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Help! I need input on a situation with Thesamba!

Hey everyone. You may remember that I've been trying to sell my 1973 standard Beetle. I used ebay with no success, and now it's on the samba again. I was recently contacted by "Mike." who wanted to knowextra details and my final negotiating price. Rather than attempt to explain the whole thing, I will post out converstaions that we had via email. Sorry for the long read, but I do need help on this one, and would appreciate any input you may have: BTW, I edited out his email address for security purposes)

(HIS FIRST EMAIL) A visitor to TheSamba.com has replied to your ad at:

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sent the following message:*************************************************************** From: Mike (***** snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com) Ad : 1973 Std. drives nice! Needs cosmetic

Hello, How are you?please i'm really interested in your bug.Its really cool..please let me know your final bargaining price and any other information you might have on it. Thanks a lot. Mike

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(MY REPLY)

--- Anth> Hey Mike, thanks for your interest. Yes, the bug is

cool! I loved it dearly while I was driving it, but > I got a Miata and now I have something else to > obsess over. I wanted to get the bug painted while > I had it, but never really got around to it in the > years I owned it. Well, since you weren't very > specific about what other information you want on > the bug, I'll try to list everything I can think of > that's not already in the samba ad. Like I said, > the reason I'm selling it is because I got another > car, and I can't afford the insurance on both, and > don't have the time to maintain both to my > standards. It's one or the other, but not both, ya > know? Anyway, it drives very nicely -- it has a > tight feel, but it's still a Beetle, so it has the > usual quirkyness. Tranny shifts smooth through all > gears in all directions when it's warm. When it's > cold, 3rd to 2nd downshift must be a slow shift or > it may grind -- all other shifts are fine all the > time. The tires are Kumho 795 all season > touring. 90 percent of the tread is left. Front > allignment was done to my specs, and I had the front > wheels set at 0 camber instead of the stock +1 deg > so the car could take advantage of the wider than > stock rubber. The sway bars are both 3/4" and make > the car handle surprisingly well. I have caught > many sedans off gaurd because of this....nobody is > expecting the bug to take a corner like that! It > stays FLAT and grips the road like glue. However, > the ride is fairly compliant because of the > oil-filled shocks. I consider it a very nice > tradeoff. The ride IS stiffer than stock, but you > won't need a chiropracter every week. I put a > carpeted shelf in the front trunk which also > protects and covers the wiring harness. There is no > stereo in the car. The previous owner before me had > something in there, becuase there are some speakers > and wires hanging around that I never removed. > Ummmm I can't think of anything else that's not > already in the ad. Don't know where you are > located, > but right now, the car is Sandia Park, which is > about 25 minutes from downtown Albuquerque if you > hop on I-40 eastbound. If you are local, feel free > to contact me if you want to see the car in person. > This has been a great car for me, I'll be sad to see > it go. > > I'm asking $2000 for the car right now, as is. This > includes a myriad of old/spare parts including the > entire front brake assembly (drums) since I replaced > them with disc brakes. It also includes all four > original wheels (shod with worn out rubber), 16 > lugbolts and 4 caps. I'll also throw in both of my > versions of John Muir's "How to keep your aircooled > VW alive" and my Bentely VW shop manual. > > I will go as low as $1800 for just the car, not > including any of the above parts. > > Again, thanks for your interest, I hope to hear from > you soon! > > ~Anthony

------------------------------------------------------------------- (HIS NEXT REPLY) Hi Tony, thank you for your swift reply and all the explanation.I must say it's an awesome deal Tony,I'm very much satisfied with everything the way it is. I will pay $2000 for it as stated in the AD.I really loved it. Actually,right now I'm presently not in the country cos i'm working on an oil rig off the coast of Europe. I could wire the money to your bank account straight away once we settle everything.I would need your account details for the wire transfer, the only thing is that I hope you have a Bank of America account cos that's the only way i can transfer the money to you.If you agree to this,my shipper will give you a call and will arrange pick up at your convenient date and time. Hopefully sometime next week or the upper week depending on how fast we finish the deal.I also hope that all the paperwork is in order. Please confirm this to me ASAP. Thanks a lot. Hope to hear from you soon. Mike

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That email made me nervous....so here is the response I WANT to send, but wanted to check with you guys first! I have it saved as a draft, so feel free to give me any input on how to edit, or if I should continue with this deal at all.

---------------------------------------------------------------- Sorry to say it Mike but your out of country request makes me understandably nervous. 99 percent of the scams that go on for deals like this one involve a shipper and a customer out of the country.

Also, I don't have a Bank Of America account, :-/ I bank with Bank of the West.

Those things being said, if you are legitimate, I would love to get the car to you. I know how popular the "German look" style VW bug is in Europe. If there is any way you could get the money to my account and once I've completely verified that the money IS in my account, we could work on the details. I have the vehicle's title in hand, and it is clear, you would just need to sign it upon receipt of the vehicle so you could transfer it to your name. I am willing to work with you on this, but I wish there were a way I could know if you were legitimate or not.

Questions I need answered; Where do you want it shipped? When are you returning to the States (are you returning)? What shipping company are you using, how is it getting shipped overseas? Who gets the title? Do I mail it to you? I would be very unconfortable leaving it with the shipper or in the vehicle, as it's basically a free ticket to own the car.

Also, given the circumstances, there are certain things I cannot do. I will not pay for the shipping. I will not accept a monetary ammount in excess to cover the shipping. I can not take ANY action until I've verified the money is in my acount.

If you want, I can contact my bank and see if there is any way a customer in Europe could securely send me money. I suggest you speak with your bank in europe and/or call your local(?) bank and see if they can transfer money to a Bank of the West account.

I hope you understand my aprehensiveness, but there are scams everywhere out there and I'm only trying to protect myself and my investment.

Please, if you are still interested, I AM willing to work with you, but like I said I can't take action until I know the money is in my account. Thanks...

~Anthony

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So he never mentioned anything about sending me a money order in excess to cover shipping. There is a possiblity this could be the real deal.

Thanks for any help you have, and thanks for reading.

~Anthony

Reply to
Anthony
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Man, that scares me just reading it and it is not even dealing with my bank account.

If he is legit, the deal will wait till reasonable transactions can be made. Do not give your account info without talking to your bank and see what they can offer as a secure method.

Otherwise I would say NO DEAL!!

Reply to
TerryB

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DO NOT DO IT. It's a textbook scam. Walk away.

-tom

Reply to
vic20owner

Total scam. I have known personaly of three such scams involving animals and one that was on the level. Don't take the chance.

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Reply to
Dennis Wik

Two legitimate banks can wire money between them. Just be sure your bank spells out the liablity. It may be entirely your problem if he's a fake.

In any event, if the bank guarantees the money, then deliver the car AFTER you have his money in hand/bank, guaranteed.

Tell him that and if he balks, killfile him.

Reply to
jjs

On 14 Mar 2005 08:02:46 -0800, "Anthony" scribbled this interesting note:

Scam. Accept cash only. US dollars. South African gold coinage in a pinch.

If the fellow can't pay with cash, then he can't have the car. Forget all the extra hoops and details. Keep it simple. It is a scam and the reason he wants your bank info is so he can raid your account and steal your car. Forget it.

-- John Willis (Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)

Reply to
John Willis

Well I sent him an email much shorter than the one I posted ealier that I was considering sending him. Basically it said unless I get the money in my account, and it's verified to be in my account by my bank, no car.

~Anthony

John Willis wrote:

scribbled

attempt

Reply to
Anthony

On 14 Mar 2005 12:24:33 -0800, "Anthony" scribbled this interesting note:

Don't, under any circumstances, accept a money order of any kind. If you are going to have the money wired, set up another account with the minimum account opening balance into which the money may be transferred. This way you protect yourself. Don't allow him any relevant information at all such as driver's license number, social security number, etc. Only give him what your bank says is needed to transfer money into your account and no more at all. Do not allow the car to leave your possession until all assurances have been given from your bank that the money is yours free and clear. Be paranoid. You don't know this fellow at all. He is willing to try to buy a car sight unseen using third parties to handle the money and the shipping. Don't trust him, at all. It would be best to wait for a simpler transaction from someone else, a transaction that involves actual hard currency and no silly bank transfers. This deal is not required. It is a scam. It has all the classic earmarks. You would be best advised to ignore him (unless you merely feel like stringing him along to waste his time and you need a hobby!:~)

Really. It is a scam. I just posted the beginning of your conversation with this fellow a few days ago. The email I received even had very similar wording (last offer, etc.) and the trademarked "out of the country" and must hurry, etc. These are all signposts that you cannot afford to ignore if you want to keep your car and your money. It is no longer a case of simple "Buyer Beware." Nowadays it is also very much the case that the seller needs to beware too. If you aren't your car will leave your possession as well as a significant amount of money from your bank account. Can you afford to be without both? The choice is yours.

Your best advise is to forget this deal. Don't give him anything. I've received lots of email very similar and I routinely ignore them all. One of these days I may toy with one just for fun, but even that is just a waste of my time.

Good luck. If you proceed you will need it. Very much.

-- John Willis (Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)

Reply to
John Willis

Not good enough. Your bank would have to guarantee payment. Just forget it, be patient as Winter passes and thaws the Yankees so they can consider buying it.

Reply to
jjs

Most likely it's a scam. Besides, why does he need your response ASAP if he's on an oil rig?????

Reply to
tedb

Sounds too iffy - could be a scam.

You are the seller... change the ad to state that you will not ship overseas, or must be picked up in person, cash on the barrelhead... its your car until you sell it. Tooooo many unanswered questions. Besides it sounds like a PITA to ship it to an unknown location and seller. Protect yourself from scammer slimeballs. I would NOT give out my account info to someone I didnt know. When I bought my '66 I got a cashiers check from a bank and I showed him my drivers liscense. Quick deal, Good Sell. I'm happy, he's happy.

**************************************************************** dragenwagen 1966 Type I - Daily Driver 1969 Type I - Undergoing heater channel replacement
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"Old VW's Don't Leak Oil, They Mark Their Territory."****************************************************************
Reply to
dragenwagen

SCAM!!! Don't feed him anything and still count your fingers when it's over. Seriously. This model has been all over the news as what to watch out for and not fall victim to. Some of the payment methods have "apparently cleared" the bank but a few weeks later the bank charges it back to you when all the smoke and mirrors have cleared away. - BaH

Reply to
Busahaulic

Ok, forget this guy.

Thanks for the input, everyone. It really amazes me how I've been trying to sell the car for over a month now and have had 4 obvious scam contacts and only two legitimate interests, neither of which progressed.

Don't these people have anything better to do?

~Anthony

Reply to
Anthony

As a matter of fact, they don't and many of these scammers make a career of it.

Reply to
jjs

Not to mention but how does he have net access on an oil rig?

Reply to
Exille

Wireless, baby. Wireless. :-)

Reply to
Shag

Man,give me a break! It's a TRANSFER from bank to bank. It is cash and as always.no cash no car. Ask your banker about wire transfers,first. Then decide if it's doable. How hard is it to open an acct. with his bank of choice?

Reply to
David V.N.

Oil rigs aren't completely disconnected from everything. I regularly get emails from a friend on a platform in the Caspian Sea..

James

Reply to
Juper Wort

I recall that the "Nigerian Scam" is currently responsible for a significant fraction of the hard currency income of Nigeria and other African nations. No wonder these scammers never get caught, since their governments (such that they are) profit from their crimes.

Reply to
<Gmlyle

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