Suspicious
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
From: Elmwood Tennessee
Suspicious
Any thoughts about this situation...? Recently sold a '63 coupe to a resident in the south.....then about six months later got a call from a gentleman on the northeast saying he just bought the car. He wanted to know some of the history and I was glad to share. Now this history has been made into a "short short story" and he wants me to sign it and have it notarized so he can display it on the window of the restored car.....guess I'm just leary of sending a notarized copy of anything to someone I really do not know.....and for what reason....???....could this be some kind of scam....??? Don't know but would like to hear some other opinions.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,227
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Any thoughts about this situation...? Recently sold a '63 coupe to a resident in the south.....then about six months later got a call from a gentleman on the northeast saying he just bought the car. He wanted to know some of the history and I was glad to share. Now this history has been made into a "short short story" and he wants me to sign it and have it notarized so he can display it on the window of the restored car.....guess I'm just leary of sending a notarized copy of anything to someone I really do not know.....and for what reason....???....could this be some kind of scam....??? Don't know but would like to hear some other opinions.....
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
Any thoughts about this situation...? Recently sold a '63 coupe to a resident in the south.....then about six months later got a call from a gentleman on the northeast saying he just bought the car. He wanted to know some of the history and I was glad to share. Now this history has been made into a "short short story" and he wants me to sign it and have it notarized so he can display it on the window of the restored car.....guess I'm just leary of sending a notarized copy of anything to someone I really do not know.....and for what reason....???....could this be some kind of scam....??? Don't know but would like to hear some other opinions.....
First off, you don't know the guy and have never met him. He called you. You didn't call him. He gives you some small talk about this car that basically anyone could have found out. Now he wants a notarized statement from you concerning this car? Unless you were actually with him and saw this car now legally in his name, I wouldn't send anything notarized to him. You really don't know what he's doing with it after you send that statement and you don't know where this information is going to wind up after you sent it. Sending a legal personal document to a complete stranger would raise a few red flags for me.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Tell him your happy to help provided he brings his happy *** to you and brings his own notary.
From where im standing, it seems to me he is intending on suing the person you initially sold the car to for some sort of misrepresentation. You will know how serious the situation is if he agrees to come to you.
From where im standing, it seems to me he is intending on suing the person you initially sold the car to for some sort of misrepresentation. You will know how serious the situation is if he agrees to come to you.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
Something similar happened to my dads boss. However the guy had a specialist come along with the guy himself to gather any documentation he had on the car. It was some rare c3 and he was only the second owner so he wanted the history to document. It's probably fine but I would want some proof the guy is who he says he is. That being said, he contacted you for a very specific reason, one that most people probably wouldn't be able to track down unless you had the car openly listed and easy to find you... wouldn't hurt to protect yourself.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
i'm by no means a legal-eagle, but when someone wants a "notarized" copy of anything, it's usually for legal purposes. i'd be leary (or is it leery - ???) and would err on the side of caution. notarizing it makes it a legal document, and maybe, somehow, makes you liable for any past work. if you're OK with your write-up, i'd add, "to the best of my knowledge," and some other disclaimer statement - maybe something like, "the car was sold as is, with no warranty expressed or implied," and I personally, would not have it notarized. just my 2-cents - 
Last edited by Joe C; Jun 9, 2018 at 01:02 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 290
From: Farmington MO
Tell him your happy to help provided he brings his happy *** to you and brings his own notary.
From where im standing, it seems to me he is intending on suing the person you initially sold the car to for some sort of misrepresentation. You will know how serious the situation is if he agrees to come to you.
From where im standing, it seems to me he is intending on suing the person you initially sold the car to for some sort of misrepresentation. You will know how serious the situation is if he agrees to come to you.
Otherwise, screw him. If he just wanted a display, he could print up what you told him.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
Any thoughts about this situation...? Recently sold a '63 coupe to a resident in the south.....then about six months later got a call from a gentleman on the northeast saying he just bought the car. He wanted to know some of the history and I was glad to share. Now this history has been made into a "short short story" and he wants me to sign it and have it notarized so he can display it on the window of the restored car.....guess I'm just leary of sending a notarized copy of anything to someone I really do not know.....and for what reason....???....could this be some kind of scam....??? Don't know but would like to hear some other opinions.....
This sounds paranoid, but is EASILY possible to do and is done, it can happen to any of us. A little story on a car does not need to be that formal. A notarized signature is for major contracts in life. You have not done business with this person and I would recommend not doing business with the person.
I tracked down my Uncle's Shelby 500KR after 10 years of searching and made a little "book" about it for him to remind him of his past since he was almost homeless before death, so it might be possible that people do this stuff.
No reason to do any of this, but I would reach out to the person you sold it to first, IF you cared enough, then maybe move forward with out notary.
If the car is that special that it legitimately needs your signature and Notarized charge them thousands for it IMO.
People create false documents and shady things with cars ALL the time, nothing has changed these days only slowed down and made it harder for the scammers and crooks.
Life goes on, just tell this little story and leave it alone IMO.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,060
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
First, why the hell did you sell a 63 split window!?!
Second we're talking about a 63 split window, there is definitely value for the car having a previous owner's validated comments in a story to show history!
I would ask for the short story first to see what it's about...I'm not so sure this is about a lawsuit...but simply documenting one of Corvettes (easily) most desirable model years!
Second we're talking about a 63 split window, there is definitely value for the car having a previous owner's validated comments in a story to show history!
I would ask for the short story first to see what it's about...I'm not so sure this is about a lawsuit...but simply documenting one of Corvettes (easily) most desirable model years!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
First, why the hell did you sell a 63 split window!?!
Second we're talking about a 63 split window, there is definitely value for the car having a previous owner's validated comments in a story to show history!
I would ask for the short story first to see what it's about...I'm not so sure this is about a lawsuit...but simply documenting one of Corvettes (easily) most desirable model years!
Second we're talking about a 63 split window, there is definitely value for the car having a previous owner's validated comments in a story to show history!
I would ask for the short story first to see what it's about...I'm not so sure this is about a lawsuit...but simply documenting one of Corvettes (easily) most desirable model years!
'63 split window vette is cool to us, but really though... still only in the 60 to maybe 150K range depending on condition.
This could be real, but Notary takes it to another level.
Either way no signature (if a nobody) is going to change that much, or the guy just bought a flipped c2 to flip again to some dummy that will pay a premium for papers as the difference.
I'd say the risks out weigh the reward. ignorance is what gets us in trouble.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Sure does.
I would cooperate with the guy as long as it wasn't a hassle or an expense. Just asking for a notarized document is weird all by itself though. The onus of action is on the person requesting the document, and in the event that person is willing to endure the hassle and expense himself then fine, I would cooperate. Otherwise, I've got better things to do.
I would cooperate with the guy as long as it wasn't a hassle or an expense. Just asking for a notarized document is weird all by itself though. The onus of action is on the person requesting the document, and in the event that person is willing to endure the hassle and expense himself then fine, I would cooperate. Otherwise, I've got better things to do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
I would probably send a letter that said I owned this vin from date to date. Mile to mile. Beyond that. would need legal council. I wouldn't want to open myself into any bs about car.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,234
Likes: 355
From: Albuquerque, NM
First, why the hell did you sell a 63 split window!?!
Second we're talking about a 63 split window, there is definitely value for the car having a previous owner's validated comments in a story to show history!
I would ask for the short story first to see what it's about...I'm not so sure this is about a lawsuit...but simply documenting one of Corvettes (easily) most desirable model years!
Second we're talking about a 63 split window, there is definitely value for the car having a previous owner's validated comments in a story to show history!
I would ask for the short story first to see what it's about...I'm not so sure this is about a lawsuit...but simply documenting one of Corvettes (easily) most desirable model years!
I own a '67 427/400 and had the original owner do the same thing. It's just to document the history of the car. Why the notary? Anyone can write anything and forge the signature of a previous owner. The story of the history doesn't mean much if anyone could have made it up and signed it as one of the previous owners. The notary guarantees that the person who signed it is the person who wrote it (or at least they approve of it).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 363
From: Central Alabama
I wonder if the guy even knows what he wants.
An acknowledgement is a verification that the identity of the signer has been verified. Usually against a driver's license. It does not verify that any information is true and correct. What most people think of when they go to a notary public.
If he wants it to hold up in court as fact he would ask for a Jurat. Also known as a affidavit or a verification on oath or affirmation. This requires the notary to administer an oath like in court.
Providing a Jurat is the same as stating something under oath in court.
And no I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. I am actually a Notary Public.
An acknowledgement is a verification that the identity of the signer has been verified. Usually against a driver's license. It does not verify that any information is true and correct. What most people think of when they go to a notary public.
If he wants it to hold up in court as fact he would ask for a Jurat. Also known as a affidavit or a verification on oath or affirmation. This requires the notary to administer an oath like in court.
Providing a Jurat is the same as stating something under oath in court.
And no I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. I am actually a Notary Public.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Lets say the OP sold the car and it had sixty thousand miles on it. Now lets say the buyer resold the car to the person requesting the document, and the car now has thirty thousand miles on it. I would not stand idly by and allow this situation to exist. Its time to tell the truth.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,227
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Half the posters here think that the OP would be open to some legal problem if he did this? Why?
As long as he's signing as fact and notarized, big deal.
As long as he's signing as fact and notarized, big deal.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
If in fact this is a legal issue then an affidavit of some sort could actually be a substitute for testimony in a deposition or an actual trial.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
From: Elmwood Tennessee
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
From: Elmwood Tennessee