Hello,

Thank you for your interest in buying my car. My 2004 Toyota 4Runner Limited V8 is in great shape, no engine problems, damages or hidden defects. It was always garaged and never smoked in. I`m a single mother with 2 children and I have to work very hard to maintain my family. I`m selling it so cheap because I have money problems. The price is $2,500.00. I want to tell you that I do not sell my car in payments and I do not trade. Since I don’t have anyone to help me with the sale I decided to make this transaction through eBay. Giving the nature of this transaction please note that my sale terms are final and nonnegotiable. In order to move forward I will need your full name, address and phone number so i can register the deal at eBay Financial Department. After that eBay will send you the payment instruction.

Details about the car:

Year: 2004
Mileage: 85,447
Transmission: Automatic
Engine: 8 – Cyl.
Exterior Color: White
Interior Color: Tan
Title: Clear
The a/c is ice cold and the heat is hot!

My best wishes and I’m waiting your response so we can move forward with this deal.

I thought it odd that a “single mother with 2 children” would advertise on Craigslist under the “dealer” section. In addition, the vehicle was as much as $10,000 below asking prices from legitimate dealers. What the heck… I’ll play for a while. Here is my response:

Wanda,

Do you have a phone number where I can call and discuss this with you? I would like to make arrangements to come by and see the car tomorrow if possible. My phone number is (xxx)xxx-xxxx (yes, I gave my number… oh, well) if you would like to call me instead. Thank you.

Thanks

I figured if I am local, there should be no need for shipping charges if I am willing to pick it up, right?

“Wanda” responds:

Hi again,

As I told you in my last email we will use eBay VPP program to manage the payment because it’s the safest way for both of us. eBay is responsible to insure that both parties comply to transaction requirements, both parties must submit proof of payment/delivery presented in a legal form (payment/delivery receipt) by the registered payment/delivery service used. You will have to send payment using eBay verified Agent name . They will hold the funds until you receive the vehicle and also test it !!!
As soon as you’ll complete the payment, the shipping will start. It will take no more then 5 days to arrive at your home address.( I’ll pay the shipping). I offer 5 days for inspection,during this time,if the vehicle isn’t like I described you will get back all the funds you sent to eBay. Shipping back to my location will also be covered by me. I need your full name and full shipping address so I can open this deal with eBay.

See more pictures at: http://s1130.photobucket.com/albums/m528/4RunnerLimitedV8/

Waiting your answer!

WOW!! Evading my request to drive an hour to see it AND call me. Hmmm? I received this e-mail at 1:39 A.M. (according to my inbox). A mother of two is up that late on a work night? Hey, I’ve got insomnia sometimes, and I don’t want to be too judgmental (not yet, at least) so I decide to respond like this:

I have no problem paying through e-bay; that sounds like a good idea. But since I am local, is it possible to come by and see the vehicle before I send the payment through eBay? Also, if you could call me at (xxx) xxx-xxxx so I can ask a couple of questions, that would be great as well. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance.

Surely a legitimate seller wouldn’t mind seeing me in person. Hey, I was going to pay cash. What’s wrong with that? No need for eBay if I’m coming with money in hand. I figured if it was legitimate, I would have no problem seeing this vehicle. Then the seller responds like this:

I would have called you already to speed things up but right now i am at the hospital with my elder daughter and i really don’t have time to call or meet with you. I have a bad period now and this is the reason for what i have chosen to sell it because i have to buy her medicines and pay for her hospitalization. She had a school accident 2 weeks ago and the doctors said that she will be invalid. Once again i hope that you understand that and this is the reason for why i choose eBay to handle this transaction. Please reply with your full name and shipping address so i can open this deal thru eBay. They will send you the payment notification. There you’ll find all steps that you need to follow in order to complete this deal.

I will wait for your email.

Oh, crap!! Did “she” just play the sympathy card? And at Christmas time? Oh, the humanity!! Also, I noticed how the first communications were all but flawless with the grammar, capitalization, etc., but now it seems that that the seller has forgotten that and cannot even capitalize “I” throughout most of the last correspondence. Hmmm? I mean, come on, I am less than an hour away, I can’t find “her” location to see it, but I still have to give all MY pertinent information? Quid pro quo, Clarice!! I have not as of yet responded to the last e-mail because I have wasted too much time trying to figure this out and play a B.S. game. Maybe if time permits, I’ll have some fun with this fish (or should I say phish). But, oh well. I still need an inexpensive, reliable vehicle during Christmas, but at least I got a good laugh out of this. Beware folks!! The Grinch is everywhere trying to steal Christmas. And as for you scammers… may you get a lump of coal in your stocking!!

Hello,
I`m SSgt. Teresa Wilson. You have to know that the 2003 Honda Accord EX 6 – 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 84,951 miles. The VIN# is 1HGCM66503A100090. 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: Leather Seats   CD Player   Anti-Lock Brakes   Driver Airbag   Passenger Airbag   Side Airbags   Air Conditioning Cruise Control   Power Locks   Power Windows   Power Seats   
Here are the pics of the car:
http://s1177.photobucket.com/albums/x355/ter82341/
(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 Madrid, Spain and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between USA and Spain. One months ago, my husband moved here with me and brought the car with him, 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 1,650 $. 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.
Respectfully,
SSgt. Teresa Wilson
 SSgt, USAF1 SOMOS/MXOOA Maintenance Analysis DSN 579-1794  Comm 884-1794

Thanks for getting back with me,

Right now we are in Helena, MT because my husband was moved here with the job and we already found an apartment here. The piano is here in at the shipping company sealed and ready to ship it. The delivery process is payed by us and we want to finish this deal through Google Checkout because they are a big company and we can both be protected and insured. You will receive the instrument in 1-2 days and you will get the chance to inspect it 3 days, play it and everything you want. During that 3 days testing period I will not be getting any money.
If by any reason the piano is not as described or if you find any problems with it, I will arrange to ship it back on my cost. Google will hold the funds until the inspection period is over and you decide if you’re going to buy it or not. This way you’re not going to pay for something you haven’t seen and with the inspection period you can make sure it’s as described.
If you’re interested to purchase just email me with your full name,shipping address and your phone number,so I can notify Google that you are selected as my buyer and they will contact you to explain the entire procedure.

Best Regards,
Steph & Mike Fink

A simple thumb rule… if it is too good to be true. it is not.
==============
Hi again,

I attached the carfax report and a copy of the title to show no accidents, real mileage, not salvage, no liens, no loans.
Right now I’m in a military base in Missoula, MT and we are getting ready for Afghanistan. I cannot leave the base and I’m not able to talk on the phone (at least for the moment).
To make things easier I enlisted the car in the eBay Vehicle Purchase Program. Because the deal must be sealed through them, as you may already know, in accordance with their terms you’ll be given 5 days to inspect and test drive the car before making a final decision and title transfer takes place.
The car (along with all documents, clean and clear title with my signature on it, owner’s manual and keys) will be shipped by DAS shipping company through a contract the army has with DAS. The shipping is free on your side.
Here is how it will work:
1. I will inform eBay that I have a buyer and ask them to start a new transaction with you.
2. They will ask you for the shipping details. After they process your information, they will send you an invoice with all the details on how to make a refundable payment.
3. After the refundable payment is made, eBay will contact me to authorize the shipping. The shipping will last maximum 4 days. This entire time your payment will stay with eBay, including those 5 days inspection period from the moment you get the car.
If by any means you find that the car does not meet your expectations, you’ll get fully refunded and the car gets back to the shipping company, free of charge on your side.

I’ll wait your response.
Thanks.