So, I put our Volvo up on autotrader.com. Yesterday morning I got an e-mail from a gentleman claiming he’s working on behalf of a client who is interested in buying the car. The client — who thus far has remained nameless during our e-mail exchanges — is a diplomat representing Canada at NATO. Fine with me. But these e-mails have read like a Nigerian banking scam, and I’m a little concerned that, even though this person has asked me to consider the car sold, I may be in for a long, convoluted process before we see any money from the buyer. As Leah keeps asking, “why would a Canadian diplomat want to buy a used Volvo from Iowa?”
I’ve Googled a couple different phrases to see if there’s any history of this kind of thing out there, but nothing obvious has come up in the results. I’ll be amazed if the deal comes off. Details as we proceed….
UPDATE: I ran this post by my pal Luke (who’s an amazing photographer, dog lover, and Volvo owner), and he had this to say:
The typical scam running right now is that they try to write you a check for over the amount of the asking price, with some story about how it’s hard for them to get at cash in Canada (or wherever) and ask you to cash their check for 14 grand and then send them the 4,000 dollars of your own cash and they will pick up the car later.
To then have their check bounce or somesuch. People are actually falling for it on ebay and since the parties involved are foreign, there is no jurisdiction to prosecute.
UPDATE 2 (2 p.m. Central):
DEAR Mark, No questions,I have forwarded your vehicle information to my client and after evaluation and due to time constraint on the fact that we are running short of time. He has left for his trip to London. I’m delighted to tell you that my client has recommended your vehicle, with full interest and he has instructed me to carry on with his transaction, Hope the engine and body is in perfect condition?
He also instructed me to inform you that payment will get to you in a cashier check of $17500, which is a refund payment of a cancelled order earlier made by my client. Due to company policy this check has to be made out in this amount to you, because company policy only allows a refund payment on one cashier’s check. So you are required to deduct the cost of your vehicle $10000 when payment gets to you and refund balance $7500 to the Agent (our shipper) for him to be able to offset shipping & tax charges, and other cosmetic repair costs.
After payment has reached you and balance sent to shipper, the shipper’s agent will come for inspection, pick up (of vehicle & signing of title papers), make some cosmetic touches and drive to a prepaid shipper to be shipped to my customer. Please confirm this and forward the following information;
Names:
Address:
Phone number:For payment to be made and sent to you as soon as possible. Your honesty, understanding and co-operation will be highly appreciated. Best regards, fred
And my reply…
Thanks for the reply, Fred.
I’m happy to hear that your client has recommended my vehicle.
In order to comply with the special payment instructions you require, and because you’ve requested that I now consider the car sold (even though I’ve received no payment for it), I ask that you send me a “good faith” payment of 50% of the asking price of the car (or $5,000) to ensure my financial safety in this transaction. I’m sure you understand. Once that payment arrives and has cleared into my account, I’ll immediately endeavor to contact your shipper and begin the transfer of the car.
I appreciate your time and understanding, Fred, and I look forward to hearing back from you soon.