by Trvlrxxx
Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:40 am
I was browsing through Autotrader a few days ago and did a search for a 1957 Chevrolet. Among the many that popped up was a beautiful 57 Corvette with the list price of $12,900. Unbelievably low but I thought, what the heck? It could be a misprint. Maybe it was suppose to be $21,900, still a good deal. I called the listed phone (Dallas area code) and got no answer. I wrote to the email address. I received no reply to the phone messages I left or the several emails. I gave up. The listing was taken down the next day so I figured the car was sold right away.
Two days later I got an email from the "seller" saying that the car was still for sale. He said the reason it was so cheap is that it had belonged to his dad who had recently died, etc. I wrote back and told him that I was still interested (though at this point extremely cautious) and asked him how he would like to proceed. I told him that I would come to Dallas (I live nearby) and inspect the car and pick it up myself, rather than have him ship it even though he offered to ship at his expense.
He wrote back saying that he lived in Seattle and had the car up there in a shipping container. He gave instructions on sending money to Google Collect and that the car would be delivered and if I didn't like it I could send it back and be refunded.
I wrote back and asked him: if he is in Seattle, why was the car listed as being located in Dallas? Why is his email address [email protected] a UK address? I never heard from him again.
Interestingly, I had sent one other email to the seller of another car, a 1957 Chevy Belair located in Alabama.
I was not interested in buying this car. I merely pointed out to the seller that his listing showed the car to be a 1955 Chevy when it was clearly a 1957.
I received an email from the same address: [email protected] with the exact same, word-for-word language as was in the email regarding the Corvette. EXACTLY the same except for the vehicle and the price. What are the odds that, out of the thousands of listings on Autotrader, the only two to which I replied were part of the same Scam by the same guy?? I sent copies of the emails and the Listing numbers to the Fraud desk at Autotrader but I suspect I'll never hear anything from them.
Below are the two emails I received from [email protected] I'll not post the email regarding the Belair but remember, it was word for word the same as the one about the Corvette.
Be safe out there!
From: B B <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 4:47 PM
Subject: RE: Lead for 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
Hello,
I am glad that you are interested in my 1957 Chevrolet Corvette. You have to know that there is nothing wrong with it and that it's exactly as you see it in the pictures.The vehicle is registered on my name and the title is clear (no lien). This is not a kit car, it is fully restored and all parts are original.It wasn't involved in any accident and has never suffered any kind of damage. The price I am asking for it , as you saw on my listing, is only $12,900. The only reason that I am selling this car is because it belonged to my father, who unfortunately died , so I am selling it nonprofit in his memory. No one from my family will use it and I don't want to see it getting rusty in my backyard.
Please let me know where are you located so I can calculate the shipping fees that will be on my expense.
Thank you.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From: B B <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 5:34 PM
Subject: RE: Lead for 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
Hi ,
I am located in Seattle,Washington and I would like to know from the beginning if you are really interested in purchase, so I can stop negotiating with potential buyers.
I had two guys promise me to buy it: one didn't show up and the other called saying he lost the money, so I can't afford to take more days off my work for that, that is why I gave to a shipping company that will ship it to the next owner, it is sealed in container, so I'm trying to sell it on-line.
The transaction will be processed through Google Checkout as I paid them the fees and they provide the most reliable and secure services in which concerns the online sales.
You will pay Google Checkout the required amount, and they will secure it until you get the vehicle. You will be given a 7 days inspection period during which you can decide whether you keep it or not. If you are satisfied with it , you will confirm that to Google Checkout so that they can unblock the funds and send it to me.
Otherwise the transaction is canceled, you get the refund and I ship the vehicle back.
Here are the four steps that we have to follow:
1. You must send me your info: name,address,phone so we can get in touch.
2. You will get an invoice from Google Checkout and there you will be further instructed.
3. You pay Google Checkout the amount, and I contact the shipping company regarding the delivery arrangements so you get the vehicle in maximum 3-4 days.
4. You decide whether you keep the vehicle or not( hopefully you will be positive as you will love it) , if not you will receive a full refund from Google Checkout.
Therefore, if you are determined in buying the vehicle, please send me an email with your name, shipping address and phone number so I can register the transaction with Google Checkout.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.If you agree my terms of sale I will call you for more details.
Thank you,
Ben
Two days later I got an email from the "seller" saying that the car was still for sale. He said the reason it was so cheap is that it had belonged to his dad who had recently died, etc. I wrote back and told him that I was still interested (though at this point extremely cautious) and asked him how he would like to proceed. I told him that I would come to Dallas (I live nearby) and inspect the car and pick it up myself, rather than have him ship it even though he offered to ship at his expense.
He wrote back saying that he lived in Seattle and had the car up there in a shipping container. He gave instructions on sending money to Google Collect and that the car would be delivered and if I didn't like it I could send it back and be refunded.
I wrote back and asked him: if he is in Seattle, why was the car listed as being located in Dallas? Why is his email address [email protected] a UK address? I never heard from him again.
Interestingly, I had sent one other email to the seller of another car, a 1957 Chevy Belair located in Alabama.
I was not interested in buying this car. I merely pointed out to the seller that his listing showed the car to be a 1955 Chevy when it was clearly a 1957.
I received an email from the same address: [email protected] with the exact same, word-for-word language as was in the email regarding the Corvette. EXACTLY the same except for the vehicle and the price. What are the odds that, out of the thousands of listings on Autotrader, the only two to which I replied were part of the same Scam by the same guy?? I sent copies of the emails and the Listing numbers to the Fraud desk at Autotrader but I suspect I'll never hear anything from them.
Below are the two emails I received from [email protected] I'll not post the email regarding the Belair but remember, it was word for word the same as the one about the Corvette.
Be safe out there!
From: B B <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 4:47 PM
Subject: RE: Lead for 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
Hello,
I am glad that you are interested in my 1957 Chevrolet Corvette. You have to know that there is nothing wrong with it and that it's exactly as you see it in the pictures.The vehicle is registered on my name and the title is clear (no lien). This is not a kit car, it is fully restored and all parts are original.It wasn't involved in any accident and has never suffered any kind of damage. The price I am asking for it , as you saw on my listing, is only $12,900. The only reason that I am selling this car is because it belonged to my father, who unfortunately died , so I am selling it nonprofit in his memory. No one from my family will use it and I don't want to see it getting rusty in my backyard.
Please let me know where are you located so I can calculate the shipping fees that will be on my expense.
Thank you.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From: B B <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 5:34 PM
Subject: RE: Lead for 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
Hi ,
I am located in Seattle,Washington and I would like to know from the beginning if you are really interested in purchase, so I can stop negotiating with potential buyers.
I had two guys promise me to buy it: one didn't show up and the other called saying he lost the money, so I can't afford to take more days off my work for that, that is why I gave to a shipping company that will ship it to the next owner, it is sealed in container, so I'm trying to sell it on-line.
The transaction will be processed through Google Checkout as I paid them the fees and they provide the most reliable and secure services in which concerns the online sales.
You will pay Google Checkout the required amount, and they will secure it until you get the vehicle. You will be given a 7 days inspection period during which you can decide whether you keep it or not. If you are satisfied with it , you will confirm that to Google Checkout so that they can unblock the funds and send it to me.
Otherwise the transaction is canceled, you get the refund and I ship the vehicle back.
Here are the four steps that we have to follow:
1. You must send me your info: name,address,phone so we can get in touch.
2. You will get an invoice from Google Checkout and there you will be further instructed.
3. You pay Google Checkout the amount, and I contact the shipping company regarding the delivery arrangements so you get the vehicle in maximum 3-4 days.
4. You decide whether you keep the vehicle or not( hopefully you will be positive as you will love it) , if not you will receive a full refund from Google Checkout.
Therefore, if you are determined in buying the vehicle, please send me an email with your name, shipping address and phone number so I can register the transaction with Google Checkout.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.If you agree my terms of sale I will call you for more details.
Thank you,
Ben
same thing here, same story but a different car! My dad was real interested in a 1970 chevelle did a few research for him and it was the same story!! 
