So, I got vehicles posted on Craigslist and FB Marketplace. That always comes with scammers. They will text, maybe call after that wanting to buy the car sight unseen and the price is fine. If you agree, they will send a "driver" over with a cashier's check to pick up the car. Of course, the cashier's check is a forgery, and you've signed over your car to them. Pretty typical scam, and I've had a dozens of people trying to hose me with it over the years. On anything really, not just cars.

This "buyer" wanted to look at the car first, and test drive it, like a normal person would. But, she'd have to taxi over, so I offered to drive to her, which wasn't far. So far, OK.

The address is an extended stay hotel - tweaker city, but I give her the benefit of a doubt - maybe she's the exception. Until she comes out. She was dressed to go on our third date, not buy a car. OK, so maybe she's a dancer, and this is her "classy" look, but I doubt it. This is the I-want-to-distract-you look.

And predictably, she doesn't really focus on the car during the test drive. She just drives aimlessly down the road a few miles, chatting a bit with me. I finally suggest we turn around and go back, and ask her to think about the car and LMK if she wants to buy.

She then starts acting interested. Asks me a couple of times what I'm asking for it. Then asks how much it costs to register it. OK, that's good.

This is a cash sale; I'm not financing it, and it's late Saturday, so no banks are open. So, we've left it with her going to her bank Monday and me calling her to schedule the title transfer. She never opened the hood or even walked around the car.

I expect this is the same scam. On Monday she'll show up with a cashier's check, not cash. The same scam but using a shapely, damsel-in-distress grifter to sell the check, rather than just a voice on the phone and random driver to deliver/pick up the car.

However, I think she'll bail. One of her texts read like a man writing, and I expect that when he hears the title process, it'll be too risky. I haven't registered this car yet. I don't register most of these cars since I don't drive them. To transfer title, I have to put it into my name first. So, the process is for me to list her address for the new title and give her a power of attorney so that she can transfer it to her name when it comes in the mail. The forged check will have bounced by then.

I think I'll go talk to the police, see if they want to catch criminals in the act. Honestly, I bet they bail too.

 

I’ve had a lot of these, the vast majority on Craig’s list. Most times I won’t even advertise there. More recently I’ve had some on Marketplace. The MO is always the same. “I’m buying this for so and so, they’ll come pick it up”. They offer to use some sort of pay app I’ve never heard of. I check their profile and there is very little there…..huge red flag. Once they figure out I’m not gullible, I usually never hear from them again.

 

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Everyone who's tried to sell online has been targeted by those scammers. This is just the first time I've had them try it using a sexy babe who actually goes for a test drive. It was just strange - that she would show up all sexy - not nasty, just made up and in a tight shirt - for a test drive. And then to just jump in my car and drive off with a stranger she's never met before? My first thought was that she was driving me to an ambush, her BF waiting in an alleyway to take my wallet and car.

But IDK yet, it's just a suspicion. She's now asked for an extra day. We'll see.

 

I've dealt with many scams, but it never went to an in person meeting. I insist cash only and never hear back from them.

My favorite was selling a snowmachine (snowmobile for you southerners) in Alaska. It was probably 2001 or 2002-ish. $3500 snowmachine on CL.
I get the 'Nigerean' check scheme, they want to send me a check for more than the asking price ($10,000) that I cash and then deliver the sled to a shipping company.
So, first of all a snowmachine in Africa should be the first red flag, right? I think they were just messaging about anything $2-5000 with the same skit.
I don't remember exactly what I did, but about a week later I had a $10,000 check! Drawn on some east coast bank. When I didn't do anything with the check they contacted me, and when it was obvious I wasn't putting it in the bank there was some tense discussions about what they were going to do to myself and my family. I told them they had my address and I'd be waiting for them, that was the end of out communication.

Since then it was my goal to get a $100,000 check. Alas, they never follow up when I give them my 'last, best offer' of $100,000.

Now the scams just seem to want my phone #.

 

Yeh test driving with someone slightly sketchy would be a bit unnerving. Hopefully you have a CC permit and bring a little “buddy” along. I know I do on public meet ups for Market Place…..ya just never know.

 

i recently sold a motorcycle on craigslist. i had a guy ask me if he could take the bike but i hold the title. he'd even give me an extra 500 bucks for my troubles. i said no. then he wanted to work out a payment plan. i said no. then, he wanted to give partial cash and make up the rest with a bunch of "valuable" coins. i said why don't you cash in the coins and just give me the cash. he said he'd be crazy to cash them in because they're only gonna grow in value.....yada, yada, yada.......
i reminded him that my ad said cash only, local sales only, no payments, no scammers.
this crap never ends. i'm SO sick of scabs coming out of the woodwork just to steal from you.

 

He's in texas. They have 'little buddies' hanging on the rear view mirror.

When I bought my sxs I paid cash, $29,000. I was nervous walking across the parking lot, even though I'd never been mugged and nobody had a clue that the bulge in my pants was just a fat stack of cash.


The other bulge was a loaded and chambered glock 19 (medium buddy?), which goes with me anytime I'm giving or receiving $1000 or more. I'm pretty confident nobody but myself knew it was there.