WARNING!! Potential Scam Alert!

Brent Mills · #1 (**permalink**) 04-30-2003, 09:27 PM

I recieved mail from an individual today requesting information about a cobra for sale (I posted the ad for someone else, so this person mailed me by mistake). The letter:

Quote:

i saw your advert via the internet and i am
interested in the purchase of your cobra. i am a
business man in West-Africa who is into importation, i
have a local shipper that takes care of my shipping so
shipping is no problem, as soon as the transaction is
completed my shipper will come to pick it up.my only
request is if you will accept a cashier check drawn in
American bank, so if this is ok by you, kindly let me
know your last price offer via email and forward me
your phone number.

expecting your urgent response

Now, I have heard of some pretty crazy scams over the last year involving overseas dealings with cars, so I urge you to be very careful! I would not hesitate to contact the FBI before parting with your Cobra, or money to purchase from a private person overseas.

This *might* be a legit deal, I just urge you all to take extreme cautions with such matters....There are lots of creeps out there who are not willing to work for their toys like you and me.

Mark Atkins · #2 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 12:10 AM

Hey, Brent
I just received my second E-mail that basically said the same thing. I've been trying to sale a model T on two different web sites, MTFCA, MTFCI. Of cource to make room for a cobra.
Mark..

427Aggie · #3 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 07:52 AM

Its a scam...they have a post about it on CobraCountry as well Brent.

Matt

Brent Mills · #4 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 09:29 AM

Thanks Matt, that confirms my fears. Figured there were probably others who got the same message and just wanted to let people know.

Tom Wells · #5 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 09:55 AM

While we're at it, here's one who got me for $200:

FPX, it's a ford, Chet, Jake, Soddy Daisy TN.

Sent him a USPS MO for $200, he cashed it and I got nothing.

Clues: no e-mail, no web site, only a phone number where you can only leave a message. He calls you back. At least until you send him money.

I have a formal USPS mail fraud complaint filed against him, and also one with the Chattanooga Sheriff's Dept along with at least one other screwee

If you need specific names, phone numbers for the Sheriff's Dept or the USPS I can supply them.

Unless you are local and can apply .45 caliber motivation, I'd avoid this idiot like SARS.

He scams FE, small-block and 385 series parts, and seems quite knowledgeable over the phone...

BEWARE

Tom

Zig · #6 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 10:25 AM

"West Africa" is most certainly Nigeria, a country that is famous for it's scams (it's also the most dangerous. If you (a company) have to send people there to work, the insurance is the highest in the world). Stay away from any busines proposal that comes from there.

A couple of years ago we (companies in Belgium) were flooded with proposals from Nigerian officials. It were all scams. It's seems like they have crossed the Atlantic now.

Like always

"If it seems too good to be true, it probably is."

misfit41 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-02-2003, 09:36 PM

no need for alarm Brent,,shoot the guy a price,,it's business,,take the check,,have your bank alert you when it clears the fed reserve bank,,then release the car,,Tk

Chad Johnson · #8 (**permalink**) 05-03-2003, 05:05 AM

A good way to avoid questions regarding whether funds are good is to insist that the money be wire transfered to your bank account. The sending bank will verify that the funds are good.

Tony Radford · #9 (**permalink**) 05-03-2003, 05:06 AM

Micro-chance it's legit. There's a thread on this site that talks in detail about African scams. And by the way, there's little you can do with a muscle car in West Africa. It would only last about a week. When it comes to separating you from your money, they are masters.

clay fugate · #10 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 11:14 AM

this is absolutely a scam! i receved several emails from the west africa morons concerning a vintage trials bike i have for sale. the guy send me a check for $9,000.00 and expected me to cash it and wire him the cash, minus the $3,000.00 for the bike and he would have his "shipping contact" pick the bike up.
the counterfeit cashiers check was drawn from the 1st national bank of polk county florida. it took 5 mins on the phone to call the bank and verify the check was a counterfeit. they told me to contact the U.S. secret service dept and i did. they ask me to deliver the check to them which i did. they informed me that these individuals are targeting lots of different web pages. and that if i was to cash the check, i would be responsible for the cash once it didnt clear and also be charged with fraud! mean while by bike would have been picked up by the time the check was verified as a counterfeit.
since the check has arrived i have been receiving threatening emails stating that if i know whats good for me, i need to send him his cash and that he is on his way to pick up the bike.
bad part is, he does have my address. I didn't bother to tell him that i shoot first and ask questions last.
could get interesting!!

seller beware,

clay

Roscoe · #11 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 11:52 AM

Check out my Nigerian Scam page on my web site:

http://www.priveye.com

Roscoe

Tony Radford · #12 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 11:57 AM

Clay, I love it. Sounds like you actually pissed one of these losers off. I've sent all kinds of derrogatory letters back with idle threats like sending some from our Lagos sales office to hunt them down with a baseball bat. Since they send out many thousands of these letters, I can only imagine what some of the replies sound like. We need to figure out how to double cross some of these guys.

casaleenie · #13 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 01:09 PM

Chad,,
Part of the problem was giving out bank numbers to have the money transfered to...
Why even take a chance... West Africa is the source of many scams... they don't need Cobras and model T's over there...

Super-Snake · #14 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 05:48 PM

email i received on 4/25/03

email address received from:

netmerchant1996@yahoo.it

NEWWORLD PROCUREMENT SERVICES.
17W2 WEST THOMAS STREET,
SOWATO.SOUTHAFRICA.
FAX:011-874-7622-77567

04/25/2003.

Dear Dan,

OFFER FOR YOUR 1998 MONACO Signature Series CLASS A

Good day to you, we have a procurement Company located in EUROPE and Africa,with affiliates outlets in Belguim,England,Italy,Germany,Sweden and South Africa. We are into shipping, clearing and forwarding of Automobiles like cars, bikes,trucks, vans trailers, buses and earth moving equipments.We also purchase MotorHomes, RVs and Campers for our customers worldwide.
Our proposal to you today, is that we have a customer who is interested in purchasing 1998 MONACO Signature Series CLASS A for full asking price and after purchase and all payment arrangements concluded,
our customer will have his agent come to pick up the S Series and the title which would be shipped to him by his prepaid shipper.
So do acknowledge this offer and we will forward your contact to our customer and send you payment modalities according to instruction
from our customer.
Do note that we are contracted by our client, who in turn will pay us our finders fee and you do not have any obligation of payment to us only on the grounds of self-will because (compensation for satisfaction) for the quality service rendered to you and the
expertise in the transaction.
You could reach me always on the above fax number and email us your number and will reach you.
Thanks and GOD bless you.
Yours Faithfully,
Tom

Super-Snake · #15 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 05:50 PM

i never heard of the scam before so i sent an email back asking what the next step would be. he replied the next day

Hello Dan,

Like i said before i will communicate with my customer and get back to you.

Tom.

fortunately for me he never contacted me again

Super-Snake · #16 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 05:51 PM

obviously i was very skeptical the whole time. thank you guys for the heads up.

steve meltzer · #17 (**permalink**) 06-01-2003, 11:58 AM

Some years ago, I had a '96 'Vette for sale. Long story made short, I was given a counterfeit but correct-appearing cashier's check, drawn on the Bank of America. I received the check on a Saturday, and therefore couldn't do much 'till I found out on Tues, but then it was too late. I was lucky that USAA covered the loss as a "theft", but be aware that such counterfeit instruments do exist. Get the check number, in advance of releasing the car and title, and have it verified by the issuing bank. I was lucky that the buyer didn't physically injure my family or me (he was at my house) and that financially I came out intact. steve meltzer, "I may be wrong, but I'm never in doubt"

SpeedFreak · #18 (**permalink**) 06-05-2003, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Super-Snake

Thanks and GOD bless you.
Yours Faithfully,
Tom
[/b]

God bless you

Hummm,

There IS a Person who knows who these people are...

...and they are using His name to help further a crime...

There is a saying: "...you reap what you sow..."

I believe these criminals are in for an extra special "helping" of "attention" for envoking "His" Name!

...just my 2cents...
SF

4RE KLR · #19 (**permalink**) 06-22-2003, 07:31 AM

You said it all, right there.

These morons will get thiers in due time...... Some sooner than others.

Can you imagine the conversation.

By then it is way to late to repent!

Monster · #20 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 10:08 PM

I played along with this guy here's his response, yes can you spell S_C_A_M:

Michael,
Thanks a lot for your mail.
I am based in Lagos,Nigeria,West Africa.
I am willing to buy your Toploader
Aspa shipping i have made arrangements with a shipping company that pacific ocean airliners,they will be on ground to do the pick up at any location of your choice but i will have to inform you before the pick upwill be done.
As regards payment,this is what i am going to do;I have a client in the US who is owing me $4,800 i would instruct him to make out a Money Order to you in that amount and as soon as it clears your bank you can now deduct your money from it and send my balance by money gram international tranfer.
Although the value of the Money Order is more than the price of the your Toploader i think i should be able to trust you with my balance. The reason why i am doing this is that it would take a Money Order sent from over here in africa 30days to clear over there,whereas a Money Order sent from within the US would clear tops within 48hrs.I will also be using part of the balance to pay for the shipping company that will be on ground to do the pick up.
So i would like you to deduct the money gram charges from my balance.So if my terms are acceptable to you,
Pls get back to me as soon as you get this mail so that i can know my stand.
Regards

Be careful, there are more snakes around besides cobra's

Mike "monster"