Does this sound TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE...?

[William_LXIX]

POTENTIAL SCAM (!) (?)

I have seen this on Yahoo Autos: YAHOO AUTO

After exchanging a couple emails I got this:

Hi William,
The total price for this car is 6000$ including all the taxes
(shipping,register,all). Also i will use for this transaction only a
third
party: The third party will be SquareTrade. I am affiliated there with
a
protection account of 20000$. Square Trade is the best way for a
transaction
such as this one. Let me tell you how we will make this deal:
1.You will have to give me your full name and shipping address.
2.You will be contacted by SquareTrade with all the details about this
transaction.
3.You will make a deposit of 1000$
4. I will start the shipping proces
5.In 4 - 6 days the car and all the documents that you need to pass it
on to
your name will arrive to the adrese that you provided to SquareTrade.
6.You will have 10 days to inspect and test drive the car.
7. If: -you want to buy the car, you will send the rest of the money
and the
car will be yours.
-don't want to buy the car you will send the car and all the documents
back
and SquareTrade will refund you the downpayment. You will suport the
shipping back fees ($200).
The deposit will be kept by SquareTrade until you will receve and
inspect
the car and in case you will not receive the car Square Trade will
refund
you 100%. We are both protected against fraud. I will arrive along with
the
car so we can close the deal much easier(I hope you have a guest room,
just
kiding) .The transaction is simple so everything should go as planed. I
have
to tell you i will sell the car to the first one who start this deal by
sending the deposit.
Thank you. I hope to hear from you soon.

BUT the photos and VIN match this VehiCross more realistically priced on Ebay: Ebay Motors

I appreciate your time!

William

[transio]

Some simple rules to follow when buying vehicles online:

1. Any offer that tells you they want to use a payment service you haven't heard of because it's the best is a fraud.

2. Any offer that requires full payment by wire up front is a fraud.

3. Any offer that sounds too good to be true (price, terms, or whatever) is a fraud.

4. If VIN research shows something funny, it's a fraud

In this case, you're getting a fabulous price, an unknown payment provider and fabulous terms (test drive for 10 days at YOUR house with only 1000 down).

If you even have to ask, I don't know what to tell you, except that I have a fabulous car that I'll sell you if you wire me $2000 today! And if you're not 100% satisfied, I'll refund your deposit 100%!!!

[transio]

If you have any doubts about the transaction, tell the guy that you want to fly up to NY on Tuesday with a traveller's check to pick up the vehicle yourself. No real seller would refuse that.

[Hotsauce]

Perhaps some of us local NY VXers would be willing to meet up with this person.



This type of tree does NOT exist in NY BTW.

John C.

[Ldub]

I agree w/ John, BUT, I think if we give global warming a chance...maybe someday, there'll be palms in NY.
Ldub

[dutchie]

Ah well check out the unique options:
flog lights( the japanese version of the austin healey`s frog lights?)
heated seats(this option was only available for the Alaska VX) power seats(it takes lots of power and flexibility to adjust these seats)
rear window wiper(the famous rear wiper every VX has to wipe the BS away)
side airbags(Aaah that explains the window problems)

I would definitely write him and ask if the floglights are the grown up ones or the tadpole ones of the 1998 model.
Further I'd ask him if the seats also have the cooling option they provided on the Texas version. Do powerseats do yoga?