MazdaMike02

iTrader: (4)

I posted my MX6 on auto trader and I got a response some guy wants to buy me car and he hasn't even seen it and wants to send me a money order. Does anybody else but me think this is weird?

Spank20

ive seen this many times when selling things online, it happens far to often, be careful, depends, it could be a scam or legit

rotarygreg

ive heard of this happening more and more lately. if you were to go along with it, you'll likely receive a money order for thousands more than the agreed upon price. i forget how the scam acutally works...something like they ask for the differnce back. people trust that a money order is guaranteed money. the money order turns out to be fake. someone who would buy a used car sight unseen is either a complete idiot or some sort of scammer. i wouldnt want to deal with either. good luck.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

If the guy is Too lazy to get up off the couch and go SEE the cae,..SCAM!
you can just imagine how he would take care of the car..
tell him to Bring Money..or Shuudap!
I had a car up On KIJIJI..I was gettiing offers of "half" of my asking price.they wanted me to Drive the car to them,So they could look at the car..I Politely said "NO"..
I sold the car at My discretion,to someone who actually Wanted the car,and would take care of it.
Good Luck Mike..DAVE.

rd_turbo

iTrader: (4)

It's not that unusual for someone to buy a car unseen, especially nowadays with the internet being so much a part of our lives - I've done it three times in the past. That's normally the case with someone having found exactly what they were looking for. It depends on the circumstances surrounding the transaction. Normally, a person will do everything in their power to secure the item with a non-refundable electronic payment as deposit. Then they will follow it up with a final payment, either in person or by some sort of bank draft/money order.

What you're describing sounds a bit weird. My brother and a friend went through similar weird transactions - my brother almost got taken, yet my friend's car sale on Ebay went well, despite the money order that was sent and the weirdness surrounding the whole transaction.

Use your gut but also put yourself in the buyer's shoes to see if the person is taking normal, logical steps toward purchasing a vehicle or if he seems like he's trying to pull a fast one.

84stock

iTrader: (5)

I would say fine if I was selling something really rare that they didn't want to miss out on. Lots of money order fraud, ask you bank about it, if you accept then wait until it clears. If I wanted something that bad, I would arrange a funds transfer, but only after having someone look at the vehicle for me. It wouldn't be hard to find a veteran forum member act as a mediator on a purchase.

Nick86

iTrader: (1)

It's a scam.

They will either send you a fraudulent money order, cashier's check or arrange for an electronic transfer that never actually happens. They usually give you more money than you ask for to include shipping. You get the notification that the money is in holding with a "secure third party electronic transfer company" sign all the papers, send your car away and think it's all good. Then it turns out the cheque / money order / electronic transfer is no good, and you're left with no car and no money.

It is an old scam that has stayed around because it works - both as a buyer or seller.

Here are a few more scams:
http://www.insidercarsecrets.com/car-scams.html

Terrh

iTrader: (7)

giant scam.

thewird

iTrader: (8)

Take the money order, wait for it to clear. Those are your terms.

thewird

Nick86

iTrader: (1)

It will clear, but 3 weeks later the bank will come knocking with the police to tell you the order was bad.... and then you have to pay the bank back.

thewird

iTrader: (8)

That would be pretty stupid as a money order is supposed to be treated as cash.

thewird

Ka Kui

iTrader: (36)

Yeah, isn't a money order or a certified cheque is equivalent to cash?? omg........

Nick86

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, but a fake money order is only worth the paper it's printed on. It's basically the same as if the guy paid with counterfeit bills.

519 FD

dude, i'll give you some good advise.
i had a similar situation happen to me with autotrader.
i had my motorcycle for sale, some guy wanted to buy it and said he'd send me a cheque.
so i got the check and was supposed to ship the motorcycle to him.
I deposited the cheque and everything seemed like it was going good.
so i kept the motorcycle in my posession anyway.(just in case)
about a week later the cheque bounced, so it was obviously a scam.
luckily for me i still had my bike!
If i were you get the money order, deposite it, make sure everything goes through then give him the car.

hope that helps man

illusion38

iTrader: (1)

Okay here we go, I have had several of these emails requesting money orders. Too many to count, so I began to have fun with them :-).

What email service are you using?
Does he say where is location is?
Does he need the car shipped?


From reading above I am 99.5% sure this is a scam, but a couple ways to clear things up.

1) from another email address email him saying "hey, sorry for the long reply are you still interested in my 2006 Honda Civic, I can arrange for shipping and accept the money order we discussed earlier for $6500 let me know". They will reply with interest usually.

2) Ask his location, city, province or state or whatever. Next step tell him to go to www.ipchicken.com and copy and past the large number in the middle of the screen. Once you have his IP, simply google for an IP tracer and check the information. My bet is the guys from Nigeria :-).

3)Ask him basic questions a typical Canadian would know. What mountain range is in British Columbia? What alcohol percentage is our beer? Just basic every day facts preferably ones with a scatter google search answer.

4)DO NOT call this number he has provided if he does! Don't do it, maybe it is because I have messed with them, but you get some strange calls!

5) Use your judgment is the biggest thing here. IF you need anyhelp don't hesitate to PM me, I can help you figure out if he is legit or not.


**The ways I recommend are IPchicken.com (make up some story) "before I do any online sales, I have the user clarify they are real by copy and pasting the number displayed" I also highly recommend the secondary email, see if he is interested in some random car, be sure to mention shipping, money order and that you are ready. Goodluck! let us know how it goes :-)


*****Money orders used to be safe, however they are the most commonly used scamming method, if someone is capable of a money order, they are capable of an electronic wire transfer, say you are willing to pay the small fee. Do not accept money orders unless you know or have met the person in real life and are 150% positive he is legit. I am quite confident this is a scam, however use a couple methods above to double check.

Ka Kui

iTrader: (36)

Yeah, i think it's a scam too, if a person liked your car, should come check it out in person, rather than just sending you a money order right away...... find a true buyer... just be patient, i guess!!

HalifaxFD

iTrader: (18)

September of 04 I flew down to Boston and bought my FD off of a guy. I brought a money order and some cash with no problems. I have no regrets, as long as it clears I would think it would be fine.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

That is the PROBLEM(sorry for caps).the Money orders are so 'real looking" that they pass,then you are screwed.you are out a car,.and cash,TWICE!
What ever happened to looking at a car?.meeting who is going to buy it>?..getting CASH?..
Personally If I don't like the way the person "feels" when I sell a car,I don't SELL it to them.
I've driven over Hell's half acre to buy Parts,and I pay with Cash...Amazing what cash will do when it is shown!.Good luck again Mike..lots of Buyers out there.If the deal doesn't feel right,walk away.

thewird

iTrader: (8)

I still don't see whats wrong with waiting until the money order clears. Once the bank says it clears, they can't take it back.

thewird

Nick86

iTrader: (1)

Yes they can. If the money order or cheque is fake, then you are screwed. It gets accepted right away because it seems legit, but later on when it becomes apparent there was no money in the first place then you are on the hook - and that can be a few weeks later.

If the money order or cheque was a fake, then time means nothing really. Once they discover the fraud, then you owe them the money.

Now, if the check gets accepted and you get confirmation a few weeks later that the bank has received the money - then you can feel safe that it is a legit transaction.

thewird

iTrader: (8)

When, I mean it clears. I mean the bank actually checks with the other bank if its real. Its a very simple thing to do.

thewird

gkarmadi

iTrader: (20)

Take the money order, deposit it, wait for 3 weeks (to make sure there isn't a problem) and don't forgot to make a copy incase u gotta give one to the cops.

rx7racerca

iTrader: (1)

You should be able to have the bank verify if the money order is real in a day or two; the onus is on you to not release the car until such time as the money order is cleared by your bank - specifically ask them to do this. Certainly, if the supposed buyer gives you a money order for more than the agreed selling price, it is a scam - they typically want you to Western Union the difference back to some third party, usually in a remote city, with some flimsy back-story as to why that person has to be paid (probably "paid for the shipping", and it is probably picked up by someone with fake ID). If in doubt, ask your buyer to pay via Western Union; Western Union only takes cash, and once paid, the money belongs to the recipient.

MazdaMike02

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for all your help guys, I knew posting on here was a good idea. Well he did email me back and I already said why would you pay with a money order and to get someone to come see it. If I don't feel comfortable or this guy doesn't agree to my terms I wont sell it. I'll just keep it

mx_man

i bought a guys rx7 on his word and a good good friend checking it out...