1 2
neon4891
neon4891 SuperDork
3/9/09 4:10 p.m.

4 different ads for the same car, not just a cut and paste! '99 M3 vert $3500

http://ithaca.craigslist.org/cto/1067540421.html

http://binghamton.craigslist.org/cto/1067515797.html

http://elmira.craigslist.org/cto/1067391436.html

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/1067498501.html

Strizzo
Strizzo Dork
3/9/09 4:24 p.m.

first two have already been flagged down

neon4891
neon4891 SuperDork
3/9/09 4:30 p.m.

Figured. I would have Flagged them my self if i wasn't going to try and show how they Actually made the ads different.

Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
3/9/09 4:33 p.m.

add grand rapids http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/1067563074.html

$3507 lol

pres589
pres589 New Reader
3/9/09 8:46 p.m.

Same basic ad has been posted in the Wichita KS Craigslist (yes, we have our own, we're all grown up now apparently), last night it was a green 1995 (or so) M3 convertible with an automatic transmission for $3502.

Not that I have a Firefox tab aimed at the auto section of wichita.craigslist.net with "bmw" as the standing search string or anything...

Brust
Brust New Reader
3/10/09 12:34 a.m.

Sheesh, I go to craigslist not 10 seconds after reading this, and the moron has put in on the Hawaii version as well. I don't know how to flag, but I'm going to give it a shot. Maybe I should eff with him a bit first?

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/cto/1068225902.html

cwh
cwh Dork
3/10/09 5:27 a.m.

As of 6:20AM, he has it listed on Miami Craigs List. I responded, asked where I can see the car, have cash in hand. We'll see if he responds. Will advise.

cwh
cwh Dork
3/10/09 11:28 a.m.

Got a response from him with a California phone number. Hello and sorry for the late reply. Hope I'm not too late and you didn't already purchased another car.

For sale is my 1999 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE SPORT PKG in immaculate condition with only 95k miles, rust free, no scratch and hasn't been involved in any accident. Engine is a 3.2L L6 FI DOHC 24V with a automatic trans. The interior looks great (never smoked in). This car needs nothing and comes with a CLEAN title. I want this transaction to be smooth and I don't have much time at my disposal to waste my time with endless discussions. I believe $3,500.00 (not negotiable) is more than a fair price. You can reach me at (916) 273-8261 or you can email me if you are interested.

Thank you,

Lt. Elliott, James

P.S. More pictures here: http://s559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/ltelliottjames

I e-mailed that I wanted to see the car, but if it is in California that is difficult, and asked why he is advertising in Miami. I doubt if I will get a response.

Jensenman
Jensenman SuperDork
3/10/09 2:56 p.m.

I guess it's just me but I have to wonder if anybody actually falls for stuff like that. Or the Nigerian Email scams.

I guess it's like PT Barnum said: 'there's a sucker born every minute, and two to take him.'

cwh
cwh Dork
3/10/09 3:10 p.m.

And note that Craigs List puts a huge banner at the top saying offers to ship vehicles are 100% fradulent!! But they still do it. From the numbers of these ads, SOMEBODY must fall for them. I am sure not too many, but I could probably live well in NIgeria on one or two successes a month. Greedy people will always find a way to get cheated. My step daughter is a perfect example. She has been trying to do a gold scam for months, finally had a guy pay her way to Senegal to bring back 20 kilos of unprocessed gold. This is absolutly not BS. She will be very lucky to get out alive. She is hoping to fly back Thursday. No gold, of course. My wife is going insane in the mean time.

Jensenman
Jensenman SuperDork
3/10/09 3:16 p.m.

Wow.

cwh
cwh Dork
3/10/09 3:38 p.m.

It's a long and very unpleasant story that I probably should not have posted here, but it seemd appropriate at the time. I am not fond of scammers.

cwh
cwh Dork
3/10/09 7:18 p.m.

Well, I got the expected response.

The car is at Fort Irwin, California, where i am currently stationed, until March 25, when I will be deployed to Afghanistan. This is why I must sell it before that. Shipping won't be a problem for me. I will take care of that, with no costs on your end. This is a large amount and I would like to conduct the deal using an authorized third party like eBay using their Purchase Protection Program, so this should eliminate any trust issues. They will keep a deposit until the purchase is final, and you test and accept the car. If you will not get the car as described, and also a clean title you will receive your money back. To be able to use this program you need to qualify. I have been approved 3 years ago and I was very satisfied. So, if you are interested in buying my car just let me know your name and shipping address. I will forward them to eBay's protection program and wait for the approval. The ad generated a great deal of interest and people have been calling me non stop and the line was down for a while

I will respond and agree to this, and we will see how far I can berkeley with him.

Apexcarver
Apexcarver SuperDork
3/10/09 7:21 p.m.

even better, any GRMers in ft irwin? say you have an associate there who would want to inspect the car. 10-1 he clams up entirely.

cwh
cwh Dork
3/10/09 7:22 p.m.

I sent him this:

Well, as long as I am protected by E-Bay, OK. Ship to CW Hanlon, 1988 Argyle, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33312. What is next? CW

It's a bogus address, but is my name. Maybe that was a mistake.

cwh
cwh Dork
3/10/09 7:26 p.m.

I guarantee the Ft. Irvin address is bogus. I've been down this merry street before, thay don't have the car, so there is no way they will allow an inspection. He's trying to get sympathy by claiming to be an American serviceman ready to deploy to Afganistan, which puts him in a deeper pit of Hell as far as I'm concerned. The game continues.

cwh
cwh Dork
3/10/09 7:28 p.m.

The next step will be that I am instructed to wire money to a Western Union address. I'll let ya'll know.

cwh
cwh Dork
3/11/09 8:01 a.m.

Just got this in. Sure looks good, but it's all bogus

Congratulations, You are approved to buy. Please pay now!

Dear CW Hanlon, Congratulations! You are approved to buy this eBay item from James Elliott.

1999 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE SPORT PKG

Sale price: US $3,500.00 Deposit: US $2,000.00 Shipping & Handling: US $0.00

Insurance: Included. Sales tax: US $0.00.

Details: Item Title: 1999 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE SPORT PKG Sale Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Seller: James Elliott Payment details: Please follow this eBay Purchase Protection invoice to complete the Checkout Seller Information Full Name James Elliott Address Fort Irwin AFB City / State Fort Irwin / CA Zipcode 92310 Country United States Status Approved Buyer Information Full Name CW Hanlon Address 1988 Argyle City / State Ft. Lauderdale / FL Zipcode 33312 Country United States Status Approved

Payment Instructions: eBay requires the deposit of $2,000.00 for this item to be done through Money Gram transfer service to our representative.

How to make payment:

  1. Go to the nearest Money Gram Office:

  2. Make the deposit with cash using the following eBay representative information: Name Steve Hainsworth Address 2145 Hamilton Avenue City - State: San Jose - CA Zip: 95125 Country: United States

  3. After you complete the transfer, fax eBay Motors at +1 (408) 904-5876 or +1 (408) 904-5901 the following:

  4. Money Gram receipt(s)
  5. Shipping Address

NOTICE: When eBay receives the payment confirmation the item will be shipped to your address by DAS for ground delivery or insured airship cargo for long distance delivery. The Vehicle Purchase Protection program protects your vehicle purchase against fraud and material misrepresentation. This program is provided by eBay for FREE. There is no sign-up, opt-in, or registration necessary. Your vehicle purchase is protected for up to $20,000 or the vehicle purchase price, whichever is lower. Regards, Safeharbor Department (Trust and Safety Department) eBay.

Contact the seller if you have any questions about the sale.

If you encounter any problems with this transaction, please contact us. When contacting our support team, use the reply feature so that all previous correspondence are included in your email. Otherwise, we will not be able to process your request.

This eBay notice was sent to CW Hanlon. As outlined in our User Agreement, eBay will send you required notifications about the site and your transactions.

Copyright © 2009 eBay. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. The eBay logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of eBay, Inc.

_ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 3926 (20090311) _

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

Also this-

Overview - 1999 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE SPORT PKG

Hello CW Hanlon,

You are receiving this e-mail because your seller (James Elliott) requested to use eBay Protection Program for a vehicle transaction. The eBay Vehicle Protection Program offers a set of services that build protection into every step of the vehicle buying process. Some of the elements are automatically included when you buy a vehicle covered by the program element (not all elements are available for all vehicles) while some of the elements are available for a small fee. The eBay Vehicle Protection Program is your safety net in the rare occasion that something goes wrong.

Programs Included with your eBay Purchase

Ensures that you receive the vehicle you paid for with coverage up to $20,000! Coverage varies by vehicle type, but protection against fraud is included with the purchase of most vehicles including passenger vehicles, motorcycles, boats, RVs, ATVs, and many more. Additionally, protection against material misrepresentation is included for passenger vehicles, boats, buses, commercial trucks, and RVs.

What Does the Vehicle Purchase Protection Program Cover?

Vehicle Purchase Protection covers buyers who are buying a vehicle from a verified Vehicle Purchase Protection member. The protection program provides coverage for situations such as: The following types of fraud and material misrepresentation are covered: • Paying for a vehicle and never receiving it; • Sending a payment for a vehicle and never receiving the vehicle; • Paying for and receiving a vehicle: • that was a stolen vehicle at the time of the transaction; • with an undisclosed or unknown lien against its title; • of a make and/or model that is different than what was described in the seller's listing; • without receiving the title for that vehicle from the seller, if it is impossible for you to obtain a title from the appropriate Department of Motor Vehicles (both the seller's state and the buyer's state must require a certificate of title on the vehicle in order to qualify for coverage) • whose title is subject to an undisclosed salvage, rebuilt/rebuildable, unrebuildable, reconstructed, scrapped/destroyed, junk, lemon, manufacturer buyback, or water damage title brand at the time of the sale.

Step 1: The buyer and seller agree to the terms and details of the transaction.
Step 2: The buyer sends payment to eBay Safe Dept. Payment is verified and deposited into a trust account.
Step 3: The seller ships the merchandise to the buyer, knowing that the buyer's payment is secured.
Step 4: The buyer accepts the merchandise after having the opportunity to inspect it.
Step 5: eBay pays the seller after all conditions of the transaction are met.

Buy with confidence on eBay!

The Vehicle Purchase Protection program protects your vehicle purchase against fraud and material misrepresentation. This program is provided by eBay for FREE on all eligible transactions made by users already enrolled in Vehicle Purchase Protection. There's no sign-up, opt-in, or registration necessary. Your vehicle purchase is protected for up to $20,000 or the vehicle purchase price, whichever is lower. The following table provides a summary of the vehicles types covered and the coverage offered for each.

Vehicle Type Maximum Coverage1 Fraud Coverage2 Material Misrepresentation Coverage3 Per Claim Deductible Minimum Damage Requirement4 (if applicable) Passenger Vehicle $20,000

$100 $1,500 Motorcycle $20,000
$100
ATV $20,000
$100
Go-Kart $20,000
$100
Scooter or Moped $20,000
$100
Personal Watercraft $20,000
$100
Snowmobile $20,000
$100
Boat $20,000

$500 $1,500 Bus $20,000

$500 $1,500 Commercial Truck $20,000

$500 $1,500 RV or Camper $20,000

$500 $3,000 Race Car $20,000
$500
Trailer (non-RV) $20,000
$500

1 Maximum Coverage is limited to the lesser of a) the purchase price of the eligible vehicle plus up to $800 in documented transportation expenses from the seller's location to the buyer's location, or b) $20,000 for any one eligible vehicle 2 Fraud Coverage provides coverage in the following situations: not receiving the vehicle; receiving a stolen vehicle; receiving a vehicle with an undisclosed lien against it; paying a deposit for a vehicle and not receiving the vehicle or a refund of the deposit; receiving a vehicle, but not receiving a title to it if and only if the Motor Vehicle Departments in both the buyer's and the seller's state require a title certificate for that vehicle 3 Material Misrepresentation Coverage provides coverage in the following situations: undisclosed damage to an eligible vehicle; misrepresentation of the year/make/model; misrepresented odometer reading (applicable to Passenger Vehicles and RVs only); undisclosed salvage title brands (where relevant) 4 Minimum Damage Requirement: This is the minimum threshold of costs to repair or replace undisclosed damage that must be met before Material Misrepresentation Coverage takes effect. Note that the minimum threshold is "per vehicle system" (e.g., a commercial truck's engine, transmission, and frame are all separate vehicle systems for the purposes of this coverage)

This eBay notice was sent to CW Hanlon. As outlined in our User Agreement, eBay will send you required notifications about the site and your transactions.

Copyright © 2009 eBay. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. The eBay logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of eBay, Inc.

_ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 3926 (20090311) _

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com

Overview - 1999 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE SPORT PKG

Hello CW Hanlon,

You are receiving this e-mail because your seller (James Elliott) requested to use eBay Protection Program for a vehicle transaction. The eBay Vehicle Protection Program offers a set of services that build protection into every step of the vehicle buying process. Some of the elements are automatically included when you buy a vehicle covered by the program element (not all elements are available for all vehicles) while some of the elements are available for a small fee. The eBay Vehicle Protection Program is your safety net in the rare occasion that something goes wrong.

Programs Included with your eBay Purchase

Ensures that you receive the vehicle you paid for with coverage up to $20,000! Coverage varies by vehicle type, but protection against fraud is included with the purchase of most vehicles including passenger vehicles, motorcycles, boats, RVs, ATVs, and many more. Additionally, protection against material misrepresentation is included for passenger vehicles, boats, buses, commercial trucks, and RVs.

What Does the Vehicle Purchase Protection Program Cover?

Vehicle Purchase Protection covers buyers who are buying a vehicle from a verified Vehicle Purchase Protection member. The protection program provides coverage for situations such as: The following types of fraud and material misrepresentation are covered: • Paying for a vehicle and never receiving it; • Sending a payment for a vehicle and never receiving the vehicle; • Paying for and receiving a vehicle: • that was a stolen vehicle at the time of the transaction; • with an undisclosed or unknown lien against its title; • of a make and/or model that is different than what was described in the seller's listing; • without receiving the title for that vehicle from the seller, if it is impossible for you to obtain a title from the appropriate Department of Motor Vehicles (both the seller's state and the buyer's state must require a certificate of title on the vehicle in order to qualify for coverage) • whose title is subject to an undisclosed salvage, rebuilt/rebuildable, unrebuildable, reconstructed, scrapped/destroyed, junk, lemon, manufacturer buyback, or water damage title brand at the time of the sale.

Step 1: The buyer and seller agree to the terms and details of the transaction.
Step 2: The buyer sends payment to eBay Safe Dept. Payment is verified and deposited into a trust account.
Step 3: The seller ships the merchandise to the buyer, knowing that the buyer's payment is secured.
Step 4: The buyer accepts the merchandise after having the opportunity to inspect it.
Step 5: eBay pays the seller after all conditions of the transaction are met.

Buy with confidence on eBay!

The Vehicle Purchase Protection program protects your vehicle purchase against fraud and material misrepresentation. This program is provided by eBay for FREE on all eligible transactions made by users already enrolled in Vehicle Purchase Protection. There's no sign-up, opt-in, or registration necessary. Your vehicle purchase is protected for up to $20,000 or the vehicle purchase price, whichever is lower. The following table provides a summary of the vehicles types covered and the coverage offered for each.

Vehicle Type Maximum Coverage1 Fraud Coverage2 Material Misrepresentation Coverage3 Per Claim Deductible Minimum Damage Requirement4 (if applicable) Passenger Vehicle $20,000

$100 $1,500 Motorcycle $20,000
$100
ATV $20,000
$100
Go-Kart $20,000
$100
Scooter or Moped $20,000
$100
Personal Watercraft $20,000
$100
Snowmobile $20,000
$100
Boat $20,000

$500 $1,500 Bus $20,000

$500 $1,500 Commercial Truck $20,000

$500 $1,500 RV or Camper $20,000

$500 $3,000 Race Car $20,000
$500
Trailer (non-RV) $20,000
$500

1 Maximum Coverage is limited to the lesser of a) the purchase price of the eligible vehicle plus up to $800 in documented transportation expenses from the seller's location to the buyer's location, or b) $20,000 for any one eligible vehicle 2 Fraud Coverage provides coverage in the following situations: not receiving the vehicle; receiving a stolen vehicle; receiving a vehicle with an undisclosed lien against it; paying a deposit for a vehicle and not receiving the vehicle or a refund of the deposit; receiving a vehicle, but not receiving a title to it if and only if the Motor Vehicle Departments in both the buyer's and the seller's state require a title certificate for that vehicle 3 Material Misrepresentation Coverage provides coverage in the following situations: undisclosed damage to an eligible vehicle; misrepresentation of the year/make/model; misrepresented odometer reading (applicable to Passenger Vehicles and RVs only); undisclosed salvage title brands (where relevant) 4 Minimum Damage Requirement: This is the minimum threshold of costs to repair or replace undisclosed damage that must be met before Material Misrepresentation Coverage takes effect. Note that the minimum threshold is "per vehicle system" (e.g., a commercial truck's engine, transmission, and frame are all separate vehicle systems for the purposes of this coverage)

cwh
cwh Dork
3/11/09 8:14 a.m.

Did a check on the site motorsebaycentral.com, comes back to an ISP in Khazacstan. No surprise there.

4cylndrfury
4cylndrfury Reader
3/11/09 8:16 a.m.

have you alerted EBAY to their misrepresentation? Im sure they would like to know about this...they may be already on top of it, but you never know.

cwh
cwh Dork
3/11/09 8:29 a.m.

E-Bay is totally unresponsive on these. I have tried it before, got no real response. DAS on the other hand goes nuts and will pursue. I'll drop them an e-mail. These clowns are in Kazakstan, completely immune from our laws.

neon4891
neon4891 SuperDork
3/11/09 1:28 p.m.

wow, so this E36 M3 goes all the wat to kazakstan, very nice

jmk14bmx
jmk14bmx
4/27/09 3:49 p.m.

Hello all, I googled the email invoice@motorsebaycentrals.com and this is the only website to show up. This forum has helped a lot because look at what happened to me...

I live in Missouri and I found a bike on craigslist for an awesome price. So I e-mailed the person about it because I thought it was fake then it became very convincing. There were a lot of weird things about it like that the phone number didn't work and that it was a North Dakota number and the pictures looked like they were taken in CA (http://s697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/willpark11/) but I went along with it to check out what the deal was. Here are the e-mails from him:

Hello and sorry for the late reply. Hope I'm not too late and you didn't already purchased another bike. For sale is my 2005 Suzuki GSX-R 600 in immaculate condition with only 18,000 miles, rust free, no scratch and hasn't been involved in any accident. It has an 600cc engine. This bike needs nothing and comes with a CLEAN title. I want this transaction to be smooth and I don't have much time at my disposal to waste my time with endless discussions. I believe $2,200.00 (not negotiable) is more than a fair price. You can reach me at (701) 347-2120 or you can email me if you are interested.

Thank you, Lt. Col. Park, William

P.S. More pictures here: http://s697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/willpark11/

Then the next e-mail after I questioned him a little:

The bike is at Minot AF Base, North Dakota, where i am currently stationed, until May 10, when I will be deployed to Afghanistan. This is why I must sell it before that. Shipping won't be a problem for me. I will take care of that, with no costs on your end. This is a large amount and I would like to conduct the deal using an authorized third party like eBay using their Purchase Protection Program, so this should eliminate any trust issues. They will keep a deposit until the purchase is final, and you test and accept the bike. If you will not get the bike as described, and also a clean title you will receive your money back. To be able to use this program you need to qualify. I have been approved 3 years ago and I was very satisfied. So, if you are interested in buying my bike just let me know your name and shipping address. I will forward them to eBay's protection program and wait for the approval. The ad generated a great deal of interest and people have been calling me non stop and the line was down for a while.

Then I got this e-mail from "ebay" after I asked him to call me and why he posted his ad in Missouri:

Congratulations, You are approved to buy. Please pay now!
Dear Jordan Kenyon, Congratulations! You are approved to buy this eBay item from William Park.

2005 Suzuki GSX-R 600 Sale price: US $2,200.00 Shipping & Handling:
US $0.00

Insurance: Included. Sales tax: US $0.00. Details: Item Title: 2005 Suzuki GSX-R 600 Sale Date: Monday, April 27, 2009 Seller: William Park Payment details: Please follow this eBay Purchase Protection invoice to complete the Checkout Seller Information Full Name William Park Address Minot AFB City / State Minot / ND Zipcode 58705 Country United States Status Approved Buyer Information Full Name J Kenyon Address 1301 N. Glenstone Ave City / State SPFD / MO Zipcode 65803 Country United States Status Approved

Payment Instructions: eBay requires the payment of $2,200.00 for this item to be done through MoneyGram transfer service to our representative.

    How to make payment:
  1. Go to the nearest MoneyGram Office:

  2. Make the deposit with cash using the following eBay representative information:

Name

Darnell Hodges Address

921 11th St City - State:

Sacramento - CA Zip:

95814 Country:

United States

  1. After you complete the transfer, fax eBay Motors at +1 (408) 273-6869 or +1 (408) 516-9323 the following:
  2. MoneyGram receipt(s)
  3. Shipping Address

Note: -The only MoneyGram payment service admited is: MoneyGram Money Transfer. Please DO NOT use MoneyGram Express Payment or any other MoneyGram Services. -There is no need for the "4-digit receive code", you only need the information provided above.

NOTICE: When eBay receives the payment confirmation the item will be shipped to your address by DAS for ground delivery or insured airship cargo for long distance delivery. The Vehicle Purchase Protection program protects your vehicle purchase against fraud and material misrepresentation. This program is provided by eBay for FREE. There is no sign-up, opt-in, or registration necessary. Your vehicle purchase is protected for up to $20,000 or the vehicle purchase price, whichever is lower.

Regards, Safeharbor Department (Trust and Safety Department) eBay.

Contact the seller if you have any questions about the sale.

If you encounter any problems with this transaction, please contact us. When contacting our support team, use the reply feature so that all previous correspondence are included in your email. Otherwise, we will not be able to process your request.

This eBay notice was sent to Jordan Kenyon. As outlined in our User Agreement, eBay will send you required notifications about the site and your transactions.

Copyright © 2009 eBay. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. The eBay logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of eBay, Inc.

THIS SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE SAME GUY!!! Unfortunately I used my real name also...but the address is fake. So yeah, he's hitting everywhere and I'm sure he has caught a few suckers. I hope others see this forum and are saved by this douche bag.

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand Dork
4/27/09 4:39 p.m.

I think it's common knowledge that eBay only works with PayPal. They'd never send anybody to MoneyGram (or anybody else).

Thanks for the tip. Did you the money?

cwh
cwh Dork
4/27/09 8:03 p.m.

There was a piece in the local papers here that a military guy bit on one of these and lost 5000.00. Money was sent to a local guy in Boynton Beach FL (about 30 miles north of me) but nobody can find him now. I guess this scam does work.

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