Buyer wants to use paypal...

[live4theking]

Guys,
I'm in a bit of a pickle. I've listed the 67 Imperial, I think 3 times on the Pittsburgh CL. I've got a guy that has replied to the ad all three times wanting to buy it, but he's a marine engineer and is at sea. He provides me with his email which is consistently the same and the story is the same every time. He'll pay for it and then send a shipper to get the car.

I'm a bit leery. I've considered opening a second paypal account. What would you do?

1967 Imperial

Thanks
John

 

[300rag]

I would be a bit more than a bit leery. "I haven't seen your car, but I will pay your price and have someone else pick it up ". Tell him to forward his money to the person picking it up, and have them bring cash on pickup at the local sheriff's detachment.

 

[cantflip]

I have seen your add and thought it was a fair price, but not a car I needed. I didn't think it was a "sight unseen" price. I wouldn't do a single thing without working with my bank. I am good with anything that assures funds are in and cant be pulled. Not sure I would want pickup at my home either, but with a commercial carrier that isn't an issue.

 

[commando1]

What would you do?

Block him.

 

[azblackhemi]

It is a SCAM!!!! Ignore him or you will lose it all!

 

[amazinblue82]

we all see the pickle. i don't do craiglist at all. full of scammers and others who do NOT have to "verify" who they are, and a host of other bad things not worth the risk to me.

anyway, these facts don't automatically mean "scammer" but likelihood is very high. minmally the "buyer" is phishing for some personal info. at worst, it could be any other unpalatable outcome we could imagine.

with ALL reasonable precautions taken upfront, i'm more where 300rag and cantflip are on it, except the one picking it up MAY be a transport company so they wouldn't take a buyer's money for a COD pickup where transporter is payment agent on behalf of buyer.

but assuming its a person picking it up, then a meeting at police station (some stations may have an officer standing out there with you, or at least somebody peeking out the window watching the deal if you let them know its going down in their lot), in daylight, with real ben franklins in hand, is probably a good plan of all the options with THIS kinda deal.

good luck. be careful!

 

[azblackhemi]

If you are even considering falling for this scam read this first.
Craigslist scam?? - PayPal Community

 

[Pete Kaczmarski]

Take a deposit thru Pay Pal then require a electronic money transfer to your account or CASH at your financial institution. Got his names etc? run him thru Google etc.

 

[amazinblue82]

If you are even considering falling for this scam read this first.
Craigslist scam?? - PayPal Community

looks like azblackhemi's sleuthing has taken the mystery of what this deal is..this "marine engineer" scam is making the rounds.

"Good to have your reply. I am -------- from Vancouver, WA. and
would have loved to come and inspect it at your place myself, but I am
a marine engineer and presently off-shore. I am buying this for my son
in Washington as a surprise gift and pls just make sure it is in
condition described. I will appreciate more pictures if available and
will be sending your money asap. My shipper will be available to pick
this up as soon as payment is made. Do you have paypal account?
because, I have a paypal account that I can easily send money through
because, its good for business payments. Get back to me with your
paypal email address and name in order for me to have your money sent
on time. Confirm sale to me and remove the add from posting.
regards"​

 

[tallhair]

I sell quite a bit of stuff on CL and get quite a few of these " I'm saw the pictures and your whatever in the ad so I"m good with your price and want to give you money as soon as possible and my shipper will pick it up for me " emails.

They are always busy so can't talk to me and they are always in a hurry. Usually includes familiarity too ... i.e. sorry I didn't get back to you sooner and can't talk now but I've been helping with the church etc I have a 15 min window in my schedule on the 3rd tues of the month between 1:27 PM and 1:42 unless the church calls so just let me know your account and address for my shipper and I'll send the money .. even though I've never communicated with them before the email that says this.

 

[cantflip]

If you are even considering falling for this scam read this first.
Craigslist scam?? - PayPal Community

Thanks. That's an eye opener, I am distrustful of any deal that doesn't involve some familiarity between parties. I lost track of a paypal account I had many years ago, before it was easier to just use a CC on EB. I never sold and simply used it as a go between so I could use a CC. I seldom use anything else as payment and have had a good history of luck so far...

I bought my bus and the Twins using cashier's checks from my bank, both to be able to track the sale if necessary and to assure the seller I was serious. I could not have asked for better luck in both transactions. Mr. C was a pleasure to work with and so was the seller of the bus... but, I admit to being a nervous wreck the whole time both transactions were going on.

Whatever you do, minimize your risk. If you do a bank transaction, speak to the bank as to how you can best secure the transaction (separate account perhaps) and don't be shy about the details... there are lots of electronic transactions that allow funds to go both ways without many folks realizing. I worked for a small dealer who's direct deposit allowed them to remove funds as well as add... That shocked a couple disgruntled employee's who had the account as their main banking fund when they left and broke a binding contract for training reimbursement. I had mine set to deposit to my bank immediately after funds transfer and only a small ($100, I think) amount to hold the account open.

 

[65sporty]

I never dealt with paypal but a good customer of ours wanted to sell her car and the boss listed it on craigslist for her. He got a reply in text form. They wanted to send a bank check for the full amount plus additional for shipping. The check came 3 days later and a friend whose wife works at a bank took it and checked it out, it was fake and they reported it. The boss texted the guy back and told him it was a fake and he never heard back. Just be careful.

 

[rexus31]

Request he put the funds in Escrow. That's what the Seller and I did with my '64 GTO. I put the funds in Escrow, he shipped the car (my dime) and I had a week to determine if the car was as advertised. If it wasn't, I would ship the car back (my dime) and keep the purchase price. The Seller offered it so I knew right away he was no nonsense. The transaction worked perfectly.

 

[live4theking]

Guys, I'm done talking to this smuck. The quote below is almost word for word. He gave me an email address so I'm going to report him to Paypal.

looks like azblackhemi's sleuthing has taken the mystery of what this deal is..this "marine engineer" scam is making the rounds.

"Good to have your reply. I am -------- from Vancouver, WA. and
would have loved to come and inspect it at your place myself, but I am
a marine engineer and presently off-shore. I am buying this for my son
in Washington as a surprise gift and pls just make sure it is in
condition described. I will appreciate more pictures if available and
will be sending your money asap. My shipper will be available to pick
this up as soon as payment is made. Do you have paypal account?
because, I have a paypal account that I can easily send money through
because, its good for business payments. Get back to me with your
paypal email address and name in order for me to have your money sent
on time. Confirm sale to me and remove the add from posting.
regards"​

 

[65sporty]

Request he put the funds in Escrow. That's what the Seller and I did with my '64 GTO. I put the funds in Escrow, he shipped the car (my dime) and I had a week to determine if the car was as advertised. If it wasn't, I would ship the car back (my dime) and keep the purchase price. The Seller offered it so I knew right away he was no nonsense. The transaction worked perfectly.

Do you still have the GTO? Any pic's?

 

[KcImperial]

I never dealt with paypal but a good customer of ours wanted to sell her car and the boss listed it on craigslist for her. He got a reply in text form. They wanted to send a bank check for the full amount plus additional for shipping. The check came 3 days later and a friend whose wife works at a bank took it and checked it out, it was fake and they reported it. The boss texted the guy back and told him it was a fake and he never heard back. Just be careful.

This is the best scam. The person picking up the car sometimes is the actual scammer. Afterwards, the check (personal, or cashier's) will bounce or the PayPal/CC payment will be disputed. Now, not only did you give your car away for free, you technically paid the scammer to take it and probably even shook their hand while wishing them good luck hauling your car.

Any non-cash transaction that involves you being sent an extra amount to pay a third party is a huge red flag and almost always a scam.

 

[rexus31]

Do you still have the GTO? Any pic's?

Sure do. Gearing up for a frame off. All the mechanicals are done but the paint and brightwork are showing their age. It was restored to a non original color combo about 20 years ago. I'll be bringing her back to Silvermist Gray, Black Vinyl Top and Parchment (white) Interior. In my 15+ years in the Pontiac hobby, I've never seen a silver '64 Goat with white interior. Really looking forward to it.

 

[cantflip]

Sure do. Gearing up for a frame off. All the mechanicals are done but the paint and brightwork are showing their age. It was restored to a non original color combo about 20 years ago. I'll be bringing her back to Silvermist Gray, Black Vinyl Top and Parchment (white) Interior. In my 15+ years in the Pontiac hobby, I've never seen a silver '64 Goat with white interior. Really looking forward to it.

Seems almost a shame, she is so clean looking now. I suppose you will have lots of takers for your black discards.

 

[rexus31]

Seems almost a shame, she is so clean looking now. I suppose you will have lots of takers for your black discards.

It is a clean car, just not "right". I knew when I bought it I would eventually dig into it. The timing is right as the value on these has spiked; especially for a Tri Power, 4 Speed car. The black plates are copies of my contemporary vanity plates made to mimic the black plates from the '60's. Licenseplates.tv made them. They no longer make CA plates as brand new retro plates can be had from the CA DMV under the Legacy Plates Program.

 

[tallhair]

Silvermist Gray, Black Vinyl Top and Parchment (white) Interior. In my 15+ years in the Pontiac hobby, I've never seen a silver '64 Goat with white interior. Really looking forward to it.

It does look great now but I think it'll look fantastic with that original color combo