Scam??
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: valdosta ga
Scam??
Has anyone out there heard of a scam from a "Klaus Koehne" from Germany? I have a C2 for sale and this guy is willing to buy sight unseen. However, I don't really see the risk to me since he said that he will wire me the money prior to arranging transportation. Sounds too easy, but maybe I'm just overly skeptical.
Thanks.
L.F.
Thanks.
L.F.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,451
Likes: 315
From: Scottsdale AZ
Would YOU buy a car sight unseen
does that sound reasonable?, especially since corvettes are not what you could call rare. Have the guy send you his picture holding up his passport, have the money wired to your attorney not your real bank account.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 751
From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
could be a new wrinkle on the certified check scam... if you're really serious about selling to him, have him wire the money to your bank and make sure the bank has not just credited your account for the amount, but has actually collected that $$$$ before turning the car over to him.
Bill
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 171
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Sold my Infiniti last year to a Russian car dealer in Canada.
He told me to give him my bank acct. number and he would wire the money! I almost dismissed him as a scam artist - I ended up setting up a new account with my bank, and he wired the money the next day, sight unseen! Sometimes it does work. Good luck. 
He told me to give him my bank acct. number and he would wire the money! I almost dismissed him as a scam artist - I ended up setting up a new account with my bank, and he wired the money the next day, sight unseen! Sometimes it does work. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 603
From: Limerick Pa
Very easy way to do this, go to your bank, set up new account, have the money wired into this account( wired money cannot be changed) meaning the bank on his side must have the money in hand before they wire it and he cannot cancel once the wire is sent. As soon as the money is in the account, transfer it to another account and you will be safe. I do it on line takes 10 seconds, my bank calls me as soon as the wire comes. You can cancel the new account if you want, if it makes you feel safer. I have done this 5 times and never had a problem. 3 were out of the Country and I was sceptical at first. Yes they bought the cars sight unseen also .
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: valdosta ga
Thanks to all of you for the feedback. I actually have already set up a new account for the money to be wired into, then this account will be swept into my old account. It still spooks me.
I am told the weak $ compared to the euro is the big key. A collector said that not too long ago that a $40K USD car actually cost slightly more than that (exchange rate) compared to a country who's currency is the euro. Now, the same car is only about $30K cost to them. For a 25% savings, I guess a dealer/ collector in Germany can take a few chances and still afford the shipping.
Thanks for the success stories. I plan to proceed with caution.
I am told the weak $ compared to the euro is the big key. A collector said that not too long ago that a $40K USD car actually cost slightly more than that (exchange rate) compared to a country who's currency is the euro. Now, the same car is only about $30K cost to them. For a 25% savings, I guess a dealer/ collector in Germany can take a few chances and still afford the shipping.
Thanks for the success stories. I plan to proceed with caution.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 290
Likes: 30
From: Perth Western Australia
Cant see what the problem is. You keep the car till you receive the money.
We buy cars from the US all the time like that.
Would be nice to bring the money over to the US but it is cheaper to do Telegraphic Transfer through the banking system
The way the value of the $US is going there is going to be a lot more cars sold overseas.
Cheers,
Gary
Perth Australia
We buy cars from the US all the time like that.
Would be nice to bring the money over to the US but it is cheaper to do Telegraphic Transfer through the banking system
The way the value of the $US is going there is going to be a lot more cars sold overseas.
Cheers,
Gary
Perth Australia