2003 Beater for only $27,500!

anti-fraud from usa -

From: XXXXXXXX

Subject: 2003 Hyundai Tiburon

Hello,

I am interested in buying your car listed for sale.Pls get back to me with your cars update and your bottom line price.

Regards

[The ad this person responded to listed a 2003 Hyunadi for $16, 500. When I replied I used a different email address and changed the subject from Hyundai Tiburon to "Beater" and I said the price was $27, 500.]

From: XXXXXXXX

Subject: 2003 Beater For Sale

Hello,

Thanks for your response.My client really commended your vehicle and has authorized me to proceed with the deal at the price of $27, 500

He will be going on vacation soon and intends issuing out a certified cashiers check for $36, 000 which was a refund payment of a can celled order earlier made by him but will be made out in your name.

You are only required to deduct the cost of your vehicle and send the difference via western union money transfer when payment gets to you to a shipping agent whose information will be given to you as at when due.

The shipping agent will be needing the fund to offset shipping charges, taxes and other cosmetic repairs/touches if any. The agent will also be responsible for signing and transferring of title papers and also pick-up.

I would need your full name, present mailing address and phone number for payment to be delivered to you via mail services.

Regards

Frank

--

Now, lets examine the response. (I editted out the senders full name and email address because the key here is not listing email addresses, but understanding the fraud so it can be avoided regardless of the name or email address behind it).

First a couple items stand out. No one would be interested in purchasing a "beater", especially not for $27, 500. Second, any buyer would be extremely upset to see an advertisement for $16, 500 and have the price raised over $10, 000!

Next, the buyer wants to pay more than the selling price... he wants to pay $36, 000. Of course he says it is a "certified cashiers check". He then wants the different sent via Western Union to the "Shipping Agent".

Of course this fellow has no interest in buying a car. His *ONLY* goal is to have the "difference" $8, 500 sent to him via Western Union before his bogus cashiers check bounces.

Here is what would happen if I accepted his offer and received the $36, 000 "Certified Cashiers Check"... I would go to my bank and they would tell me I could have the cash for the check within 1 day. I would deposit the check and withdraw $8, 500 cash the next day. Toggle down to Western Union and fire off the $8, 500 to the "shipping agent".

Maybe I would feel very good that my car was sold for $10, 000 more than I was asking and take out a lot more money to celebreate. Life is good! Uh oh! About 3 or 4 weeks later, I get a letter from my bank. It turns out that "certified cashiers check" was forged. They have deducted $36, 000 plus a couple hundred more in bank fees from my account and I am overdrawn. I need to deposit $30, 000 in my account immediatedly!

Ok, I rush off to Western Union to I can atleast get the $8, 500 back. Nope. Sorry. YOU SENT the money. It is no longer yours and it's not Western Union's problem!

Many of those pulling this scam aren't upfront about the certified cashiers check or western union quite so soon in the emails.

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