Beware of Nigerian overpayment scam on Corvette parts for sale

[Michael J.]

I have hardly ever sold anything, but I recently put an ad in our NCRS New Mexico Chapter monthly swap section. I was selling some tires for $150. Then I get a strange email from someone who has no connection to NCRS wanting to buy them and pay with a check to include shipping "commissions" for her "agent". When I get the check, it is for $1250 and "she" tells me to cash the check and "she" will instruct her "agent" to come get the tires, pack and ship them, and take the extra money left over, $1100, to pay for shipping "commissions" and other items "she" has ordered locally. Needless to say, I immediately said no and tore up the check. So beware out there, these scammers even get hold of our chapter publications if they are on the internet, the world has become a dangerous place for buyers and sellers.

[Ralph E.]

Re: Beware of Nigerian overpayment scam on Corvette parts for sale

I have hardly ever sold anything, but I recently put an ad in our NCRS New Mexico Chapter monthly swap section. I was selling some tires for $150. Then I get a strange email from someone who has no connection to NCRS wanting to buy them and pay with a check to include shipping "commissions" for her "agent". When I get the check, it is for $1250 and "she" tells me to cash the check and "she" will instruct her "agent" to come get the tires, pack and ship them, and take the extra money left over, $1100, to pay for shipping "commissions" and other items "she" has ordered locally. Needless to say, I immediately said no and tore up the check. So beware out there, these scammers even get hold of our chapter publications if they are on the internet, the world has become a dangerous place for buyers and sellers.

Mike, Why not cash the $1259 check. Wait 10 days to make sure the check clears. Assuming you got the shipping address, send the tires. Keep the balance as a commission fee. If they want to pick up the tires meet them at the Police Station.

[Michael J.]

Re: Beware of Nigerian overpayment scam on Corvette parts for sale

Hey, why didn't I think of that!

[Rich G.]

Re: Beware of Nigerian overpayment scam on Corvette parts for sale

A friend recently lost two grand in that exact scam. He waited what he thought was long enough. His bank credited him with the funds then he sent two grand to the "shipping company" about to weeks later the fake check wound it's way back to the alleged originating bank. His bank reversed the transaction. Of course, nobody ever came for the car. Some people enjoy stringing these scanners along. Not me.

Rich

[Bill M.]

Re: Beware of Nigerian overpayment scam on Corvette parts for sale

Mike do not cash that check. a few years ago my son was selling his 77 cutlass and was hit with a similar scam. we knew something was fishy and we went to our bank to check out. the bank said the check looked good but contacted our local FBI and sure enough the check was a near perfect phony. the agent said it would have taken 6 months to be found under normal circumstances and that we would have had to return the money to the bank. we left the check with the FBI

[Michael J.]

Re: Beware of Nigerian overpayment scam on Corvette parts for sale

Thanks guys, yes there were many signs of a scam, like the wording of the emails with "agent" and "commission", they were also very curt and awkwardly worded, us Corvette guys are not like that.... And when I got the check, it was sent from an architectural consulting firm's address in Charlotte, from a personal account of a person who had died a few months ago in Charlotte, and signed by somebody else on a Wells Fargo account without any Wells Fargo logo on the check. At least the internet gives you lots of resources to check all these things. Nothing about this added up. But I was a bit trusting at first since my ad was in an obscure NCRS Chapter publication, who looks at those things except people like us, right? Anyway live and learn, but best to learn without cashing a bogus check and getting involved in it all.

[Jim D.]

Re: Beware of Nigerian overpayment scam on Corvette parts for sale

Another thing to be aware of is cashiers checks. A buddy sold his truck, deposited the cashiers check at his bank and they verified it as real. 3 weeks later they called to say it was a fake. He reported his truck stolen and it was found on a local car lot unharmed. The only way to accept payment other than a bank to bank transfer is to go with the buyer to their bank and have them withdraw the money from their account and have the teller make a cashiers check made out to you. I recently did this type of transaction on the advice of my banker. Even a cash deal is risky because you would have to check every bill because the counterfeit ones are so good.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Beware of Nigerian overpayment scam on Corvette parts for sale

Don't play games with these type of people.
Just file the check and move on.
A while back I got paid for a $3500.00 trailer with a cashiers check (a real credit union in Detroit)
for $3900.00.
I gave the buyer instructions which he totally ignored.
The check looked "real" and had a 800 number on it which I called, but it just didn't sound right.
The buyer called me a number of times explaining his father died so if I would sent him $3500 I could keep the rest.
Typical Nigerian scam.
Look for words like. broker, agent, words spelled wrong, etc.
I looked up the credit union and got another phone number
(the real one), which I called. The credit union said it happens so frequently they don,t do anything.

SO BUYER BEWARE.