Advice on accepting a payment

[ezra76]

I've got a guy interested in the 3000GT but his email seems a little bit shady. He'd be willing to pay $1000 for it but would like to mail me a check and have someone pick it up after the check clears. I'm a little uncomfortable with that and asked if he could get a cashiers check from the bank instead of a personal. What do you guys think? Is it possible for me still to get burned somehow?

I also told him to go back and look at the ad. I put links to 13 very high quality photos of the car as well as the video/audio of it running. I feel that is pretty darn close to what you'd see/hear by coming to look at it anyway. I've been very clear that the engine is Fcked up and I don't know exactly what it is but it ain't good.

[ezra76]

So I just heard back from this guy. He's seen the video and what not I guess and still wants it. Weird dude. His name is Pastor Matt? I'm really wondering about some sort of scam but can't figure an angle? I didn't disclose my adress, where the car is. Instead I asked him to send the payment to C/O my work adress. He said just to email him once I've got payment and he'll have his shipping company pick the car up. I can't figure anything besides him having someone take the car before payment cleared then bouncing it or having the shipping company show up looking for a payment from me. In either case I'll be cashing the check and pulling the money out of my account cash before the car goes anywhere.

Please, if you can think of anything that looks wrong here LMK. Lord knows I've had enough trouble with this GD car already.

[Eracer]

If you don't feel right about it, then I would suggest you tell him that you want the guy who picks it up to bring cash.

Before that happens you need to mail him a bill of sale with your notarized signature. Get the new title holder to sign the bill of sale in the presence of a Notary Public. The document must have the language: "Vehicle sold AS IS. Engine damage disclosed as follows: Complete engine rebuild required."

Don't let the car go until you have his notarized signature.

If he won't send cash, then tell him Postal Money Order(s) for the full amount. Cashier's checks can be forged, and even if you get you cash, your bank can debit your account after the fact if the check turns out to be a fake.

[nixdad]

Just have him send cash or have the money wired to you. That way, if there is a scam of some sorts, it's not on you.

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by Eracer

If you don't feel right about it, then I would suggest you tell him that you want the guy who picks it up to bring cash.

Before that happens you need to mail him a bill of sale with your notarized signature. Get the new title holder to sign the bill of sale in the presence of a Notary Public. The document must have the language: "Vehicle sold AS IS. Engine damage disclosed as follows: Complete engine rebuild required."

Don't let the car go until you have his notarized signature.

If he won't send cash, then tell him Postal Money Order(s) for the full amount. Cashier's checks can be forged, and even if you get you cash, your bank can debit your account after the fact if the check turns out to be a fake.

Wow. That's a lot to do. I'd probably rather just drop the price a little more and sell it locally than go through all that. So if I cashed a cashiers check and took the $$ out the bank could still debit my account? Mind you there will be about $6 in my account, I won't be "covering" the check with my own money, it'll have to actually be in there 1st and withdrawn. I'm thinking I'm just going to tell this guy to forget it.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by ezra76

Wow. That's a lot to do. I'd probably rather just drop the price a little more and sell it locally than go through all that. So if I cashed a cashiers check and took the $$ out the bank could still debit my account? Mind you there will be about $6 in my account, I won't be "covering" the check with my own money, it'll have to actually be in there 1st and withdrawn. I'm thinking I'm just going to tell this guy to forget it.

If you want to protect yourself, then you have to close ALL the loopholes, and give yourself protection. If the guy himself was going to be there you could just ask him to bring cash, then write his D/L# on the Bill Of Sale, and be done with it. Too many things can go wrong when the buyer isn't the one making the transaction.

[ezra76]

Holy crap. Thanks so much Eracer. I went into the Craiglist Scam warnings and there were copies of actual emails exactly like the one I'd received. Apparently the what these guys do is send you a fake check that is for more than the amount, then ask for some back. In this case I'd bet my bottom dollar he would have at least tried to include an extra $800-$1000 and try to get me to give it to the "shipping company" to pay for the shipping. I just sent the dude a message saying I had a local offer and decided to sell it.

[TheWOAT]

I remember listening to an AM radio lawyer show a few months ago, and a caller supposedly was held in jail for 3 days for trying to cash 3 checks at his own bank. He got the checks from CraigsList transactions, and didnt suspect they were fraudulent... still the bank called the police on him and he spent a few days in jail before sorting out the story.... The caller wanted to sue the bank or police for unlawful incarceration or some sh-t... Lawyer said he had no chance
So yeah, Craigs list is full of scams.

[ezra76]

Unreal. I've got 2 more since this one, lol. I just told them cash only, send $20's, lol. Maybe I should try to trade it for 75 Taylormade TourBurner TP heads?

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by ezra76

Unreal. I've got 2 more since this one, lol. I just told them cash only, send $20's, lol. Maybe I should try to trade it for 75 Taylormade TourBurner TP heads?

There's the Ezra we know!

[DaveE]

I had a guy try the same scam on me when we sold our daughter's car. The people that actually bought the car met me at their bank, cashed a check and handed me the money.

I also had her sign a bill of sale in case she didn't transfer title. This turned out to be a good move. Within 3 months of selling it I received 2 tickets in the mail from stop light cameras. Having proof of sale got me out of both (the car was in my name).

[MCDavis]

Originally Posted by DaveE

I had a guy try the same scam on me when we sold our daughter's car. The people that actually bought the car met me at their bank, cashed a check and handed me the money.

I also had her sign a bill of sale in case she didn't transfer title. This turned out to be a good move. Within 3 months of selling it I received 2 tickets in the mail from stop light cameras. Having proof of sale got me out of both (the car was in my name).

I friggin' HATE stop light cameras!!!!!

[sandwedge]

I had someone try the same type of scam when I was selling my car. The only way I will sell a car is cash and I bring one of those counterfiet magic markers to make sure the money is real. There are some real scumbags out there that will try to scam you out of your money.

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by MCDavis

I friggin' HATE stop light cameras!!!!!

Maybe the problem's not the cameras.

[MCDavis]

Originally Posted by DaveE

Maybe the problem's not the cameras.

Actually, I've only had 1 camera ticket and I deserved it. I just hate the things. I disagree with them in every aspect, or every aspect I've considered so far.

If they took pics of every passing car, there would be quite a few shots of my feelings towards them on record.