If you were watching the thread about my Honda CT 70 K0 Mini Trail a few weeks ago, I apologize for keeping you in suspense. Here's the whole story and my reason for holding back on the information.
Two weeks ago, I noticed that a two year old thread about my mini-bike restoration project had been revived. There was a new post by a New Reader making an offer to buy the bike. I noticed that it was the person's first post and I immediately suspected a scam. The post asked for my e-mail address. Instead of using my address, I suggested that she get in touch with me through the Contact button on the forum.
A subsequent e-mail stated that she wanted to buy it as a gift for her boss, who was retiring, and that she wanted to do the deal as soon as possible. The boss was a really good guy, they wanted to do something nice for him and his first bike was exactly like mine, same year, same color. Sure. I mentioned that I wasn't actively trying to sell the bike. A generous offer was made. I continued to suspect a scam and I was careful of the information I gave out in my replies.
Finally, I received an e-mail (no names yet) that included an 800 number to call. I didn't call immediately, but I deduced a name from the e-mail address and Googled it. I came up with a bunch of links to the American Motorcyclist Association.
Hmmm......
After a few hours, I decided to call the 800 number. It didn't even ring; instead, it went straight to a phone sex line. I immediately hung up after fifteen or twenty minutes.
I knew I had been scammed. I felt stupid and I was pissed. This guy had at least done a bit of homework with the fake e-mail address. I contacted Margie and said that there was a New Reader, posing as a representative from the AMA making bogus offers to purchase stuff.
Margie got right on it, though later she sent me an e-mail stating that there may have been a misunderstanding. Then I got another e-mail from the New Reader. It was very apologetic, she stated that she worked for the AMA and gave me the correct number for the AMA central office, which was one digit off from the phone sex number. I checked out the AMA website and, sure enough, the number was real.
I waited another day or so and made the call. Everything she told me was true; all the details checked out. Her boss (great guy) was retiring. His employees wanted to pitch in and do something nice for him. His first bike was a CT70, same year, same color. They wanted to buy mine as a gift and they needed it there soon. She mentioned that she hoped that he would loan it back to them for display in the AMA museum. I told her that this wasn't really a museum quality restoration, but rather a really nice survivor that I had cleaned up a bit. She replied with, "My co-workers and I are one hundred percent certain that your mini-bike is the one that we wish to purchase."
Okay.
We made a deal and funds were exchanged. Shipping was delayed a little by a snowstorm, but today she sent me a video of the presentation to her boss. He was nearly speechless and everyone was very happy, including me.
This was fun and GRM made it all happen.
