Another VCA scammer?

tarfungo

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I have an ad running in the VCA classifieds looking for an OEM Emerald Green hardtop for my ‘95 snake. A few days ago I get an email from some guy saying that he has exactly what I’m looking for in perfect condition with bag AND stand. He says he’s going through a divorce and just needs to turn it into cash. He says he’ll let the whole set go for $1500 INCLUDING shipping. His email includes an international phone number. He states he works for KLM Airlines and is currently on assignment in Europe, but to call anytime. His email also says the he lives in Florida.

So, I call. He answers and he talks a good talk. Seems to know all about the hardtop and the accessories. Says he hates Vipers – that he’s a Prowler guy now and as such is dumping all of his Viper stuff. He says that his friend in Florida has access to the top and could ship immediately - assuming I wanted the top.

At this point, I’m cautious, but the deal is nice. I ask him how would he like to consummate the deal. Then I get, “Just Western Union $1500 to me in Egypt and as soon as I get the money, I’ll call my friend to put the top in the mail.” Hmmm…

I tell him I have to think about it… he emails back a few hours a later and wants to know if I’m still interested. I respond asking if he could ship the top to me COD and I will pay for any extra fees and shipping if need be. He says, “No, I got burned on a COD once before, so I need the money first. How about sending me a “good faith” deposit of $750.00?” More, hmmmm…. I then ask f I could hire a third party to make a CASH payment to his friend and inspect the top in Florida. He responds back saying that he’ll ship COD for $500 deposit. At this point, I respond back that it didn’t appear that we would be able to make a deal.

So… this is a scammer, right?
 

Joseph Houss

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Scam alert!

Anyone who is unwilling to have someone visit the product before purchasing is up to no good!
 

Bill B

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I'm in South Florida, and if you want to pursue this I will go look at the top if it is near me. It does sound like a scam but you never know.
 
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tarfungo

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Thanks Bill B

Honestly, I would have asked for help from the FL owners if I had been given the chance and I would have been happy to pay for your (or anyone's) time to boot. I made every offer I could think of to ensure that it was a legit deal, but in the end it was just too weird. He just wasn’t budging from using Western Union no matter what.

I understand a seller wanting to be sure the buyer is on the up-and-up, but if I was in the seller’s shoes and the deal was good I would have NO problem letting a third party Viper owner act as a middle-man. As much as I wanted to make the deal happen, it just stunk and so I reluctantly walked away. Who knows, maybe it was all good and I lost out on a sweet deal.
 

TomSlick

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The overseas and Western Union thing is a dead giveaway. They are probably scamming Americans because they hate us. But I don't understand how people can't figure out "what goes around comes around". Even common sense tells you that you can never get ahead by stealing from someone. Everything will be made right in the end, no matter what.
 

Tiepilot

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Not because they "hate" us it's because these scams work on Americans since we have for the most part a sense of trust.

Same as with the 419 nigerian scammers, that scam was at first successful for the criminals and know not so much as people have learned about it.

I will not do ANY business with anyone abroad.

This is the next wave of criminal theft from abroad, to either pretend to sell a product or buy your product. All involve Western Union.
 

VIPR GTS

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Maybe you should have told him that you were sending him a check for $5000 and needed the balance sent back to you to do the deal due. Your shipping agent will pick up the part after the balance is refunded.
Isnt that how they try to scam us?
 

TomSlick

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How about this one. Any takers?

FROM: MRS.TINA SAMEER
REMITTANCE DIRECTOR; Arab National Bank; Saudi Arabia.
RIYADH - KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.

Dear Friend,

It is my humble pleasure to write you this confidential letter irrespective
of the fact that you do not know me. Hence, I solicit your strictest
confidence in this transaction, this is by virtue of it's nature as being
utterly confidential and top secret as I am writing you in confidence for
good relationship. My Name is MRS.TINA SAMEER, I am the the Director of
Foreign Remittance in the Arab National Bank. I have decided to contact you
on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us.

During my Auditing of the Bank's Accounts for last month, I came across a
very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person (ABDELDAYEM EL-KHATIB
ABDULLAH). An Iraqi Citizen who was among the people that Died during the
recent war in Iraq. His death occured was so unfornately because he was an
Oil Magnate here in Saudi-Arabia and he has some companies in Iraq because
his Family based there. During his visit to Oversee his companies and entire
Family in Iraqlast year, the recent War started in Iraq and he died along
with his Family. Before his Death, he had the sum of US$35Million in a Fixed
Deposit Account in this Bank and the Money matured since November last year.
Right now, the Money is lying unclaimed in our custody hence there is no
next of kin mentioned in his file with this Bank and there is no how we can
reach any of his relatives. The said amount involved is the sum of
US$35,000,000.00 (Thirty Five MillionU.S. Dollars).

Upon my personal finding on this matter, I kept this information secret to
myself until now that I am contacting you. In view of the fact that the
deceased customer is a foreigner (from a different country), it is
Officially important for the involvement of a foreigner who will pose as a
next-of-kin. I will use my exalted position in this Bank to present you as
his Next of Kin as you can be his relative, friend or Cousin and the Money
(US$35Million) will be Safely transfered into your own bank account in your
country. Before I made up my mind to contact you, I have concluded every
arrangement to ensure that you receive the funds successfully as the next of
kin.

Also I have put in place necessary machinery for a hitch free transfer of
this Money to your Bank Account nominate in any part of the world. All I
need from you mostly is your trustworthiness, Honesty and good cooperation.
Based on that, send me immediately your name, telephone numbers, office or
Residential address, company name and Fax number (if any), and your Bank
account particulars where the fund will be transferred into for you. Because
you shall be officially regarded as the New Beneficiary/ Next of Kin that
will be Legally approved as the entitled owner of the US$35Million. As soon
as the Money is transfered and confirmed into your account, you will be
entitled to 30% of the total sum as gratification, while 70% will be for me.

Later on, I must invest my 70% in your country based on your advise and you
will be the Administrator of all the investments that I shall have in your
country pending when I will resign from the Services of this Bank. I have a
plan to resign my job upon your receipt of the fund in youraccount. This sum
of US$35M is presently Floating in an account here in this Bank and No one
will ever come forward to claim it and according to the Law of my country,
at the expiration of Two (2) years the money will revert to the ownership of
the State (Government) if nobody applies to claim the fund. This prompted me
to contact you. I contacted you because it is against our code of ethics to
own and operate foreign accounts and I shall raised all necessary documents
in your name which shall legally prove/ confirm you as the actualnext of kin
to the Former/Late beneficiary.

This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and
address so that the lawyer will prepare the necessary documents for the
drafting and notarization of the WILL and obtain the Vital documents and
letter of probate/administration in your favour to show that you are the
next of kin to the deceased. There is no risk involved at all, the paperwork
for this transaction will be done legally, this will guarantee the
successful execution of the transaction. If you are interested, please reply
immediately, upon your response, I shall provide you with more details and
relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction better.

Note that if you are Afraid of Sending me your account information, I
suggest that you Open a New Account with Zero Balance (NO MONEY INSIDE) and
we shall effectively use it for this transaction provided that it can be
able to Accomodate the Funds. I require you to maintain the confidentiality
of this ransaction because it is important due to the fact that I am still
in active services with the ARAB NATIONAL BANK. Immediately I recieve your
response indicating your interest, I shall send you more details. Remember
that your Faithfulness, and Confidentiality is mostly required.

Thanks and regards,

MRS.TINA SAMEER
REMITTANCE DIRECTOR; Arab National Bank; Saudi Arabia.
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.
 

TomSlick

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Another one I got this week. What is it with all the scams?

congratulations!!!!

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
LUCKYDAY E-MAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT

BATCH NO: PTP/31211214257/190888/2202
REF. NO: PTP/21449267220/255100//2202

WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL
NOTICE...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

This is to inform you of the release of the E-MAIL LOTTERY BALLOT INTERNATIONAL/ WORLD GAMING BOARD held on the 4th of NOVEMBER 2004. Yourname attached to ticket number 219028657434 with serial number 918735625 drew the lucky numbers of 21-70-81-82-99 which consequently won the lottery in the 1st category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout Of 1,000,000.00euros only in cash which is deposited with a Finance & Security Company in your favor as beneficiary and covered with HIGH INSURANCE POLICY.

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that You keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money remitted to you. This is
part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from only Microsoft users from over 20,000.00 companies and 3,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.To begin your lottery claim, please contact our agent below that have been appointed for the processing of your claim with your contact telephone and fax number to begin the processing of your payment.

CONTACT NAME: ANDREW GORDON
CITY/ COUNTRY: AMSTERDAM,NETHERLANDS.
TELEPHONE: +4479 3925 3996
FAX: +4487 0133 4585
EMAIL: [email protected]

Note that all winning must be claimed not later than 17th of December 2004. After this date all unclaimed, funds will be included in the next stake.Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and Complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr.Walker Smith

___________________________________________________________________________
Mail sent from WebMail service at PCGUP
- http://pcgup.com
 

joe117

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I don't know why you don't believe this guy. As anyone can tell you the VCE, Viper Club of Egypt is very active.

The Cheops chapter is the most active, offering an annual hill climb event held in Luxor.

The "Valley of The Kings" rally is another annual event, drawing Viper owners from all over the middle east.

Go ahead and send him the money by WU wire. Everything will turn out fine. ;-)
 

Danny Ocean

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I'm not sure why y'all are so skeptical. After receiving a similar offer, I sent $150k to a guy in Africa and he sent me the deed to Nigeria...will be starting a condo project there next year.

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
 
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