, registration is wierd too, titles is all I've needed in the past.

[Skid Row Joe]

Why would you fool with a check? U.S. currency in cash only.

[DieselPaul]

I'm the only person who mentionned a check, and the only way for a wire transfer to turn bad would be if the person wrote a bank a dirty check to cover the transfer which falls on the bank sending the transfer and not the receiver.

[cmac2012]

The CL scams I've encountered have to do with them sending a check that their 'secretary' accidentally made for way too much, would I please wire them the difference.

Not sure what angle they're going to go with by claiming to wire you the funds. Does sound like a waste of time is a very real possibility.

[kerry]

I've bought vehicles overseas with processes like that. I wired the money. I needed all his bank account info to do that. Google the guy. I don't think a photo of the title and registration is that weird. It's his way of proving you are the legal owner. I'd be cautious but it can easily be legit. Have you talked to the guy on the phone? Phone conversations are important in determining legitimacy. It's not that hard to get a sense of a person from a phone call. I do it all the time with potential tenants.

[MTUpower]

I just sold a 450SL to a local buyer who ships them (as many as 10 a month) to Germany. The first call was from Germany. I think you have a legit buyer IMHO. Send him a pic of your ID with the the important stuff blacked out. He just wants to know that you are you.

[MTUpower]

Originally Posted by kerry

I've bought vehicles overseas with processes like that. I wired the money. I needed all his bank account info to do that. Google the guy. I don't think a photo of the title and registration is that weird. It's his way of proving you are the legal owner. I'd be cautious but it can easily be legit. Have you talked to the guy on the phone? Phone conversations are important in determining legitimacy. It's not that hard to get a sense of a person from a phone call. I do it all the time with potential tenants.

I accepted an offer over the phone with no way to know if the buyer was going to follow thru other than what I sensed with our phone conversations. He followed thru.

[Jim B.]

Pretty likely it could be a scam. Therefore, I'd run away if it was me in your shoes here.

[TwitchKitty]

I did talk to the guy on the phone and he sounds legit but they say all of the best criminals do sound legit. Good con men can talk the shirt off of your back.

I called the bank 800 number and they said that I would have to give him routing and account info. I paid my last real estate deal with a wire transfer and I don't remember the attorney giving me his routing and account numbers. I will look back at the paperwork. I thought I remembered using a transaction number, a transfer number instead of actual account info. Who knows? Maybe I read that in a John Grisham novel.

I will also put this guy on hold till monday when I can visit the bank. I can open a small account for the transfer. I'm more worried about them using my info to open accounts.

[kerry]

We wire transfer to our daughter in Canada. Account and routing numbers are necessary.