Craigs List Scam ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 5
From: Newtown Square Pa.
Craigs List Scam ?
I have my 2012 GS on CL .The other day i get a email from a guy in Michigan asking for more pictures
along with the email is a picture of him and his wife . I send more pictures,he then asks for the VIN which I send
Today I get a email asking for a copy of the title and my DL.Along with the email is a copy of his DL
I did not ask for This guy is very forthcoming with his information like his Dl ,home address,cell number
He said after he gets the copy he will make a very good offer and if accepted will wire the money into my account
I smell a rat Opinions
along with the email is a picture of him and his wife . I send more pictures,he then asks for the VIN which I send
Today I get a email asking for a copy of the title and my DL.Along with the email is a copy of his DL
I did not ask for This guy is very forthcoming with his information like his Dl ,home address,cell number
He said after he gets the copy he will make a very good offer and if accepted will wire the money into my account
I smell a rat Opinions
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,589
Likes: 2,647
From: Lancaster, PA
He may need your SSN, Routing/account numbers for the bank account you want the money sent. 
Sounds like he already stole someone's identity (pictures, DL, address, cell number).
Sounds like he already stole someone's identity (pictures, DL, address, cell number).
Last edited by range96; Oct 29, 2018 at 06:33 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Bainbridge Island WA
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Instructor
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I have my 2012 GS on CL .The other day i get a email from a guy in Michigan asking for more pictures
along with the email is a picture of him and his wife . I send more pictures,he then asks for the VIN which I send
Today I get a email asking for a copy of the title and my DL.Along with the email is a copy of his DL
I did not ask for This guy is very forthcoming with his information like his Dl ,home address,cell number
He said after he gets the copy he will make a very good offer and if accepted will wire the money into my account
I smell a rat Opinions
along with the email is a picture of him and his wife . I send more pictures,he then asks for the VIN which I send
Today I get a email asking for a copy of the title and my DL.Along with the email is a copy of his DL
I did not ask for This guy is very forthcoming with his information like his Dl ,home address,cell number
He said after he gets the copy he will make a very good offer and if accepted will wire the money into my account
I smell a rat Opinions
For me the guy showed up and low balled me...so I sent him packing...
Last edited by Ron Sjostrom; Oct 29, 2018 at 10:31 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 2,694
From: New Mexico
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
I agree.
But it wouldn’t harm anything to send a copy of the title with your last name, address, and partial title number blurred out. He already has your vin and plate number, so why not? IF he’s legit, he might want to make sure there’s no lien and it’s not a salvage or branded title.
Sounds scammy to me but I don’t know how much you’ve researched the guy.
But it wouldn’t harm anything to send a copy of the title with your last name, address, and partial title number blurred out. He already has your vin and plate number, so why not? IF he’s legit, he might want to make sure there’s no lien and it’s not a salvage or branded title.
Sounds scammy to me but I don’t know how much you’ve researched the guy.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
That is the best you can do. DO NOT SHIP THE CAR, OR TURN IT OVER TO HIM, until your bank gives you a "100% guarantee that the funds are secured in your account, and not reversible"
He is the one taking the greater risk...give him what he wants, for the most part
Last edited by buckmeister2; Oct 29, 2018 at 10:58 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Not even close...this is how private business is conducted thousands of times each day. If you are the seller, you are not the one who is in jeopardy, unless you are a total dufus. Buyers take the risk. This is an easy deal, if the guy is serious.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
.the guy is trying to be as careful as one of us would be if in his position. Your DL is public knowledge to anyone who really wants it. Send him the DL, and tell him you will send copy of title if/when he makes acceptable offer (prior to payment). Tell him, upon receipt of acceptable offer, you will send him a signed and NOTARIZED agreement stating that you will sell the car to him once his payment to you has fully cleared through your bank. Is he going to have it shipped? If not, he can go to the bank with you when he shows up to transfer the money before you give him the car.
That is the best you can do. DO NOT SHIP THE CAR, OR TURN IT OVER TO HIM, until your bank gives you a "100% guarantee that the funds are secured in your account, and not reversible"
He is the one taking the greater risk...give him what he wants, for the most part.
That is the best you can do. DO NOT SHIP THE CAR, OR TURN IT OVER TO HIM, until your bank gives you a "100% guarantee that the funds are secured in your account, and not reversible"
He is the one taking the greater risk...give him what he wants, for the most part.
Last edited by buckmeister2; Oct 29, 2018 at 10:58 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
For those of you who are dismissing this as a "scam", or a "rat", your naivete is amazing. The "buyer" is not asking for anything out of the ordinary, nor anything that could be used to impact any form of financial or property transfer. Just because you have read several times about a prince asking for money before he sends you something, or have read about a CL scammer, does not mean this is a scam. What, you don't think banks transfer funds for private business tens of thousands of times a day? Man, that is naive.
As a seller, there are only a few things you MUST do. 1. Send only a copy of your title, marked "COPY" across the front, with the last three letters of the title blacked out. 2. DO NOT give up the vehicle upon receipt of "funds". Only do so once YOUR bank has independently verified that the funds are "100% LEGITIMATE...IN YOUR ACCOUNT...AND CANNOT BE REVERSED OR ACCESSED BY ANY PARTY BUT YOU!" (some "teller" might say, "Yes, they are okay"..that is not the answer you need. The bank must understand that they will be standing behind their statement of cleared funds...I recommend you take only the word of the actual Manager"). 3. Do not agree in writing to do anything regarding transfer of vehicle until #2 above is satisfied. If you take care of those items, you are protecting yourself more than you would be if you were selling your car to a dealer.
Thousands of cars are sold every week on CL. Only fools and naive buyers get ripped off.
As a seller, there are only a few things you MUST do. 1. Send only a copy of your title, marked "COPY" across the front, with the last three letters of the title blacked out. 2. DO NOT give up the vehicle upon receipt of "funds". Only do so once YOUR bank has independently verified that the funds are "100% LEGITIMATE...IN YOUR ACCOUNT...AND CANNOT BE REVERSED OR ACCESSED BY ANY PARTY BUT YOU!" (some "teller" might say, "Yes, they are okay"..that is not the answer you need. The bank must understand that they will be standing behind their statement of cleared funds...I recommend you take only the word of the actual Manager"). 3. Do not agree in writing to do anything regarding transfer of vehicle until #2 above is satisfied. If you take care of those items, you are protecting yourself more than you would be if you were selling your car to a dealer.
Thousands of cars are sold every week on CL. Only fools and naive buyers get ripped off.
Last edited by buckmeister2; Oct 29, 2018 at 11:18 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 377
Likes: 68
From: Tennessee
When I sold my Cobra, the guys wanting to try to get a loan from the bank needed a copy of the title. As long as you have the original, unsigned title and possession of the car you should be fine. When dealing with cars in this price range, that are older and harder to get loans on, that are not family cars and obviously toys you have to give these long distance guys a chance. I would take the risk but I would also do more than just emailing. I would want to talk to him on the phone though, not just email stuff. Have your questions and concerns written down so you don’t get lost in the conversation and forget to ask. Grill him, if he’s legit he won’t mind