How does this scam work?

20 years ago when I was a pup and wanted to believe, someone called my business wanting to sell me pens with my business name on them. He said I was a lucky winner and if I ordered $400 of these pens I was guaranteed one of three prizes- $10k cash, new car, or a brand new power sport motor boat with engine. I ended up winning the boat.

I figured I couldn't lose so I ordered them and waited for the freight truck to deliver my big boat on a trailer. UPS showed up a week later with box. It was an inflatable raft with a plastic motor that hooked up via a battery.

I haven't ordered anything by phone since then.

Like everyone else - it looks like a scam, here we are on the 21st century, would it not be easier, cleaner, safer with the transfer of funds via direct deposit?

These scammers would not want to do a direct deposit, and I'd have trouble giving anyone my bank account info for a transaction like this. This is a classic scam that has been going around for years. They want to overpay you, offer you extra money for your trouble and ask that you send them part of the overpayment. The bank drafts, or company cheques are counterfeit and the seller ends up out the money he forwarded.

Like someone said already, would you even think of purchasing a vehicle in that manner? The only way I'd use a company cheque was if my company's business was purchasing vehicles and then I'd sure not have any goofy rules about only one cheque and making it out for more than the purchase price, etc. If he has arranged the shipping, he can arrange separate payment for the shipping. Tell him he can pay the shipper himself when he picks the car up. Make sure the BIL keeps looking for a legitimate buyer.

From Craigslist: craigslist | about > scams

99 44/100% sure its someone from Nigeria. I've played with these yo-yo's before...had a great time stringing THEM along hehehehehehehe.

Website for getting back at these scumbags.

Welcome to the 419 Eater

Now the Trophy room is strictly NWS!!!!!! Pay attention!!! NWS in the trophy room. But very funny.

Yeah, this and similar scams were on a local news spot. The immediate problem with Cashier's Checks and such is that the Bank will accept them. They will give you the cash, and up to two weeks will pass while it goes through the system and is finally rejected by the Treasury Clearing House in Ohio or something. Then you are responsible to pay the Bank back all the funds and fees and hope you aren't arrested for your own attempted fraud against the Bank. The scam has been successful against several local car sellers.

Even if you don't understand how the scam might work, it is enough to just realize 'something isn't right', and stop it right there. If you still itch to hope it's legitimate, contact your local authorities, and they can help determine if it's for real or not. Don't get greedy.

David

What the heck does NWS mean?

I had the same offer on my Galaxie. I offered him to deliver the car for a very low price as I planned to have my vacation in his town ( in my case a Norwegian adress), he never came back to me. Idiots.

How does this scam work?

It's really really really simple.

You send him your money, thus you are scammed

That's the true answer to your question.

Wait a minute...

So that guy with the truck I just signed over my Galaxie and handed $1000 for shipping... is a con artist?

No, not for real. I have had that exact same email though.

Cash talks.

I've had a couple of less then ideal dealing with 'flippers' that felt like they could be scams. So I won't deal with people unless they actually want the car, not the turnover. "How much you want for your car" doesn't hold much water unless you know what I'm driving either. It just feels like a scam.

Originally Posted by winged one

Welcome to the 419 Eater

interesting site.
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