I posted a 240 for sale almost a year ago. Last week i got a offer on it that included an extra $5000 for shipping that i am supposed to give back to the person picking up the car. Does anyone have experience in these matters? The whole thing smells fishy to me. thank you.

John

It's much easier for law enforcement to find these guys if you get their check and the return address that they want you to send the "change" too. Don't deposit or otherwise try to cash the check, just tell them you accept their offer. When you get the check, it will be bogus, call the cops.

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Volvo Farmer:

20 Volvos '58-'91

Bob,

A friend here at work just got a $4,800 check drawn on a legitimate Texas bank. The check, of course, was not legit. Same scam.

The check was sent by mail and the envelope was postmarked Philadelphia.

My friend called the Texas bank and they said that they've received HUNDREDS of similar inquiries -- it's not always a Nigerian bank. In this case, the scammers did NOT and would NOT provide a return address (they're not quite that dumb) -- but wanted the difference sent via Western Union.

Go to www.craigslist.org and read some of the wonderful and creative "stories" concocted by these scammers.

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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Hmmm, hadn't heard of that one. Still, it seems if law enforcement really wants to get these guys, SOMEONE has to show up at a Western Union to collect the change. With a little dilegence, seems like it wouldn't be that hard to put someone in cuffs. Maybe it's not that much of a priority but my theory is: collect the check. Then say you didn't get it and collect another one. If I had to send 400 bogus checks out to collect $4000, the payoff might convince me to go into another line of business.
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Volvo Farmer:

20 Volvos '58-'91

"...SOMEONE has to show up at a Western Union to collect the change..."

Careful, Bob. You're getting a little logical there...

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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

What happens if it's Western Union in Nigeria? Do you really think the Nigerian police will care?

In response to my sale of a 94 B230FT block, I got an offer for of those money order scams... from a Nigerian IP address. I think I'll probably just ignore it.

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alex

"Do you really think the Nigerian police will care?"

Sure! The Nigerian police are probably the scammers.

"I think I'll probably just ignore it."

No, no. Request the check, deposit it, and wire ME the cash....

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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Bob,
A couple years ago I got hooked reading this long detailed account of a scamee attempting to scam the scammer in this same business. I think I've located it again. Look here http://www.geocities.com/scamjokepage/ and scroll down to the David Kabila link. I have no thoughts on how true it is, but I can say it was entertaining regardless.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

But if you were based in Nigeria, the exchange rate would make a few hundred US in profit more than worth your while.
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Drive it like you hate it

While you're looking at CL, just avoid these links:

http://www.craigslist.org/sfc/car/45258389.html
http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/45324229.html
http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/45200825.html
http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/44923105.html

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alex

Alex,

I was referring to this page:

http://boston.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Yeah, I'm familiar with the scams and warnings on CL.

I was just "cautioning" people to stay away from the cheap Volvos.

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alex

Thanks Bob, you have helped me in the past with problems with volvos and i appreciate it. Thank you for the heads up on the check.

John P

John,

This is a classic scam. It seems to have started with some grifters out of Nigeria. Do not get sucker into losing your money/and or your Brick. You may consider reporting the incident to your local police or state's consumer protection agency. Do not deal with these people. This is a scam!

You will be done out of your car and the $5000 after all is said and done. Even if their check clears your bank initially, it will eventually be returned and you will have to make good on it to the bank. IT'S A SCAM, DUDE.

Good for you!!!

$5000 for shipping alone??? Wow... I could buy half a dozen decent 240's for that.

I'd "accept" the offer tentative to their "cheque" clearing your bank. Then I would try to nail whoever to the wall for fraud.

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Happy Bricking!!! - Richard - '87 245 DL , '82 242 GLT - Half a million km between them!!!

Did you even READ the warning on top of the classifieds page?
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'73 142, '75 242, '75 245, '80 245, '83 244, '86 244, '87 745T, 92 244 (for sale)