16 replies to this topic

[mdjmsmith]

I'm trying to sell our motorhome due to my husband's work schedule. I received an inquiry from a man in KY who it seems is representing his client. He asked about 10 general questions including "Have you ever sold a RV before and what is your experience?" Then today he asked about four more general questions which included "Where exactly is your RV located including prescriptions and directions from a major airport and What is your mailing address, not P.O Box"

He continued on saying that he would send a sale agreement with earnest after I answered the above questions. My concern comes in from a paragraph with instructions he left that opened up a red flag.


1.) He uses the phrase "My Client"
2.) I will send you earnest money and funds for inspections and delivery service fee and you will pay them."


Would you please review the below paragraph and give me your opinion, does it sound like a scam to you and what should I do?

As soon as I hear back from you, I will discuss the arrangement of the earnest payment, the inspection/delivery fees and also the final payment with my client. My client will be sending funds that are available as we speak in order for you to keep the unit for us, and more importantly so as not to spend it on unforeseen expenses that may show up. Hence, the earnest payment to be sent to you will also include the inspection and delivery service part fee which will be made available upon request by the agent to be employed for the services. I will be looking for a reputable transporter/shipping agent for the job and once if I find one, I will let you know.


Also, how does the inspections work? Do I set it up or does he? I'm worried that he will hire someone who shows up at my house, takes the keys and then leaves with the RV never to be seen again.

Can I limit who performs the inspections?


What do you all recommend?

Thank you,

Joanna Smith

[RLAWyo]

It's a scam. I have had similar correspondence when trying to sell a car. The buyer was representing a "client" from Europe, they send ernest money and a contract. I ignored all other emails from there on.



My advice, don't do anything with them.

Edited by RLAWyo, 22 April 2012 - 06:57 PM.

[Cyberdave]

IMHO,


They've baited the hook, placed the cast well and are just waiting for you to bite.

In other words, if it smells like a fish, looks like a fish and tastes like a fish, it must be fishy.

Want to throw them a curve? Tell them cash and carry, transferred at your bank and all inspections and tests are done at a parking lot and refuse anything more than a contact number and place to meet.

Better safe than sorry.

[Ronbo]

Do not reply. S cam. Block his emails. He will want to pay with cashiers check or some other form. It will be counterfeit. If you do want to continue talking with him tell him to email you when he is in your town and has cash. Do not give him any bank information so he can deposit funds. Cash only

[Mike Simpson]

I see that while composing my comments, others have essentially already posted the very same thing. However, so as not to waste all that 2-fingered, slow typing of mine....

From the phrasing and apparent "dialect" you cite, this guy isn't anywhere NEAR Kentucky...nor anywhere ELSE in this country. I'd bet money you are in the early stages of a Nigerian SCAM. Run away as fast as possible...and DO NOT give them ANY personal information.

I also suggest you re-word you ad, stating that you will accept LOCAL PICKUP ONLY of the vehicle, and that all proceeds must be paid IN ADVANCE, by either CASH, or a bank wire transfer through the Federal Reserve System. Fake cashier's checks are a dime-a-dozen these days, so DON'T accept one.

These scammers (many from Western Africa) run search bots all day and night, looking for their prey. How people are not tipped off by the obvious language differences; the "flowerly-formalese" of their BS and what they spew, is beyond me!

I'm trying to sell our motorhome due to my husband's work schedule. I received an inquiry from a man in KY who it seems is representing his client. He asked about 10 general questions including "Have you ever sold a RV before and what is your experience?" Then today he asked about four more general questions which included "Where exactly is your RV located including prescriptions and directions from a major airport and What is your mailing address, not P.O Box"

He continued on saying that he would send a sale agreement with earnest after I answered the above questions. My concern comes in from a paragraph with instructions he left that opened up a red flag.


1.) He uses the phrase "My Client"
2.) I will send you earnest money and funds for inspections and delivery service fee and you will pay them."


Would you please review the below paragraph and give me your opinion, does it sound like a scam to you and what should I do?

As soon as I hear back from you, I will discuss the arrangement of the earnest payment, the inspection/delivery fees and also the final payment with my client. My client will be sending funds that are available as we speak in order for you to keep the unit for us, and more importantly so as not to spend it on unforeseen expenses that may show up. Hence, the earnest payment to be sent to you will also include the inspection and delivery service part fee which will be made available upon request by the agent to be employed for the services. I will be looking for a reputable transporter/shipping agent for the job and once if I find one, I will let you know.


Also, how does the inspections work? Do I set it up or does he? I'm worried that he will hire someone who shows up at my house, takes the keys and then leaves with the RV never to be seen again.

Can I limit who performs the inspections?


What do you all recommend?

Thank you,

Joanna Smith

Edited by Mike Simpson, 22 April 2012 - 07:05 PM.

[Dick&Joyce]

In trying to sell our stuff and go full time we have used Craigs list a lot. This is something that will happen with every major item you have on there. The stories are different (working on an oil rig, buying for my daughter etc.) but the deal is the same. So that you don't lose a real buyer just insist that you only deal in cash with the total paid before delivery. They won't waste any money.

[Vladimir]

In trying to sell our stuff and go full time we have used Craigs list a lot. This is something that will happen with every major item you have on there. The stories are different (working on an oil rig, buying for my daughter etc.) but the deal is the same. So that you don't lose a real buyer just insist that you only deal in cash with the total paid before delivery. They won't waste any money.

That's good advice.

It smells like a scam.

We have a vacation rental business and have been strung along by one scam. Their strategy is to get you to commit your time and energy making it less likely for you to stop the whole transaction.

We now upfront state credit cards only before we will hold a reservation. That gets rid of the scam artists rather quickly.

The problem is that by being nice you lose REAL buyers or in our case customers. So now...credit card and we will hold a reservation...no more nice guy unless you rented from us before and we know you!!!

We also started googling the names used and found out that in Britain they keep a roster of names used in scams for vacation rentals.

Don't waste your time and energy. How many people use someone to buy their RV??

[Croft]

He will "inadvertently" send you a cheque for a few thousand too much and ask that you return the over payment with your own good cash. After you do this you will find his cheque was no good and you will be out a bunch of money. Run!

[Earl]

Insist they come check it out in person and sale is cash. That will stop all scams.

[Earl]

Duplicate post

Edited by Earl, 23 April 2012 - 09:34 AM.

[Rif]

As everyone else has said, pure unadulterated scam. Unless you want to have some fun stringing him along and wasting his time, quit wasting your time and modify your ad as suggested.

[mdjmsmith]

Thank you all for your great advice! I appreciate it very much and feel much better in my decisions. Thank you again

[richfaa]

Don't know if it is a scam or not but it does not me fel good so I would let it pass.

[Stanley P. Miller]

Try a search here?

[Atchafalaya_man]

I'm selling some things right now on various services like Craigslist. The scams are usually the very first responses I get, and they arrive by email at 3 a.m.

When I get any response, and don't think it's a scam, my email response is: "Send me your telephone number. I will call you immediately."

If you DO get a phone number emailed to you, you can check it out at a website like "www.whitepages.com" by entering the number in a 'reverse search'.

Ignore any numbers that don't check out near you.

[Mr Nifty]

This does sound like a scam. I did sell a ford ranger on ebay. Had a guy fly out from NY to SD to drive it back.

[Chelsea Dagger]

Joanna, as a former Senior Investigator in a major UK bank, I'd endorse what others have already posted - it's a scam. From the style and language used, especially the misspellings, I'd guess it's of East African origin. They have no interest in your RV only your personal information particularly your bank account details. I'd suggest you don't make any further contact with them and block any email addresses they've used when they contacted you.