possible scam? car buyers beware!
 

I know it's not strictly related to the 370z, but I'm sure there are similar scams with 370z buyers too so I feel it's relevant to keep my post in this section of the forum. Anyway, lets cut to the chase.

As you all know, my Z was destroyed a couple of months ago in an accident. So I am now car shopping and found this ad for an s2000 on autotrader: 2008 Honda S2000 ? TORONTO ? For Sale ? 6970851

Pretty good deal. In fact, too good. $14500 for a 2008 s2000?!?!?!?!?! Location is listed as Toronto. No phone # so the only way to contact the guy is via email. So I email him asking if the car is available. I get this response:

So I email him back asking when is a good time to see the car, and I get this response:

Funny how he conveniently forgot to mention that the car is in Quebec until his 2nd email even though the ad lists Toronto as the location. Also funny how he asks for zip code and state since here we have postal codes and provinces. I also checked the ebay website and they clearly state their purchase protection program applies ONLY to cars sold through their own website and not to any other transaction.

Am I being a bit too paranoid or does this look like a scam?

definitly a scam!

Seen these way to many times. 100% a scam brother!

You wrecked your car?

Total scam!

By now I would hope most people would be able to identify this as a scam immediately. It's either one of those the car is in Nigeria with my princess scams or the car has some undisclosed damage scams. Either way if it looks too good it always is. Also unfortunate is that there are still people that fall for it... :smh:

well technically, it's a car is in quebec with the shipping company scam :roflpuke2:

here is what i replied to him with:

Why even bother responding to a scammer?

Trollolololol?

Not too dissimilar from a money order scam you'd see on craigslist. Money makes people sad and desperate.

If do, do right:

419 Eater - The largest scambaiting community on the planet!

Ya there are a lot of scams like these on craigslist. A few years ago when I was getting my maximal, I believe I ran into the same exact story from a guy selling an audi a4, anyways my point is that unless the seller is willing to go through the regular process then don't even bother with him

I just received his reply: :bowrofl::roflpuke2::icon18:

:rofl2:

Now's the time to tell him you're a Nigerian Prince and need this S2000 to mask the transfer of $25 million US dollars out of your country.

Also, tell him you need to flog a couple of kilos of heroin.

Tell him to steer his cruise ship into the Bermuda Triangle.

Done

:bowrofl:

I would like to let you know that for the safety of this transaction I want to use the protection and help of eBay Purchase Protection service. If you are not familiar with this service I've described you the major steps of our potential deal according to eBay:


1. Buyer, seller reach an agreement
2. Buyer sends money to eBay to be held .
3. eBay confirms to seller that the buyer has proceed with payment.
4. Seller performs the required services (shipping, insurance).
5. Buyer accepts delivery and has 15 days to test and inspect the vehicle.
6. After 15 days, if buyer agrees with the condition and functional status of the vehicle, and decides to buy, he informs eBay about the acceptance.
6* If for any reason buyer disagrees with the vehicle's condition, the car will be shipped back and buyer will receive the whole amount of money back.
7. eBay releases the money to seller.

As you can see, you will receive the car BEFORE I receive any money from eBay.
You will get the chance to inspect it, test drive it and everything you like while your money is still held by eBay. If you agree with this procedure I will need your: first name, last name, street, city, zip code, state, country, shipping, e-mail address and phone number. I'm requesting all this, so I can be able to open a transaction record at eBay Safe Harbor.

This an old type of scam. You would have been taken to the cleaners. I have seen another one that was really well done. The scammers go to a car forum and post a bogus link to a fake Ebay auction page set up that looks like an Ebay live auction timeer, visit counter etc. They assign a 7-10 digit auction number like a normal Ebay auction. State they are out of the country or leaving soon to go overseas and needs to sell the car ASAP. They set up a rediculous low Buy Now Offer.

The buyer them selects buy now and money is to be held by Ebay safe harbor etc. until buyer takes posession of the car. The buy now payment is made and scammers are long gone.

Later the unknowing buyer figured it out by not using the bogus provided link from the scammers. The unknowing buyer later tried to follow up by going to Ebay and searching the assigned auction listing number. Auction number assigned comes back as invalid or returned search 0. They contact Ebay customer service to find out the auction reference number was invalid. Buyer out of money etc. end of story.

i got almost the exact same email when i asked someone about a cobra last year, except they were in the army...