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Strange Ebayer Help

LunysgwenLunysgwen Registered User regular
edited May 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
I recently sold my vehicle on Ebay, and it sold to a guy overseas, it took him a few days to get back to me about paying for said vehicle and picking it up. Now, I know we have people that come from all walks of life, and I like to give people the benefit of a doubt. This guy JUST made an account on Ebay, and simply bought out the vehicle completely with the buy it now option. This is what he sent to me after I wrote him.


"The Cashier Check am going to issue you will be for the payment of the item and the shipping fees.I have a shipping company that Ship my entire items and i have already schedule a pick up with them.The Cashier Check am going to issue you will be enough to Handle all the transaction. Am very much interested in purchasing your item and Dosnt want any other party to buy it.Hope all is well understood? I have some questions I would like to ask you.The check will be in USD and from a US bank.

1. Can I trust YOU with the money?

2. Will you be able to wire the excess funds via western union money transfer to the shipping company in United Kingdom as soon as you receive the check?

3. Will you be available for the pick up when the shipper comes for it?

With your reply to these questions please include your full name,address and telephone number so i can issue and send you the Cashier Check immediately.

Regards."

Does this sound like some kind of scam? I'm not understanding why I have to pay for the shipping company with his money that he's sending me. This is what credit cards are for. He also sent it exactly like this, in bold and italics. I do appreciate any Advice/Help.

Lunysgwen on

Posts

  • Werewolf GamerWerewolf Gamer Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    That sounds like a scam. I have seen a lot of people with similar emails that got scammed. Anytime they are asking you to send the remainder money sounds weird.

    Werewolf Gamer on
  • bowenbowen Sup? Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Sounds like the typical craiglist / 419 scammer email. Don't do it, seems like they've branched into ebay.

    bowen on
    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • LunysgwenLunysgwen Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    The more I think about it, the more I imagine this is some kind of scam, and not a very well thought out one at that. The fees for transporting a cheap, not running vehicle, is just borderline ridiculous, and it's not like this is a super rare collectors car.

    Lunysgwen on
  • DocDoc Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited May 2008
    100% a scam. It's a fake check that he will write for several hundred thousand over the purchase price. Then he wants you to wire the excess cash back to him along with shipping the vehicle (or not).

    Doc on
  • TL DRTL DR Not at all confident in his reflexive opinions of thingsRegistered User regular
    edited May 2008
    This is obviously a scam.

    TL DR on
  • DocDoc Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited May 2008
    Make sure to report him to eBay so you can get credited and relisted.

    Doc on
  • RetotheMixRetotheMix Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    the check will bounce, he will take the "excess" money you send him, COMPLETE scam.

    RetotheMix on
  • NeadenNeaden Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Never, Ever, Ever take a cashiers check for anything pretty much.

    Neaden on
  • LunysgwenLunysgwen Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    I've reported him to E-bay, and asked for the fees to be refunded. I can no longer list the vehicle, unfortunately. I leave for the Navy in six days, and no longer have the time to arrange for it to be picked up, I do appreciate you guys responding so quickly and helping me out.

    Lunysgwen on
  • DjeetDjeet Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Neaden wrote: »
    Never, Ever, Ever take a cashiers check for anything pretty much.

    Cashier's checks are not inherently bad, though there has been a rise in fraudulent overeas purchases of big ticket items on Ebay. See: http://consumerist.com/5007790/its-now-completely-impossible-to-sell-a-laptop-on-ebay

    If I were selling a car locally, once the transaction price was agreed upon I'd much rather meet at one of our banks and get a cashiers check then accept a personal check.

    Djeet on
  • ImpersonatorImpersonator Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Yeah, definitely a 419 scam, good luck with that :wink:

    Impersonator on
  • mooshoeporkmooshoepork Registered User regular
    edited May 2008
    Yeah, scam. As soon as I read the first sentence it set off red flags.

    mooshoepork on
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