Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
So thanks in large part to the stimulus check I managed to quickly save up for a decent used car. Found a real nice 2007 Kia Sedona LX on Facebook Marketplace for under $3K. Yippee!
But before I got it, here’s an interesting car scam I nibbled on:
I contacted a lady about a 2015 Toyota Camry she advertised on FB Marketplace for only $1600. The photos showed a nearly-new looking sky-blue Camry. The seller’s message read, “Placing this ad for my ex sister-in-law. She just got divorced and wants to sell it ASAP. If you’re interested email her at (whatever it was .com).”
The price was a Red Flag, but, you know, divorce, so I emailed her; “I'm interested. When and where can I take a look at the Camry?”
She emailed back that she’d just divorced and the car was part of the settlement but she already has a car and just wants to get rid of it and move on. She mentioned her divorce 3 times in that first email, and for the second time I was told she wanted to sell it ASAP.
More Red Flags.
I emailed back, “When and where can I pick it up? Cash only, I assume?”
That was late evening, and she didn’t answer till the next morning. “Hi again, Now I'm here in Omaha, NE , back with my parents, after my divorce. The vehicle is already at the eBay warehouse here in Omaha along with all the paperwork and the transaction will be done through them. eBay will handle the shipping, the payment, and the paper exchange. The car is ready to be delivered to your place. You will have free shipping and 5 days to test-drive and inspect the vehicle before I receive any money.
If you are really interested in buying my car, please reply with your full name, a delivery address and a phone #. I will forward this info to eBay and they will contact you with all the info on how to buy it.
Thanks!”
I emailed back, “Not going to happen.”
These scammers know we got our stimulus checks. They’ve probably sold this same non-existent Camry a thousand times.
But before I got it, here’s an interesting car scam I nibbled on:
I contacted a lady about a 2015 Toyota Camry she advertised on FB Marketplace for only $1600. The photos showed a nearly-new looking sky-blue Camry. The seller’s message read, “Placing this ad for my ex sister-in-law. She just got divorced and wants to sell it ASAP. If you’re interested email her at (whatever it was .com).”
The price was a Red Flag, but, you know, divorce, so I emailed her; “I'm interested. When and where can I take a look at the Camry?”
She emailed back that she’d just divorced and the car was part of the settlement but she already has a car and just wants to get rid of it and move on. She mentioned her divorce 3 times in that first email, and for the second time I was told she wanted to sell it ASAP.
More Red Flags.
I emailed back, “When and where can I pick it up? Cash only, I assume?”
That was late evening, and she didn’t answer till the next morning. “Hi again, Now I'm here in Omaha, NE , back with my parents, after my divorce. The vehicle is already at the eBay warehouse here in Omaha along with all the paperwork and the transaction will be done through them. eBay will handle the shipping, the payment, and the paper exchange. The car is ready to be delivered to your place. You will have free shipping and 5 days to test-drive and inspect the vehicle before I receive any money.
If you are really interested in buying my car, please reply with your full name, a delivery address and a phone #. I will forward this info to eBay and they will contact you with all the info on how to buy it.
Thanks!”
I emailed back, “Not going to happen.”
These scammers know we got our stimulus checks. They’ve probably sold this same non-existent Camry a thousand times.
