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Old 02-26-2021, 10:42 AM   #1
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What's the Scam??

I'm trying to sell a Class A gas coach. I don't expect to have any trouble selling it, and it's in good shape and the price is right.

I put an admittedly low-effort ad on Craigslist. I got a pretty good initial response in January. thought I had it sold but the potential buyer couldn't swing the money.

I put together a much better ad, with pictures and I am getting a better response, and a lot of interest.

There is this one character, however who has called on both ads, with a story about his dying grandmother, he needs a place to stay while he's visiting with her. Wants to travel here (650 miles) cash in hand, and buy it sight unseen. His initial offer was low, but he's starting to up his offer and is getting closer to my asking price

He also called the previous owner of the Monaco I just bought, and the same character did the same thing with him: Lowball all cash offer sight unseen. He's apparently been at this for a while (at least 4 months).

Now there's another guy, different city, calling me with essentially the same story, but he wants to give me a deposit to hold it, and pay me in cash when he comes out to get it. Sight unseen. Full asking price.

Trying to figure out the scams here. Obviously getting robbed or being passed a bunch of counterfeit bills is two possibilities. But if someone shows up to meet in the parking lot of the state police station, and hands me cash, and it isn't counterfeit, where's the catch?

Or are these guys just flippers, and my asking price is reasonable, and they're just going to take the rig home, up the price in a hotter market, and resell it?
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Old 02-26-2021, 10:53 AM   #2
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Run, don't walk!

Those guys will always figure out a way to take you to the cleaners! It's definitely a seller's market right now, so I would not jump on things like this!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
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Old 02-26-2021, 10:58 AM   #3
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Possibly identity theft, doing something with the VIN or financial.

1. The next step might be them asking for your name, address, etc.

2. They could ask for the VIN to do a background check on the vehicle and then use the clean VIN to sell/move another vehicle.

3. They could say they need your deposit information because they are going to pay electronically. They may also say you need to pay them a small fee to make the transaction.
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:04 AM   #4
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You nailed it in your OP.

They are curbside resellers. They secure your coach with a money deposit and then sell it to someone else at a higher price, presenting themselves as "brokers" or "agents."

Lots of similar scams, especially those with "agents" and "cashier's checks" that are also fake, but these two say they are going to come, in person, and deliver cash. Even the one that offers a deposit with balance due in cash, gives you enough time to find out if the deposit is real. This tells me it's a reselling scam.
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:07 AM   #5
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Arrange with your bank to meet with a banker for the exchange. Large amount of cash and title document exchange can be the source of much trouble.

The Feds can legally take your cash if they think it is money laundering. The banker will help you keep it straight.

Chances are the scammer will not agree to meet at a bank.
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:09 AM   #6
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They are thiefs not flippers. This is a common ruse on Craigslist and other online classifieds.

Chances are best he is not even in the US. These theifs like to throw in an out of town sob story.

If you bite on this you'll be out thousands of dollars. How?

It's like this. He will send someone to the house - an accomplice. He will not have the cash he promised. Instead he'll have a cashiers check for more than the agreed upon price. The accomplice will want to travel with you to your bank so you can deposit the money and give the "extra" money back to them.

The bank will find the cashiers check seems legit and they will complete the deal. Then 4-days later the cashier's check will ultimately bounce. Your bank will claw back the amount of the bogus check including the amount you gave to the guy that picked up the RV.

The RV will be gone. You'll have no money and be out 100% of the extra on the check. The contact info will all be bogus and the guy that made all the initial contacts will be untraceable.

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/8...s-online-scams
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:09 AM   #7
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Lie down with dogs and you come up with fleas.

Not 100% sure of this scam but you have good spidey sense! No way is that legit.
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:13 AM   #8
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Should you decide to do a cash sale and assuming you possess the title, I would suggest driving the coach to your bank, or as close to it as you can get, have the buyer meet you there and have the transaction completed inside your bank.
  • The bank can verify the validity of the funds
  • You can deposit the funds to your account immediately
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:16 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ljwt330 View Post
You nailed it in your OP.

They are curbside resellers. They secure your coach with a money deposit and then sell it to someone else at a higher price, presenting themselves as "brokers" or "agents."
Agree. Probably planning to resell it, and using the sob story to hopefully get a lower price. Years ago, I sold a pop up when the market wasn't nearly as hot as it is now. After having a couple people come look at it (and dealing with the aggravation of finding a time to meet, putting it up and down, etc.) but not making an offer, I accepted a somewhat low "sight unseen" offer from a guy a couple hours away. He showed up, didn't even pretend to look at the camper, handed me cash, took the title, and was gone in about 10 minutes. He told me straight up he was planning to resell it. I didn't really want to deal with the aggravation any more, so I guess I was fine with that.
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:20 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by creativepart View Post
It's like this. He will send someone to the house - an accomplice. He will not have the cash he promised. Instead he'll have a cashiers check for more than the agreed upon price. The accomplice will want to travel with you to your bank so you can deposit the money and give the "extra" money back to them.

The bank will find the cashiers check seems legit and they will complete the deal. Then 4-days later the cashier's check will ultimately bounce. Your bank will claw back the amount of the bogus check including the amount you gave to the guy that picked up the RV.

The RV will be gone. You'll have no money and be out 100% of the extra on the check. The contact info will all be bogus and the guy that made all the initial contacts will be untraceable.
Nailed it....
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:27 AM   #11
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So another question, aside from cash, verified to be non-counterfeit and counted three times, what is the safest non-cash instrument?

Postal Money order, Certified check, cashier check? something else? My least concern would be taking the title to a bank where the buyer had gotten a loan, and trading the title for a check from said bank. But, I shouldn't rule out an all cash transaction either.

In this part of the country, because of the marijuana industry, bags of cash used for large purchases isn't unheard of.
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:36 AM   #12
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Yes, a cashier's check from the BANK (them handing it to you) is OK.


Best is to ask your banker for drafting instructions so money can be deposited into your account. No, no one can suck money out of your account with the information supplied by your banker.


When your banker confirms funds in your account (usually less than an hour), THEN turn over title and possession.


Drafting is how we have bought/sold real estate, RV's and boats over the last decade.


If in doubt, go in and talk with your banker. His job is to protect you in the transaction.
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:51 AM   #13
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An all cash offer is tempting to accept, but questions may arise as to the legality of its origin when deposited to the bank in your account.

Drug Money being laundered with a legit cash transaction?

Since your deposit will be more than $10,000 of cash, the bank will have to notify the IRS of the event.

Why risk that kind of event?

IMHO, require a Wire Transfer to your account from the Seller. That way the cash is bank-to-bank.
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Old 02-26-2021, 11:59 AM   #14
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They may be flippers. But cash??? I always have money change hand at the bank where the title is notorized. I deposit at the same time.

They can meet to look at it. But I share the plan to go to the bank before they show up. So there is no expectation of cash changing hands until we get to the bank.
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