SCAM ALERT / FRAUD ALERT Please read
 

Guys, I am sure this is not new, but I posted my bike for sale in this forum as well as others and of course first thing I get are e-mails from jerks trying to ripp you off with offers to buy your bike by doing a number of complicated maneuvers as they claim to be working for a client, etc. etc. I am sure many of you have experienced the same. Anyway, I have reported this to agencies in question but just in case I wanted to alert any of you trying to sell anything on line and don't get caught in an unfortunate scam. I need to make clear that this is not the fault of any of these sites (like this forum), where I have placed my ad. Unfortunately there are a number of wise guys checking them and looking for their next victim.

Best of luck and be safe.

I am pasting below the "great offer" from this jerk that claims to be called Felics from Canada

//////////////////////////////

HELLO PAUL,
IT IS QUITE INTERESTING THAT MY CLIENT HAS ACCEPTED MAKING PAYMENT
FOR THE BIKE AFTER CONSIDERING THE PRICE. HE WORKS WITH INTER TRUST
FINANCIAL IN CANADA BUT HE IS PRESENTLY ON A TWO WEEK VACATION IN
SAUDI ARABIA. AS HE EXPLAINED TODAY,HE HAS CASHIER'S CHECK OF USD$16,000
MADE OUT FOR THIS TRANSACTION, THIS IS AS A RESULT OF A LOAN GRANTED
TO HIM FOR THE PURCHASE OF A CAR BUT HE LATER RESORTED TO BUYING A
BIKE AND THAT IS WHAT LED TO THIS TRANSACTION. SO THE CASHIER'S CHECK IS IN
EXCESS OF USD$6,500 SINCE WE HAVE AGREED ON USD$9,500 FOR THE PRICE OF
THE BIKE. HE ADVICE ME TO DISCUSS WITH YOU SO THAT HE CAN MAIL THE CASHIER'S
CHECK TO YOU FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE BIKE BUT YOU HAVE TO REFUND THE
EXCESS TO THE AGENT THAT WILL COME FOR THE PICK-UP SO THAT HE CAN BE
ABLE TO OFFSET SHIPPING CHARGES. THEREFORE,I URGE YOU TO PROV IDE YOUR
COMPLETE MAILING INFORMATION WHICH ARE YOUR NAME, HOME ADDRESS AND
PHONE NUMBER SO THAT HE CAN MAIL THE CASHIER'S CHECK TO YOU VIA COURIER
SERVICE.
THANKS AS I WAIT TO RECIEVE YOUR CONSENT ON THIS TRANSACTION SOON.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS
FELICS........

Yeah, that scam has been around for a while. I got quite a few of them when I was selling my 99 328i last year on carsdirect.com

definitely a scam. anything with "my client" or "on vacation" or "saudi arabia" is pretty much a scam.

Scam
 

What's sad is that some people probably fall for that, otherwise they would not even try. You should see the response I sent him. :rofl:

Stay safe.

I got about 10 responses like this ...all while trying to sell my mountain bike for $400. I just copied everyone's email and forwarded their address to the approriate authorities. I guess this scam has now trickled down from cars to regular household items.
The other way to handle this is play along. Give them the address and phone number to your local police station. :wow:

SCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!
i think you should give him the local police department address in lieu of yours and hope they show up and bust their ass!

That's a great idea, I did not think of that one. Police number and address is the only thing they will get from me. Too bad for those of us who are using the web as a r legitimate way to do business. But I guess it must have been newspapers in the past.

Thanks

Isnt there a way to get "the agent" to come and somehow bust them them when they show up?

Man, these guys are getting pretty desperate. You guys have probably seen this, its pretty funny.

Funny link, work safe

I would tell him that I agree with his terms and ask him to meet me; I would ask a couple friends to hide near by; then when we meet I place a fake call to the supposed bank to verify the check, when they supposedly tell me it's fake I have a reason to kick his ass :chair: :hammer: I bet he'll learn his lesson...