While shopping online on Craigslist.com for a used car for my son, I can across this ad:
2000 HONDA Accord EX V6
LEATHER SUNROOF 200 Horse Power V6 Automatic Transmission Naples Gold Metallic Exterior Soft Plush Leather Interior In Dash CD Radio Remote Entry …Perfect CarFax History…No accidents no damage no problems…
The price? $2960!
With 116k miles, that’s at least $2000 below Kelley Blue Book! I excitedly emailed the contact and asked to make an appointment to see it.
The response was this in its entirety (emphasis mine):
Hello and sorry for my delay,
I’m Sgt. Robert Parra. This Honda is in perfect working condition. This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth. No electrical problems on this beauty. This detailed vehicle makes the exterior looks like it just came off the assembly line. The car has 118k highway miles. VIN Number: 1hgcg1655ya068349
It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones. The body and paint are great. The interior is super clean, mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet.
Here are the pics of the car :
http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee106/accpix/As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it(for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you will don`t be satisfied about the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back.
I am located in London, United Kingdom and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between USA and UK. One month ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in US because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is US 2,960 $. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 3 days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Best Regards,
Robert Parra
Can this be legit? I am hoping it is!
I sent a message back to “Sgt. Parra” and asked him whether the car will pass the smog check for California. I figured if it was really legit, someone else probably bought it already, but it’d be worth asking.
Then a couple of hours later, I get another email. I contacted another seller of another ad from Craigslist for a Camry that I thought was a good buy.
Here is the email response in its entirely (emphasis mine):
Hello,
The 2003 Toyota Camry is located in Farmington, CT and it is in perfect condition, with no need for additional repairs, no scratches, dings, special marks whatsoever. It has 44k miles and the VIN is: 4T1BE32K03U655388. It has a clear title ready to be signed and notarized on your name. I have the pictures hosted on the net and you can see them at:
http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc161/RobertBright/The price is $2,900 including shipping costs anywhere in the continental US. There are no other costs regarding this transaction.
The transaction will be closed only through a 3rd party and this way we will both be protected.My time is limited due to my job in the army so I decided to use a service from Worldpay. To begin the transaction I’ll need your full name and shipping address. I will forward the details of our transaction to Worldpay and then you will receive an invoice from them. The car will be shipped insured to your location with DAS and you will have 5 days for inspection.
Best regards,
Robert Bright.
I am catching on now…
Both cars advertised at incredible prices at about $2,900, both seller’s names are Robert, both are willing to ship from out of the area for free, both are in the military, both use photobucket to post pictures …
Since I’ve been scouring Craigslist, Autotrader and dealerships for a car, I had sent out several emails. I forgot what I sent out.
So a couple of hours later, I got yet another response, for an Acura I asked about.
Now I am rolling on the floor laughing!
Here’s an excerpt:
Hello and sorry for my delay,
Yes, I know, you are busy in the military, right?
The 1999 Acura TL is in perfect working condition.This detailed vehicle makes the exterior look like it just came off the assembly line….It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones…The interior is super clean, mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet…
You must’ve been talking to Sgt. Robert Parra! Both of you have a cat! And do you also have a wife who doesn’t check ahead of time if a foreign car can be registered in the UK?
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection Program…I am located in London,United Kingdom and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between USA and Serbia. One months ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because we can’t register it here…It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. …
It’s Serbia now, very nice.
Best Regards,
Michael Parker
At least they are getting a little more creative with the name.
I googled this subject and found a forum discussion of someone who got this email, a friend of the Roberts, no doubt, and coincidentally also named Robert, with a cat and a wife who just joined him too! I put an excerpt here, but I’m sure you can figure out what the rest says:
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 18:22:47
Subject: 2001 Honda AccordHello and sorry for my delay,
The 2001 Honda Accord is in perfect working condition.This detailed vehicle makes the exterior look like it just came off the assembly line…blah, blah, blah…It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones…mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet….
I signed up for US military forces and I was sent here with my department to improve the military relations between our country and UK….blah, blah, blah…
Sgt Robert Mclean
I might have fallen for the first reply if the scammer would just be a little for creative in their approach.
Apparently, an epidemic of ads like this is on all kinds websites, including the sale of motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis, motor homes, trailers, and even farm equipment.
One member of the forum responded with this advice:
1. eBay does not “hold the money” until you are satisfied with the car. Once you pay them, that is it. And I suspect they will ask you to pay by Western Union.
2. The military does ship cars overseas for servicemen (why does this guy talk in pidgon english if he’s American, anyway?). But thet SHIP them, by SHIP, not by air. Total LIE.
3. American servicemen can drive their cars overseas without registering them there. Again total LIE. Why would a serviceman have a car shipped overseas if he could not register it?
The pattern is the same: a coveted item (BMW, Kobota Tractor, Honda motorcycle, etc.) worth $10,000 to $20,000 is offered for a pitiful amount – $2500 to $5000 with a long-winded “backstory” behind it. You wire them the money, thinking you scored big and that’s the last you hear of them.
They hijack eBay identifications by using those phishing scams. Typically if you look at their feedback, you’ll see it is some little old lady in Arkansas selling dolls. Suddenly, the person is a Seargent in the Army in England selling a car. What gives?
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is….
i have very similar story, i went on craigslist this past weenend, looking for car. i came across an ad for 2003 toyota camry le, selling for $2970.00. i sent an email requesting more info and here is the response i got on 4/19/08
Hello and sorry for my delay,
I’m Sgt. David Ramsey.The 2003 Toyota Camry LE is in perfect working condition.This detailed vehicle makes the exterior look like it just came off the assembly line.The car has only 106,522 original miles.VIN Number: 4T1BE32K73U120770
It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones. The body and paint are great. The interior is super clean, mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet.
Options
Cassette Player CD Player Driver Airbag Passenger Airbag
Air Conditioning Cruise Control Power Locks Power Seats
Power Windows
PICS: http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg248/2002camryleR/
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection (VPP) in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it(for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you will don`t be satisfied about the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back. I am located in London,United Kingdom and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between USA and UK. One months ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is US 2,970 $. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. From the moment the payment is secured by eBay the shipping process will begin and it will arrive at your address in about 3 max. 4 business day Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you and have a great day,
David Ramsey
Hello … I got the same response from Sgt. Ramsey myself. I’m thinking I might play along to a point, just to see how much I can irritate this scumbag. Any thoughts on an approach?
Craigslist and those sites all have a disclaimer that they are not responsible for what people put on the site. It’s “buyer beware” basically.
Maybe enough people complain to the FBI???
http://www.ic3.gov/
since he wants to everything “by the book” ask for full name rank and serial number. like that other guy said he was going to (just up a few posts)
hi all, i got another email, this time from Joan. her email address is [email protected]. this is what she sent me.
Hello,
Sorry for the delayed response, but I’m in Glasgow (United Kingdom) right now and I have been very busy.Anyway,thank you for your interest in buying the car. The car is located in US right now and has US papers.Why is the price so low? I am here in UK with my new work and I cannot register the car here, as it is made for USA, according to USA standards. So all that I want to do now is to sell the car at this price, because I need to sell it fast(I already made a deposit here to buy me another).The title is clean and you will have absolutely no problems to register the car in the States.I will tell you a few words about the car.. My 2001 Nissan Maxima GXE with automatic transmission it is in immaculate condition with 69,348 miles and have the VIN number: JN1CA31D91T834025, rust free , no scratch and hasn’t been involved in any accident.The motor runs very well (6 Cylinders).The interior looks great(NO SMOKING).This car needs nothing,the title is clear ,it is not a salvage one. I want this transaction to go smoothly enough as I am caught in the middle of some very important events and have little time at my disposal. I already have tons of emails so I hope you understand that I need to sort them out.
The price is $3,100 THIS IS MY LAST PRICE.I will not negotiate the price.I will take in consideration only those buyers who are really interested in buying the car ,to be sure that I don’t waste my time with endless discussions.This way,I shall be assured of the serious intentions .
For more pictures click in the link below: http://www.fototime.com/users/[email protected]/My%20Pictures
So if you are interested please email me back for next step.
Regards !!
To start with, foreign cars CAN be registered in the UK. There are many, MANY US cars registered in the United Kingdom. So means that if these guys really DID have cars, they don’t know a thing about registering it in the UK — and they’re with the military?!?! That would be the ‘first’ in seeing if it really is true… 🙂 🙂
Hello,
Sorry for my delayed response, but I’m a soldier detached in Glasgow (Scotland) for a long time and I have been very busy for the last couple of days. Anyway, thank you for your interest in buying my car. The car is located in US right now and has US papers. Why is the price so low? I had to move out of USA because of my job and I am going through a divorce. So all that I want to do now is sell the car at this price, because I need to sell it fast. The car is fully payed and you will have absolutely no problems to register the car in the States.
I will tell you a few words about my 2006 Nissan Maxima SE:
VIN#: 1N4BA41EX6C830151 Miles: 28,232
Engine: 3.5L V6 SFI DOHC 24V Transmission: Automatic
It is in immaculate condition, no scratch, no need for additional repairs, and hasn’t been involved in any accident. The motor runs very well. The interior looks great(NO SMOKING). The title is clear and on my name, it is not a salvage one. I want this transaction to go smoothly enough as I am caught in the middle of some very important events and have little time at my disposal. I already have tones of emails so I hope you understand that I need to sort them out. The car is ready to be yours, but only if you shall understand and you won’t make me loose time as it has already happened to me.
The price is $3,600 USD! THIS IS MY LAST PRICE! I will not negotiate the price!
Also, I take in consideration only those buyers who are really interested in buying the car, to be sure that I’m not waisting my time with endless discussions. This way, I’ll be assured of the serious intentions.
So if you are interested please email me!
Please click here for more photos:
http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk41/2006_nissan_maxima_se/
Kind Regards,
James Preston
he begs you not to flag his post
He changed his name to Sgt. Martin Tippins. See below!
Hello and sorry for my delay,
I`m Sgt.Martin Tippins. The 2002 Toyota Camry XLE 4 CYL is in perfect working condition.This detailed vehicle makes the exterior look like it just came off the assembly line.The car has only 16,495 original miles.VIN Number: 4T1BE32K02U038622.
It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones. The body and paint are great. The interior is super clean, mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet.
Options
CD Player Leather Seats Sunroof
Driver Airbag Passenger Airbag Anti-Lock Brakes
Air Conditioning Cruise Control Power Locks
Power Seats Power Windows
PICS: http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/campicq/
So if you decide on buying the car, I want the deal closed only through eBay. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it, eBay will release the payment to me, in this way we are both protected. I signed up for US military forces and I was sent here with my department to improve the military relations between our country and Croatia. I am located in Zagreb,Croatia.1 months ago, my wife moved here, with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States, because we can’t drive it here because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is US 2,900 $. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping .It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place.From the moment the payment is secured by eBay the shipping process will begin and it will arrive at your address in about 3 max. 4 working days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you and have a great day,
Martin Tippins
I also went to Craigslist and recieved this email the same lies as the other people recieved. After 2 days and emailing this thief that I was interested in the offer my daugher found this scam blog..thank you so much!
Hello and sorry for my delay,
I`m Sgt. Robert Knight . The 2000 Honda Accord EX is in perfect working condition.This detailed vehicle makes the exterior look like it just came off the assembly line.The car has 116879 highway miles.VIN Number: 1hgcg1655ya068349
It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones. The body and paint are great. The interior is super clean, mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet.
Standard Equipment:
POWER DOOR LOCKS CRUISE CONTROL ABS POWER STEERING
CD AM/FM RADIO POWER WINDOWS AIR CONDITIONING
EX 2 WHEEL DRIVE POWER SEAT DRIVER DUAL AIR BAGS
6 CYLINDER 3.0 LITER VTEC
PICS: http://s279.photobucket.com/albums/kk140/2000haccordV/
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection (VPP) in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it(for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you will don`t be satisfied about the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back. I am located in Zagreb,Croatia and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between USA and Croatia. One months ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is US 2,950 $. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. From the moment the payment is secured by eBay the shipping process will begin and it will arrive at your address in about 3 max. 4 business day Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you and have a great day,
Robert Knight
Another big THANK YOU!!! I received this odd e-mail after asking about mileage on a vehicle I saw on Craigs List. Thank goodness I don’t trust these things easily and did a search first!!! He’s not claiming to be military. So they are changing their ways . . .
Hello Misty
Sorry for the delayed response, but I’m in Glasgow (United Kingdom) right now and I have been very busy. Anyway, thank you for your interest in buying
the car. The car is located in US right now and has US papers. Why is the price so low? I am here in UK with my new work and I cannot register the car
here, as it is made for USA, according to USA standards. So all that I want to do now is to sell the car at this price, because I need to sell it fast(I
already made a deposit here to buy me another). The title is clean and you will have absolutely no problems to register the car in the States.I will
tell you a few words about the car..
My 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LIMITED si with Automatic transmission it is in immaculate condition with 48,602 miles and have the VIN number: 3C8FY68B43T584646, rust free, no scratch and hasn’t been involved in any accident. The motor runs very well (4 CYLINDERS). The interior looks great. This car needs nothing, the title is clear, it is not a salvage one. I want this transaction to go smoothly enough as I am caught in the middle of some very important events and have little time at my disposal. I already have tons of emails so I hope you understand that I need to sort them out.
The price is $3,150 THIS IS MY LAST PRICE.I will not negotiate the price. I will take in consideration only those buyers who are really interested in
buying the car ,to be sure that I don’t waste my time with endless discussions. This way, I shall be assured of the serious intentions.
You can see the pictures here:
http://www.fototime.com/users/[email protected]
So if you are interested please email me back for next step.
Regards !!
Christian Hinder
I guess I am the newest person to add to this list. But i’m glad i found, cause if not might have fallen for it. OMG this Michael Topping guy is a character.
Hello and sorry for my delay,
I’m Sgt Michael Topping.The 2001 Honda Accord EX is in perfect working condition.This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth.This detailed vehicle makes the exterior look like it just came off the assembly line.The car has only 67250 highway miles.VIN # 1HGCG16551A078904
Options
Sunroof Cassette Player CD Player Leather Seats
Driver Airbag Side Airbags Anti-Lock Brakes Passenger Airbag
Air Conditioning Power Locks Power Windows Cruise Control
Power Seats
Here are the pics of the car :
http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj16/2001hondaaccordex/
(if the above link does not work copy and paste it into a new web browser window)
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it(for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you will don`t be satisfied about the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back. I am located in Zagreb,Croatia and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between USA and Croatia. One months ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is US 2,950 $. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 3 days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you and have a great day,
Michael Topping
Misty: looks like the price for the car went up too!
Thank you so much for posting this. My mom almost got caught looking at a 2002 VW Golf supposedly being sold by Sgt. Aaron Kerrigan out of Zagreb,Croatia.
This is the newest one, just today 6/5/08. The phone number listed for this person is 310-956-1688. He never picks up and the voicemail is always full. Pictures of car has license plate marked out too.
Hi,
I’m John, I got an email that you are interested in the 2000 Honda Accord I am selling on autotrader . I couldn’t reply earlier because I didn’t have the time to read my email in the past few days.
Anyway, to answer most of the common questions:
– it has 74k miles
– very clean, inside and out, it has no accident records
– clear title
– factory original, the only modifications I did are: new set of four sony speakers because the sound was not so good on the original ones and a set of floor mats bought last week
– I use Mobil 1 fully synthetic every 3,000 miles, I also treated the engine once with Dura Lube at 50k miles because they say it improves the performance and durability at the engine and if you want to keep it in the best shape, you should do the same every 20-30k miles.
I have kept exceptional maintenance on my car to avoid any problems on the road and it looks like new. Let me know if you’re interested and if you have other questions. I’m selling it for $4,400
BTW, where are you located?
http://www.coolcar.addr.com/2000HondaAccordEX.htm
Jaycee: That sounds very credible, easy for people to fall for it. Did the ad say it has to be shipped from somewhere or give some story? I wonder why he asked where you are located. The whited out license plate looked pretty funny though!
i pretty much fell for the martin tippins one. i even sent him my address and phone number…because multiple people around me were saying it was a great deal. but i just couldnt believe it, so i searched his email on ebay ([email protected]) and nothing came up. apparently im the most gullable person in the world because i still thought maybe it was okay, so then i googled his name and found this sight. i immediately called my bank to see if he could drain my account with the information i sent him (email, address, phone) and they said he wouldnt be able to do anything. this all happened within the last hour, so im still feeling pretty uneasy. i sent him an email saying, ” i know this is a scam, and you will not be getting anymore information from me. please do not contact my house or i will call the police. ”
do you think he can do anything with my address and phone number?
it sounded so legit 🙁
> Hello,> > As I said in my first email the car is currently located in Zagreb,Croatia.It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. Shipping will be done door-to-door, to your exact location, so you will not have to pick the car up yourself.> > As I know that my current situation is pretty special, I have done some researching and I have found a service that will be able o help us both with this transaction. I have found out that in this particular situation we can use eBay. I already apply for this program and extended its eligibility so it will work normally for both of us. They have developed a program called “Vehicle purchase protection program”.> > > > Here is how it works:> > 1. First of all I will need the following details from you: full name, shipping address and telephone number.> > 2. After I will receive the details from you, I will forward them to eBay.> > 3. After they will process your info, they will send us both invoices (email forms).The price for the car is $2,950 USD. This price includes all the shipping taxes and fees.> > 4. After you will make the payment in an eBay trust fund account and confirm it to them they will contact me and I will ship the car to you. After you receive the car you will have 10 days to test, verify and do whatever you need to the car. If you will buy, then I will receive the payment details from eBay so that I can pick up the money.> > 5. If the car is not as I told you or have some problems, or is not as described, they will refund you 100%. There is no risk in this deal. I don’t touch your money until you receive and inspect the car. The transaction is simple so everything should go as planed. If you will decide that you will not buy the car there will be no need to ship it back because I will surely find a buyer in your area.> > 6. From the moment the payment is secured by eBay the shipping process will begin and it will arrive at your address in about 3 max. 4 business days. You will also receive all the documents including the titles and a Bill of Sale. The cargo is insured so if the car is damaged during the shipping you will also be refunded.> > > > Thanks in advance!
My name is Lori and i saw the 2003 honda on Craigs list. I was trying to buy a car for my 16 year old daughter and thought this was too good to be true. I sent the man an e-mail asking about the car and he sent me an e-mail back telling me about eBay and the car was about $2990. After looking around online and searching for “Sgt. Carlos Arellano” my daughter googled his e-mail address and found this website.
I got the same thing, almost exactly like these others.
The email address was [email protected]
Here is what I got from craigslist.com and the emails received.
Hello ,
I apologize for the delay, I’m in the military and now I am in United Kingdom and that’s why I couldn’t reply in time. Anyway, thank you for your interest in buying the car. Why is the price so low? I am selling the car because I am here in UK with my work, and my regiment will be deployed in three weeks in Iraq and I think I’ll stay there for a while that’s why I’m selling it so cheap. I intend to buy a new car when I’ll get back home. So all that I want to do now is to sell the car at this price,because I need to sell it fast. Now I will tell you a few words about the car.2005 Toyota Prius 2WD, it is in perfect condition, with no need for additional repairs, no scratches, dings, special marks whatsoever.The interior looks great (NO SMOKING). It has 33,900 miles and the VIN # is: JTDKB22UX53078502 . It has a clear title ready to be signed and notarized on your name. I have the pictures hosted on the internet and you can see them at : http://s298.photobucket.com/albums/mm270/ioanak/
The price is $4,000 THIS IS MY LAST PRICE. I will not negotiate the price. I will take in consideration only those buyers who are really interested in buying the car, to be sure that I don’t waste my time with endless discussions.This way, I shall be assured of the serious intentions. So if you are interested please email me back for next step.
Warm regards,
John Folk ,
Then here is the second email:
Hi again,
Before leaving I had prearranged shipping and the payment with MoneyBookers Company (check http://www.moneybookers.com ) so my presence in U.S isn’t necessary(The car is in Virginia at a Navy base ready for delivery).The the price of car $4,000.00 includes all the shipping costs and insurance, so you won’t have to pay any extra charges. Since I work with the Navy the delivery process is not an issue, I’ll have the vehicle shipped at your home address in maximum 5 days.
Here is what I suggest: we will use MoneyBookers which acts like an escrow service(check Escrow Service http://www.moneybookers.com/app/help.pl?s=escrow ) , you make an deposit in an MoneyBookers managed trust fund ( they hold the money until you receive the car ), I send the car over( the car will be delivered with the title, owner’s manual, 2 sets of keys, service records, and of course the bill of sale authorised and signed by me),I will offer a 5 day period from the day you receive the vehicle, you can inspect it, take it to a mechanic to check it out, drive it and then if you decided to keep it, you’ll confirm to MoneyBookers the sale and they will send the payment to me. If, by any reason, you will not be satisfied with it ( even though I can assure you that it is exactly as described), you can return it at my expense for a full refund of your money, no questions asked.I think this is more than fair for the both of us.
NOTE: The payment is refundable, and is just a security measure, to make sure that you are serious, and that I am not going to ship the car, and loose time and money.
If you are interested to go ahead with the deal, please reply with your full name, phone # and shipping address so I can ask MoneyBookers to open a case! After, they will contact you explaining all the details regarding the payment.
I’m looking forward to hear from you.
God bless !
John Folk,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I pray no one is caught in this scam. Remember, if it is too good to be true, then it is!
I just rec’d the same sort of email this morning after inquiring on Craigslist Saturday. I did think it was too good to be true (price and mileage considered for age of car) and Googled Sgt Martin Tippins. Low and behold, look, at what I found!
Thanks for posting this information!
Patricia
I guess it’s my turn to add my story to this list. I just received the same email from Martin Tippins 2 hours ago. I knew it was a scam the minute he offered to ship the car for me for free from CROATIA!!! I’m like what the hell… And especially when he said it would go by US military cargo. That just didnt seem to make sense to me….but anyway, I sent him a reply saying “Who are you Father Christmas? Or do you take me for a damn fool? At least make your lies more believeable…”. Haha, called my mother and shared the story and we got a good chuckle out of the whole situation. But I didn’t realise the extent of this con ring. I sincerely hope no one gets taken by this.
I wrote back and told him “You need to Google yourself more often…” lol
Hello. I too went looking for a used car on Craig’s List and found a very nice car….2002 Honda Accord, with pictures that looked great, and all for the low, low price of $2900…and then I did a Google search and found this post. Thanks much, I appreciate it very much.
–Jason
Here’s the email response I got from “Greg”
Hello and sorry for my delay,
The 2002 Honda Accord is in perfect working condition.This detailed vehicle makes the exterior look like it just came off the assembly line.The car has only 78000 highway miles.VIN Number: 1hgcg56702a094180
It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones. The body and paint are great. The interior is super clean, mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet.
PICS: http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm193/HondaAccord2002SE/
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it(for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you will don`t be satisfied about the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back. I am located in Zagreb,Croatia and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between USA and Croatia. One months ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is US 2,900 $. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 3 max. 4 working days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you and have a great day,
Greg Draper
________________________________________
I almost sent the money today for a 2002 nissan altima the price was to good to be true at $2,950.00. My husband and I have five kids and he drives 60 miles to work everyday we have been saving to buy him a more fuel efficient vehicle when this came up we were so excited. My husband was to send the money today when he got done with work. I got a little nervous so I decided to google SSGT Aaron Kerrigan in Croatia this site came up and I can not tell you how thankful I am. It would have taken us forever to save this money again. Here is one of the e-mails :Hello,
I`m SSGT Aaron Kerrigan. You have to know that the car I am selling is in a perfect cosmetic and engine condition and
meticulously maintained. No damage, no scratches or dents, no hidden defects, the engine runs and sounds awesome.
The title is clear. It has 74,200 miles. The VIN# is 1N4AL11DX2C162728
For more pictures click in the link below:
http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk282/02altimaS/
The only problem is my current situation. I was an US Air Force reserve and I was recently recalled to serve in Croatia.
One month ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the
United States because In order to be able to register this car here, I would have to pay very high import/custom taxes.
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection
Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until
you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and inspect it (for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me;
in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you won`t be satisfied with the car i will surely find another
buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back.
My final price on it is $ 2950. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from
here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area
and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 5 days.
Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want
it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you and have a nice day,
Aaron Kerrigan
Were looking for a car for my 16 year old daughter when we came across this. I searched his name and found this article, I’m so glad I didn’t actually fall for such a scam.
Hello,
I`m Sgt. Aaron Kerrigan. You have to know that the 2003 Honda Accord EX 4 Cyl I am selling is 100% working and great looking, no flaws or dents, no scratches or any kind of damage. The title is clear. It has 37,391 miles. The VIN# is 1HGCM56603A136574. This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth. No electrical problems on this beauty. This detailed vehicle makes the exterior looks like it just came off the assembly line.
Options
CD player Leather seats Sunroof
Driver airbag Passenger airbag Side airbags
Anti-lock brakes Air conditioning Cruise control
Power locks Power seats Power windows
Here are the pics of the car :
http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/2003haccW/
(if the above link does not work copy and paste it into a new web browser window)
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and inspect it (for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you won`t be satisfied with the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back.
I am located in Zagreb,Croatia and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between our country and Croatia. One month ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because In order to be able to register this car here, I would have to pay very high import/custom taxes. My final price on it is $ 2980. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 4 days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you, and have a nice day,
Sgt. Aaron Kerrigan
I got the same letter. Thank you for doing this blog.
Hello,
I`m Sgt. Carlos Arellano. You have to know that the 2003 Honda Accord LX 4 Cyl I am selling is 100% working and great looking, no flaws or dents, no scratches or any kind of damage. The title is clear. It has 31246 miles. The VIN# is 1HGCM56353A081027. This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth. No electrical problems on this beauty. This detailed vehicle makes the exterior looks like it just came off the assembly line.
Options
Sunroof CD Player
Anti-Lock Brakes Driver Airbag Passenger Airbag Side Airbags
Air Conditioning Cruise Control Power Locks Power Windows
Here are the pics of the car :
http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm161/2003haccpics/
(if the above link does not work copy and paste it into a new web browser window)
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and inspect it (for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you won`t be satisfied with the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back.
I am located in Zagreb,Croatia and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between our country and Croatia. One month ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because In order to be able to register this car here, I would have to pay very high import/custom taxes. My final price on it is $ 2990. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 4 days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you, and have a nice day,
Sgt. Carlos Arellano
This is my 2nd letter I received. This scammer is using a deceased military combat soldiers name. Carlos Arellano died in his 3rd tour to Iraq in 2006. You cannot get any lower than this. He is using 2 email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]. If you have the time, let him have it!!!!!
Hello,
As I said in my first email the car is currently located in Zagreb,Croatia.It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. Shipping will be done door-to-door, to your exact location, so you will not have to pick the car up yourself.
As I know that my current situation is pretty special, I have done some researching and I have found a service that will be able o help us both with this transaction. I have found out that in this particular situation we can use eBay. I already apply for this program and extended its eligibility so it will work normally for both of us. They have developed a program called “Vehicle purchase protection program”.
Here is how it works:
1. First of all I will need the following details from you: full name, shipping address and telephone number.
2. After I will receive the details from you, I will forward them to eBay.
3. After they will process your info, they will send us both invoices (email forms).The price for the car is $2,990 USD. This price includes all the shipping taxes and fees.
4. After you will make the payment in an eBay trust fund account and confirm it to them they will contact me and I will ship the car to you. After you receive the car you will have 10 days to test, verify and do whatever you need to the car. If you will buy, then I will receive the payment details from eBay so that I can pick up the money.
5. If the car is not as I told you or have some problems, or is not as described, they will refund you 100%. There is no risk in this deal. I don’t touch your money until you receive and inspect the car. The transaction is simple so everything should go as planed. If you will decide that you will not buy the car there will be no need to ship it back because I will surely find a buyer in your area.
6. From the moment the payment is secured by eBay the shipping process will begin and it will arrive at your address in about 3 max. 4 business days. You will also receive all the documents including the titles and a Bill of Sale. The cargo is insured so if the car is damaged during the shipping you will also be refunded.
Thanks in advance!
I got the same. I only caught on when Ebay had no invoice in my account and the whole western union thing worried me. What a piece of work. Can’t they trace this person somehow. Why would ebay not have the backing to trace someone using their logo to make a buck.
I got the same emails as well. Michael Storm claimed to be stationed in Croatia and has a 2004 Honda Civic DX Sedan for sale for $2,900.00. He would ship it to me at no additional costs. Thank goodness that I googled this type of scam. Something should be done with this guy. Lock him up and throw away the key.
I too got a similar response this morning and as I thought it was too good to be true, i googled the VIN number and got this forum.
Hello and sorry for my delay,
I’m SGT Paul Hamed. This Accord EX is in perfect working condition. This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth. No electrical problems on this beauty. This detailed vehicle makes the exterior looks like it just came off the assembly line. The car has 37391 miles. VIN Number: 1HGCM56603A136574
Sunroof Leather Seats Cassette Player CD Player Transmission: Automatic
Anti-Lock Brakes Driver Airbag Passenger Airbag Side Airbags
Air Conditioning Cruise Control Power Locks Power Windows Power Seats
Click this link for more pics: http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk77/cernb1g5/
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it(for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you won`t be satisfied about the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back. I am located in Zagreb, Croatia and I was sent here with my department of peace maintenance. Two months ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is 2,960 USD. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 3 days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Best Regards,
Paul and Stephanie Hamed
He change his name to SGT Robert Wilkins
I responded to the CL ad 7/8/08 and received a response today from Sgt. Robert Tippins–red flag was the price-especially when he replied that the car had less than 17K original miles. (I had asked if it was a salvaged title or what was the deal on the low price)…then I got the reply email that was worded (almost verbatim) above.
You know what they say, “If it’s too good to be true…”
I did a Google and found this site…honestly, I wasn’t shocked at all…be careful out there!!!
P.S. Here is the email address used in his correspondence:
[email protected]
Thank you dude….
You saved my savings!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There’s also the scam on Craigslist from this gentlemen. I’ve found two cars from him and rec’d emails on both they also use photobucket. I think his name is Jeff. They’re not military but they are overseas on business. Similar situation I ot the one on the Honda earlier today.
Here;s another one.
Hello,
Sorry for the delayed response, but I’m in Glasgow (United Kingdom) right now and I have been very busy. Anyway, thank you for your interest in buying
the car. The car is located in US right now and has US papers. Why is the price so low? I am here in UK with my new work and I cannot register the car
here, as it is made for USA, according to USA standards. So all that I want to do now is to sell the car at this price, because I need to sell it fast(I
already made a deposit here to buy me another). The title is clean and you will have absolutely no problems to register the car in the States.I will
tell you a few words about the car..
My 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY CE/LE/XLE with Automatic transmission it is in immaculate condition with 98.389 miles and have the VIN number: 4T1BG22K9XU470380, rust free, no scratch and hasn’t been involved in any accident. The motor runs very well (4 Cylinder). The interior looks great. This car needs nothing, the title is clear, it is not a salvage one. I want this transaction to go smoothly enough as I am caught in the middle of some very important events and have little time at my disposal. I already have tons of emails so I hope you understand that I need to sort them out. The price is $2,870 THIS IS MY LAST PRICE.I will not negotiate the price. I will take in consideration only those buyers who are really interested in
buying the car ,to be sure that I don’t waste my time with endless discussions. This way, I shall be assured of the serious intentions.
You can see the pictures here:
http://s342.photobucket.com/albums/o421/trawisd/?start=0
So if you are interested please email me back for next step.
Regards !!
I’m glad I’m not the only one.
There is another one I ran into for a Honda Insight. This one has apparently been making the rounds. Craigslist pulled it really fast too which I thought was so odd. Here is the email I received
Hi there ,
Thank you for your interest in my car.This is a 2003 Honda Insight Hybrid ,Exterior Color Silver,Interior Color Gray,Automatic Transmission,non-smoker, clean title,only 113,760 miles on it,VIN# : JHMZE14783T000190.
Here you can find more pictures of the car: http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk178/2003HondaInsight/
(if the above link does not work copy and paste it into a new web browser window).
The car has been well taken care of, always kept in the garage.Flawless exterior/interior condition,no scratches and no dents.It has never been involved in an accident.The engine starts and drives like new and the paint looks great.It comes with US clear title which will be signed and notorized in the buyer’s name.Have original manuals and all keys.
I’m an US Air Force Lieutenant currently stationed in United Kingdom.The car is here with me. It was bought in the US and shipped to Europe, but it was never permanently registered here, the car is still registered in the US.The car is for sale locally as well, but there are slim chances of this to happen. In order to be able to register this car here in UK the buyer would have to pay very high import/custom taxes that will double the price. So I decided to sell the car back in the US.
The price is $4,800.00 including shipping from UK to the US and delivery to your home address.
So if you decide to buy this car or need further information please get back to me as soon as possible.
Thank you
Lt. Michael Wagner
Apparently Honda Hybrids, Prius, and the Insight are really big now for these scams.
Thanks for your blog posting, it got me to do my homework and re- learn the lesson if it is too good to be true.
i was browsing through craigslist the other day and i found an add for a 2002 toyota camry for only $2990.00 i am only 16 and looking for a safe inexpensive car and this seemed like it could be it. but there wasnt that much information on it so i e-mailed the guy asking him what the mileage was on it. this was the response
Hello and sorry for my delay,
I`m Sgt. Richard Boyce You have to know that the 2002 Toyota Camry SE 4 Cyl Automatic I am selling is 100% working and great looking, no flaws or dents, no scratches or any kind of damage. The title is clear. It has 66700 miles.The VIN# is 4T1BE32K73U120770 This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth. No electrical problems on this beauty. This detailed vehicle makes the exterior looks like it just came off the assembly line.
Options
CD Player Anti-Lock Brakes Driver Airbag Passenger Airbag
Side Airbags Air Conditioning Cruise Control Power Locks Power Windows Power Seats
PICS: http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk45/2002canryseL/
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and inspect it (for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you won`t be satisfied with the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back.
I am located in Zagreb,Croatia and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between our country and Croatia. One month ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because In order to be able to register this car here, I would have to pay very high import/custom taxes. My final price on it is $ 2990. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 4 days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you, and have a nice day,
Richard Boyce
i cant believe people would “involve” the military in their scams. this is just not right. although i just realized a little while ago that when your in the millitary you do not have these random e-mail addresses. usually they have your name and the millitary branch you’re in. so theres a tip that might be helpful to some of you.
also when i looked up the VIN# on carfax and other vehicle history report websites and they all said there were 12 events found on this vehicle which could mean accidents and thefts but i wasnt going to pay $36.00 since i knew all of the events would be negative anyway
Thank you for this post. I too inquired about a very low priced car I found on craigslist and got the exact same response back. Since this was not the first time I had received a scam e-mail back regarding a vehicle listed on craigslist (the first one was about a car I was selling) I was a little hesitant. However; I figured that since it was coming from a military personnel then it was ok. I went through my day still worried about it and decided to google “car scams from “military” personnel. I found this and now I know it’s a scam. 🙂 THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! 🙂
i too seen the same guy with the same story but he was trying to improve relations with Croatia this time, as Sgt. Carlos Arellano and selling honda accord 2003…i don’t know how may countries he want to improve relations may be next time he will do it with Afghanistan also hahaha……..
HELLO,
I am 17 yrs. old and i recently had a car that i bought die out and was looking for a cheap car so i could also start saving money for college. Like many of you i found an amazing deal on craigslist for a honda accord for sale by a Sgt. Aaron Kerrigan. After talking to my mom and about to give him my info. i googled his name just to be sure and needless to say i found this blog so i just wanted to say thank you for putting this out there… it definitely saved me!
THANK YOU!
Hi i was also looking for a car and yeah i was like whoooooaaa a toyota camry for under $3000. YEAH BABY and i emailed at like about 2 AM they posted at about 12.35AM later in the day i get the email like above (now below) so i was like yeah hunny lets send the money to ebay before soem one else buys it. Umm my husband reads and says “are you stupid” they are scamers ebay does not hold money. Then he peplys from the same email i sent them and asks is this still available. 1 day later they say (same story diffrent vin# and color)
[email protected] (Reply address)
Hello, 07/29/08
As I know that my current situation is pretty special, I have done some researching and I have found a service that will be able o help us both with this transaction. I have found out that in this particular situation we can use eBay. I already apply for this program and extended its eligibility so it will work normally for both of us. They have developed a program called “Vehicle purchase protection program”.
Here is how it works:
1. First of all I will need the following details from you: full name, shipping address and telephone number.
2. After I will receive the details from you, I will forward them to eBay.
3. After they will process your info, they will send us both invoices (email forms).
4. After you will make the payment in an eBay trust fund account and confirm it to them they will contact me and I will ship the car to you. After you receive the car you will have 10 days to test, verify and do whatever you need to the car. If you will buy, then I will receive the payment details from eBay so that I can pick up the money.
5. If the car is not as I told you or have some problems, or is not as described, they will refund you 100%. There is no risk in this deal. I don’t touch your money until you receive and inspect the car. The transaction is simple so everything should go as planed. If you will decide that you will not buy the car there will be no need to ship it back because I will surely find a buyer in your area.
Thanks in advance!
07/30/08 5AM
Hello and sorry for my delay,
The 2003 Honda Accord Sedan EX is in perfect working condition.This detailed vehicle makes the exterior look like
it just came off the assembly line.The car has only 90625 original miles.VIN Number: 1hgcm66583a042469
It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones. The body and paint are great. The interior is super
clean, mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet.
PICS: http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk305/2003HondaAccordSedanEX/
So if you decide on buying the car, I want the deal closed only through eBay. You will make the payment to eBay and
they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it, eBay will
release the payment to me, in this way we are both protected. I signed up for US military forces and I was sent here
with my department to improve the military relations between our country and Croatia . I am located in
Zagreb,Croatia.1 months ago, my wife moved here, with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it
back in the United States, because we can’t drive it here because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and
everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is US 2,900 $. If you will
take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping .It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air
Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will
be trucked forward to your place.From the moment the payment is secured by eBay the shipping process will begin and
it will arrive at your address in about 3 max. 4 working days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and
include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You
will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you and have a great day,
David W. Ziegler
[email protected] ( reply address)
I am so glad I found this blog! I just got the same email about a 2003 Camry, thought it sounded too good to be true, and it is. I contacted ebay, and they are investigating the matter. I highly reccomend that you forward your original emails from these people to: [email protected]. They said that since ebay was mentioned, they have the authority to investigate. If we all send our emails maybe these people can get apprehended. Anyway, thanks so much for posting this! I’m glad we all managed to avoid this one.
WOW!!!! This is my story. A few months ago my teacher told us about a car (altima) he saw on craigslist it ended up the same way as it did by every one else. Then a few months later my dad saw an accord, same story. Now it was my turn with a camry, so Sgt. Martin Tippins who is stationed in Zegrab, Croatia replies with the whole story about why he has to sell this wonderful car.
PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS.
this was going to be my 1st car. my dad was willing to buy it for me.
my friend brought this to my attention!
OMFG. im so sad. BUT THANK YOU GUYS FOR POSTING THINGS LIKE THIS ….
Hello,
I`m Sgt. Mark J Loranty. You have to know that the 2003 Honda Accord EX 4 Cyl Automatic I am selling is 100% working and great looking, no flaws or dents, no scratches or any kind of damage. The title is clear. It has 37,391 miles. The VIN# is 1HGCM56603A136574. This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth. No electrical problems on this beauty. This detailed vehicle makes the exterior looks like it just came off the assembly line.
Options
CD player Leather seats Sunroof
Driver airbag Passenger airbag Side airbags
Anti-lock brakes Air conditioning Cruise control
Power locks Power seats Power windows
Here are the pics of the car :
http://s288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/2003haccW/
(if the above link does not work copy and paste it into a new web browser window)
As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and inspect it (for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you won`t be satisfied with the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back.
I am located in Zagreb,Croatia and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between our country and Croatia. One month ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States because In order to be able to register this car here, I would have to pay very high import/custom taxes. My final price on it is $ 2990. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 4 days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you, and have a nice day,
Sgt. Mark J Loranty
Thanks so much for sharing this, guys! My guy was a Sgt. Daniel Russell from Croatia… Total scam! These people are so freaking unoriginal.
WOWWWWWWWWWWWW, I am in Chicago and I was looking for a car and came accross the add on Craiglist it was to good to be true my husband is a mechanic and he was excited about the deal he looked at the photo book pictures and said that the car looked so good like it just came off the line (whatever that is) so me being the women that I am, said “well the email didnt make since to me, why would they want you to do it through ebay and who the hell does all that for only 2,900!”. Thats when I decided to google his name and I have found this site among others talking about the scam. I am sitting at my desk laughing as I type because people really think that others are that gullable. Times are to hard to just be sending money to different accounts for purchases online that you cant put your hands on or physically see. I am about to reply to his email and ask him if I can get more information about the vehicle. Thanks for this post because it helped to save me time and money.
Hi everybody,
I just wanted to thank you for having this blog because I just almost got caught in it too. I say the car on Rochester’s craig list and I email the guy and the email below was his response. I just thought that this was too good to be true so I decided to fish around and see if there is anything on the web and your blog came up. I am originally from Bosnia, which is the neighboring country of Croatia. My parents have sent cars from the US to Bosnia AND Croatia and never had any issues in registering them. The only requirement is that the car cannot be salvage value and the it can’t be more then 10 years old. So, that’s where I became skeptical about this. I just wanted to thank you for saving me some money and I was just wondering if anyone know how these people are getting all of these VIN #s, I hope that it is not that easy to get them. I checked the CarFax Report and everything seemes legit, but I’m just not sure how they’re getting all of them? Again, thank you for all the info because you just saved me some money and hopefully someone else too.
Amela
Hello and sorry for my delay,
I`m Sgt.Martin Tippins. The 2004 Toyota Camry LE 4 CYL Automatic is in perfect working condition.This detailed vehicle makes the exterior look like it just came off the assembly line.The car has only 15202 miles.VIN Number: 4t1be32k74u274414
It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones. The body and paint are great. The interior is super clean, mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet.
Standard Equipment:
POWER DOOR LOCKS POWER MIRRORS CRUISE CONTROL POWER STEERING
KEYLESS ENTRY AM/FM RADIO CASSETTE POWER WINDOWS
AIR CONDITIONING LE POWER SEAT DRIVER
AIR BAG 4 CYLINDER 2.4 LITER
PICS: http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/2004camrr/
So if you decide on buying the car, I want the deal closed only through eBay. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it, eBay will release the payment to me, in this way we are both protected. I signed up for US military forces and I was sent here with my department to improve the military relations between our country and Croatia. I am located in Zagreb,Croatia.1 months ago, my wife moved here, with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States, because we can’t drive it here because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is US 2,950 $. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping .It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place.From the moment the payment is secured by eBay the shipping process will begin and it will arrive at your address in about 3 max. 4 working days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you and have a great day,
Martin Tippins
The original email on the ad was [email protected] and the reply was from [email protected]
The listing states:
A BEAUTIFUL PRIUS! Super White finish with gray interior in EXCELLENT condition. 48 MPG. Package #4 including ALL AIRBAGS (Front and side curtain) Smart Key, Back-up Camera, Traction Control, Alloy Wheels, AC, AM/FM/CD, MORE. No accidents, non-smoking owner, regularly maintained, still under factory warranty. If you are looking for a loaded prius in awesome condition – this is it! $8500
So i responded to the add and received this email:
Hi again,
The car is already at the shipping company in Bedford, MA sealed and ready for the shipping.I’m very busy with my job and I’m left out of the town so I can’t meet in person with you so this is the reason why I chose to sell my car over the internet
Here’s how our deal works :
In order to complete this deal the payment must be sent to ebay trough bank to bank transfer. As soon as they receive the payment will notify me to start the delivery.After that you will receive all information about delivery so you can be able to track your shipment online.ebay will hold your payment until you receive and inspect the car (you have 5 days for inspection) If you will find the smallest problem with the car you will ship it back on my expense and ebay will send you your full amount back.
Basically ebay holds your money safe until you confirm that the car is what you have expected and you want to buy it. It is not a sight unseen deal. We are both covered.
Sorry for the long emails I have tried to touch all bases.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Maria Hinshaw
I responded back to her email and told her that she was full of shit and that I would report this to craigslist.
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! God bless you guys for posting this on here i cant believe i almost fell for it i knew it was to good to be true its like the guy copy and posted the same email to everyone i cant believe there are people out there that would do this TO ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE THIS IS NOT TRUE THIS IS A SCAM PLEASE DONT FALL FOR IT IF THE PRICE LOOKS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE THEN GUESS WHAT IT IS I REPEAT THIS IS A SCAM SCAM SCAM!!!!!!!
WARNING!!!!!! WARNING!!!!!!!!! THIS GUY IS A SCAMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is what he sent me after i emailed him about the 2004 toyota camry that was posted on craigs list i had emailed him last night and just got his email from him this morning.
Hello and sorry for my delay,
I`m Sgt.Martin Tippins. The 2004 Toyota Camry LE 4 CYL Automatic is in perfect working condition.This detailed vehicle makes the exterior look like it just came off the assembly line.The car has only 15202 miles.VIN Number: 4t1be32k74u274414
It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones. The body and paint are great. The interior is super clean, mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet.
Standard Equipment:
POWER DOOR LOCKS POWER MIRRORS CRUISE CONTROL POWER STEERING
KEYLESS ENTRY AM/FM RADIO CASSETTE POWER WINDOWS
AIR CONDITIONING LE POWER SEAT DRIVER
AIR BAG 4 CYLINDER 2.4 LITER
PICS: http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/2004camrr/
So if you decide on buying the car, I want the deal closed only through eBay. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it, eBay will release the payment to me, in this way we are both protected. I signed up for US military forces and I was sent here with my department to improve the military relations between our country and Croatia. I am located in Zagreb,Croatia.1 months ago, my wife moved here, with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in the United States, because we can’t drive it here because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is US 2,950 $. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping .It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place.From the moment the payment is secured by eBay the shipping process will begin and it will arrive at your address in about 3 max. 4 working days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.
Thank you and have a great day,
Martin Tippins
NOTE: right after i emailed him last night he had taken the post off of craigs list i tryed searching the car again and got nothing. after takeing it off last night then he emailed me about the car this morning.