Re offer to purchase camper trailer
Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 22:36
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11310
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Replies:
8
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borgy adelaide
Hi everyone
Im not sure if i should be asking this question on here, but am hoping someone might be able to help me out a little. I have recieved an email from a person claiming to be from West Africa wishing to purchase a camper trailer that i have advertised in the trader section of exploreoz. I seem to recall something being mentioned about people wanting to purchase goods like this somewhere along the line once before , can anyone fill me in on this.I have copied and pasted his email , could i possibly see what some of your responses to this would be , Thanks all .....................Cheers ........DAVE Hello, I saw your advert on the web and i am interested in your Cavalier Camper Trailer .I am ready to pay $6,000.If my offer is okay kindly reply back,my phone number is 2348023275177. I am based in west africa. Regards, Charles
Wilson
Reply By: Member - StevenL - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 22:44
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 22:44
Questions...
How much did you want for it? Is he willing to pay over the odds?
If so then it may be a scam. Next he may ask you for a bank account to put money into. This may lead to lots of strife. Do a web search on internet scams involving african buyers and BEWARE before dealing with this person.
I think the latest version of the scam goes something like: African vendor deposits funds to your account, funds appear in your account so you send goods, several weeks later there is a problem with
clearing your funds due to vagaries of international banking systems. YOU are out of pocket.
StevenL
AnswerID:
50615
Follow Up By: Member - StevenL - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 23:00
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 23:00
Did some more digging.
Seems that it works such that they will agree to pay the price you want. They will then say the they have someone in the US that owes them money and that they will have that custmer pay the money direct to you. This customer will usually owe them much more than what you need and the African will want you to send them the balance in Africa after deducting the money for you trailer.
The reasoning is that because they are in Africa the maoney would take 45 days to clear if the guy in the states sent it direct to them. If the US guy sent it to YOU it would only take a couple of days. They may even offer you extra as an incentive as they would be getting thier balance quicker.
If you did bite then you would end up with a dodgy
check (american spelling) that may be initially cashed but would later be dishonoured and YOU end up being chased for the money.
It all spells trouble and you would be advised to stay
well clear!!!
StevenL
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - StevenL - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 23:46
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 23:46
Post 10059 from this site in January has all the details.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: macca - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 22:53
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 22:53
It will be a scam..if you do a search in the archives you will see how it operates. I recall there was quite a discussion about the way it worked .
AnswerID:
50617
Reply By: Member - Captain (WA) - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 23:06
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 23:06
Typically they will reply that they have a "friend" who they owe money to. So they send you say $10,000 for the $6,000 trailer. You have $4,000 extra, but you wait for funds to clear and then pay to the "friend" like the honest aussie you are.
But the international cheque fails to clear some weeks later, even though your bank has already supposedly "cleared" the funds. Do not think that because you bank initally cleared the cheque that its OK, there is some legal maximum on how long a bank can sit on a cheque, so they say its OK. But in the fine print you will find you are responsible for when it bounces for any funds drawn upon it.
You still have your camper, a worthless cheque and $4,000 out of pocket. He on the other hand loses nothing if you "fail" to pass on the extra funds (as there is no money anyway).
Quite a nice scam and many a person has been taken for a ride, basically because you believe the bank when the funds are"cleared" (who wouldn't). But the scamster knows the banking system better.
Cheers
Mark
AnswerID:
50622
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 23:07
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 23:07
It is a scam, that thread was about 3 weeks ago... DONT TOUCH IT..
why would someone in west africa be interested? think about it..
AnswerID:
50623
Reply By: The Banjo - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 08:48
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 08:48
er...........before all that, if it costs a few hundred to ship a trailer interstate in Oz, what could someone in Africa want with a camper trailer located here ? Isn't that the tip off.
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Follow Up By: Member - Bradley- Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 12:12
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 12:12
BINGO...................................
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Follow Up By: The Banjo - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 12:15
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 12:15
Thought it safe to contribute Brad, seeing it isn't April 1 just yet.
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Follow Up By: Member - Bradley- Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 12:33
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 12:33
i've got some great shares to sell...........................
my 3 legged african chicken needs a sponsor..........
the govt has seized my bank and i need help to get the moola...
hi i'm from the bank, i just need to
check your account details...
all the above - expensive
good old common sense - priceless....
remember - tip off rhymes with rip off.
FollowupID:
312464
Reply By: ExplorOz Team - David - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 12:34
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 12:34
Dave,
Please forward me the system generated email that the person sent to you or at least send me their mail address. I usually ban these email accounts from the system so as to try to stop these people being able to interact with us. The only problem is that they register a new alias and try again.
AnswerID:
50683
Follow Up By: borgy adelaide - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 23:39
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 23:39
Just like to say thanks to all for your responses, i sort of figured it was some sort of scam , but just wanted others opinions, thanks everyone.
Dave how do i send the email to you??........Cheers .......DAVE
FollowupID:
312564
Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - David - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 23:50
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 23:50
My email is shown on the
About Us page - see the menu tabs above and click
About Us.
FollowupID:
312565
Reply By: cokeaddict - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 19:41
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 19:41
Pssssttttt....!!
OI come here......wanna buy my wife?...please !
AnswerID:
50739
Reply By: Alex H - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 22:31
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 22:31
This is a scam - I had a very similar experience - htere is a thread on my experiences on this site.
Cheers,
Alex
AnswerID:
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