OT - Craigslist Scam?, Too Good to be True? Options

[Eddie914]

We are looking for a fun daily driver for my wife.

We found a car on Craigslist for a price that seems too good to be true. I sent an email indicating I was interested and got this reply:


"The vehicle is well maintained, never been damaged and it has 72,355 miles, a clear title and is loaded with options. You will inspect it before the payment will be made, I moved to Williston, ND with my job and I have the vehicle here with me. The shipping and insurance are included in the price because I won a promotion at uShip(1 free shipping). You will also receive all the papers(title, bill of sale etc) in order to finalize the purchase with the vehicle. Email me back if you are interested and have further questions.."


I replied asking for more pictures. I got lots of nice pictures and this reply:

"I attached more pics to my email.
I would like to handle the sale using eBay for our own protection as they act as a neutral third party. eBay will keep the money until you inspect/drive the vehicle.

This is how the eBay works:

1. I will contact eBay and give all the info about this deal.
2. They will email us the forms by email - about the buyer's protection policy, delivery, and payment.
3. You will send the payment to eBay and they will notify me to ship the vehicle to your location.The shipping will take 5 days.
4. After you will inspect/drive the vehicle and decide to keep it, eBay will forward me the funds and the deal is done.

You have 5 days to test it from the day you receive it. If by any chance you won't be satisfied with it you will be fully refunded and I will have the shipping company come to pick it up and I have to pay the shipping back. If you wish to purchase it please provide me your full name, address so I can initiate the deal through eBay.
Good faith has always been my top priority and my most valued business approach.

Looking forward to hear from you!"


Should I go through with the purchase? The car is listed for about 60% of market value in Seattle?

Thanks

Eddie

[stugray]

Then they said they were very busy and to send a $1000 'deposit' before they would schedule anything.

I said I could send my 'friend' with cash 'in full' and he was ready to accomodate any schedule they had. Just have the car ready for pickup with the title.

then they came back and said that would not be necessary to just send a $1000 deposit (to the 'escrow' they chose) first if I was 'serious'.

Exactly what happened to me. I was going to buy a Supra that was too-good-to-be-true (TGTBT?? ) and they wanted the deposit in the (russian) escrow account. When I offered to fly to them with cash, they balked and played the run around. I reported them to cars . com and the ad was gone hours later.

Stu

[rohar]

Then they said they were very busy and to send a $1000 'deposit' before they would schedule anything.

I said I could send my 'friend' with cash 'in full' and he was ready to accomodate any schedule they had. Just have the car ready for pickup with the title.

then they came back and said that would not be necessary to just send a $1000 deposit (to the 'escrow' they chose) first if I was 'serious'.

Exactly what happened to me. I was going to buy a Supra that was too-good-to-be-true (TGTBT?? ) and they wanted the deposit in the (russian) escrow account. When I offered to fly to them with cash, they balked and played the run around. I reported them to cars . com and the ad was gone hours later.

Stu

If he's actually in Williston, he's pretty much fuckered if the car isn't what is advertised. This is still old west territory and there's a good old boy on the case.

50% of the volume of the new Snowden Bridge might be human bodies. Not that I would know anything of those types of things.,