Dockside Chat - Scammers..lol

So I've been half heartedly looking for an old 'vette as a toy. I was searching around last night and found a beautiful '65 Convertible..for $4800. I emailed to see if teh price was correct (I was thinking they left a zero off), and I get a reply back today from an MSN address:

Hello,

My 1965 Chevrolet Corvette conv. is in great shape ( 8 cyl, 4spds Manual). The car has no electrical or mechanical problems, damages or hidden defects. Hasn't been involved in any accident. My husband and I divorced last year, after the divorce I own this car, I don't need it and that's why I'm selling it so cheap. The car has a clear title. It has 69,700 miles. The total price is $4,800 including shipping and handling. The car is located in Wilmington, NC. I recently moved here with my job.

We will use eBay protection program for our safety and for payment I prefer to use a eBay's buyer protection plan. The financial part will be managed by them. Which means that you will have 5 days inspection period before committing to buy the vehicle, a refund policy is included. I just need your full name and address so I can open a case. You'll receive important guidelines and payment instructions from them. The deal will go strictly according to eBay rules and policy.


Thanks
Susan

Being the skeptical kind, I immediately smelled a rat. Let me start with I didn't see it on Ebay; I saw it on a Corvettes for sale type web site. I think it was listed as being in California.

So I thought I might have some fun with this, so I replied:

I'm not far from Wilmington; can i come take a look at it? I'm assuming you have a clear title?

So I get a reply back a few minutes later:

I have a clean title in my name. The car is already at the shipping company in Wilmington ready for the shipping. I have a contract with eBay so this deal must go through them. I'm very busy with my job and I'm out of the town so I can't meet in person with you so this is the reason why I chose to sell my car over the internet. The shipping cost is included in the price.

Here is how it will work:
1.First of all I will need the following details from you:
- Full Name
- Full Shipping Address
2. After I will receive the details from you, I will forward them to eBay.
3. After they will process your info, they will send you the invoice and the details on how to make the refundable payment.
4. eBay will contact me and I will ship the car to you. After you receive the car you will have 5 days to test, verify and do whatever you need to the car. If you will buy, then eBay will release the money to me.
5. If you will decide that not buy the car, eBay will refund you the money and I will have the shipping company come pick up my car. If you wish to make the transaction, please send me the necessary info so that we can proceed. I look forward to hear from you.

Thank you

So I continued:

When do you get back in town? I can't buy a car I can't see. I'll drive in to Wilmington and take a look at the car. If it is everything you say it is, I'll give you cash then in exchange for the title. I can work around your schedule. A friend told me about the car; I didn't see it on Ebay. Can you tell me the item number?

Surprisingly..I haven't gotten any answers yet. If the thing ends up being real (lol)..I'll post some pics of my $4800 near perfect '65 Corvette.

Don't hold your breath. I found the same unbelievable deal on a boat on Craigslist recently. Similar story but the owner was deployed in Afghanistan, the boat was in a secured warehouse, blah, blah, blah, shipping cost was included in the price.

Needless to say, after a few emails offering to bring cash to the warehouse, I never heard from her again.

Yeah..there hasn't been a $4800 1965 Corvette since, well...1965.

I just emailed her(?) again:

There really is no 'vette, is there?

It's cool, I understand everyone wants to make a buck.

Just man up and say it.

I'm going to spam a scammer.

She (or probably he) should be whipped with a bamboo stick for that...

Do they really think someone is stupid enough to do that?

I sometimes get bored and start to fill in the blanks for those "contests" with "no purchase required," you just need to take a survey to be enterred for a drawing. I enter a fake name and the address of the vacant lot down the street. Eventually I do get to a page where I have to 'select a sponsor' to continue and then I have to buy a magazine or something to go on so I click off at that point.

A few times I've gotten something in my box with a note from the carrier, "Does this person live here?" I mark it "no" and leave it in the box.

I've used names like "Name, Fake," "Bekidding, Ugotta," "Tstupid, Nottha." I think my current USPS carrier thinks it's me but she's not as dumb as the previous drivers who gave me anyone they could not find in 5 mile radius. lol.

The world is full of soles. If you can have a little fun at their expense, go for it.

She (or probably he) should be whipped with a bamboo stick for that...

Do they really think someone is stupid enough to do that?

Unfortunately is is a multi-billion $ problem :o :o :o

Well..no answers back so far.

Guess i'll send a few more emails today.

Post the email address so we can inundate this person with spam

Post the email address so we can inundate this person with spam

There was a while during the "clubby" days, when THT would get spammed by some wiseguy who would be dumb enough to leave his email in his profile. I'd sign him up (at the free level...) for various dating sites. I'd usually make them out to be gay. My nastiest was some mechanic on Long Island. Because he essentially left his business card, I had enough to to do an ID theft if I was into that. In the "bio" I filled in all the blanks.

These days I figure THT is a business and they have people to take care of this stuff.