Scammers in full force this season!

[Dmerk]

I've been trying to sell my second car on Craigslist for the past couple of days (an E36 BMW 318is) along side some tires and rims to get some extra cash so I can upgrade to a 5 series soon, and within the past 24 hours I have had at least 5 different "buyers" contact me asking if I can do the transaction via Paypal because they are "at sea". Basically they claim to be a scientist, a marine, an oil rig worker and I'm sure many other things, and then they offer to pay more than what you list, and they will send a "mover" to pick up the item. Usually, there is also some sort of tragic story-line within the email. A simple google of their email address, name of sender, and content of email almost 100% of the time picks them up as a known scam artist. The content of these emails are generally identical. What happened to the days of an honest private sale?? This is starting to get really annoying!

Anyways, I just wanted to remind everyone to be extra careful this holiday season when buying or selling things privately!!

[KKreme15]

craigslist. mistake #1

[Dmerk]

Originally Posted by KKreme15

craigslist. mistake #1

Haha.. yeah.. I wonder that sometimes too, although I've never had problems before until now! I wouldn't know where else to sell a car privately and quickly without going to a stealership since the paper classifieds get few reads.. open to suggestions!

[xx_ED_xx]

you can use craigslist, but obviously you can figure out a true potential buyer and a hoax. either that or autotrader

[v6sonoma]

Originally Posted by Dmerk

Haha.. yeah.. I wonder that sometimes too, although I've never had problems before until now! I wouldn't know where else to sell a car privately and quickly without going to a stealership since the paper classifieds get few reads.. open to suggestions!

After I got my Camaro I sold my Cadillac CTS on www.autotrader.com I paid I think $60 as a one time fee to run the online add till it sold. You can change it as much as you want and I added like 17 high quality pictures. Also if you go to www.edmunds.com you can enter your cars vin and info and print up a window sticker to put in the window for anyone that might come across it in a parking lot. Car sold quick. And no Craigslist tire kickers.

[Dmerk]

Thanks for all the good advice!!

I just finished posting it up on Autotrader as per everyones suggestion now too. I'm going to check out edmunds as well, thanks v6sonoma! This is all good advice for anybody looking to sell a car themselves!

[007s 'Vert]

When I sold my 68' Camaro back in February (f....in economy!) it was posted on Craigslist for three months, I too got all those scammers. I just told folks that they need to come and see the car and if they wanted to buy it then either meet at the bank or pay cash, I like it old school way. The guy that bought it came out and checked the car out and liked what he saw and left, about an hour later he called and said to get the car ready and he will be back the next evening with a car hauler. He showed up as promised and we loaded up the car and I got my 8gs from him all in cash and away he drove off.
I remember talking to him about scammers on Craigslist and he agrees with me on just doing it old school with cash.
If someone isn't willing to come out and meet face to face with proper funding then they aren't serious, if they are having some sort of tragedy then buying a car right now should not be on their agenda.
I hate computer scammers soon they will find a way to deal with them as well.

[upflying]

I sell occasionally on CL. I put my cell# in the ad and tell buyers to call me, email responses will not get a reply. Weeds out the scams.

[oldfriend]

Originally Posted by upflying

I sell occasionally on CL. I put my cell# in the ad and tell buyers to call me, email responses will not get a reply. Weeds out the scams.

Simple and hybrid [ new way ad, and old way ] phone call and good old $$$$$ i like it !!!