So someone wants to buy my car..

[89 Trans Am WS6]

In Switzerland! (The 89 that is)

They emailed me about it and they want to give me 3500 for the car..in a certified check..and they have shipping taken care of..I feel a bit suspicious but I dunno..If i get a certified check..i guess im good to go..

What precautions do you guys think i should take?

[j0n]

NO! they're full of ****...they want you to get a large check...cash it...take your cut...send a new(valid) check with(or without) the car...and you get scammed

[89 Trans Am WS6]

Umm..i dont get what yer sayin there..Im selling it..not buying it..why would i be sending them a check? im confused now..id rather sell it locally anyway

[TheWraith]

they'll send a bogus check and certified checks clear through your bank immediately automatically. Your bank account will go up by the amount of the check. When it gets returned a few days later to the issuing bank it will be flagged as bogus, and they will yank the amount out of your account and probably hit you for fees on top of that amount. but by that time, the car is presumably on it's way and the title signed over.

it's becoming a really common scam. I've seen it on a number of boards. Another version that's even more in depth is this: Say the selling price of the car is $3000. I don't know what it is really. They'll send you a check for $4000 and ask you to send the other $1000 onto another party. You'll deposit the $4000 check, see the balance in your account, and send out the $1000. Then a couple days later as described above, the $4000 check will be backed out of your account and you'll be stuck out the $1000 plus whatever fees they impose too. And they may or may not even make any attempt to get the car off you, because they've already scammed you for $1000.

[89 Trans Am WS6]

I should have them send it western union. ah **** it, i didnt like the idea of selling it far anyway..back to trying to sell it around here.

Thanks guys, wanted someone elses opinion.

SOOOOOOOOOoo

whos looking to buy a super clean third gen TA with tons of bolt ons and just needs some love?

[formula4speed]

Yea man, that scam has been going on for a long while now. They basically take your money then you get in trouble for embezzlement.

[foff667]

generally a check from overseas will take about 10 days to come back into your account if its bogus...thats why the govt enacted the check 21 thing so it'll only take like 2 days for most checks to clear or be sent back...also if their check bounces you get charged for it yah thats banking in a nutshell buyer beware...or in your case seller

[JPiZZiJP]

What everyone else said....

BUT

if you are desperately in need to sell it and the guy in switzerland still wants it, request a direct wire transfer. This way you know you will have the funds. Never deal with checks of any kind from international whatever.. unfortunately there are too many scammers.

Also, if you deal with escrow, always use one that YOU trust, never allow the person sending the money to choose the escrow account, because there are even fake/scamming escrow companies out there too.

~Joe

[Pat]

big time scam. tell him you won't ship out of the country.

[JL8Jeff]

My 68 Camaro is going to England. I'm getting a bank wire for it and then a shipping company will come and pick it up once the wire has cleared. Don't deal with any form of check from overseas.

[Ian]

some douche from england said he wanted to buy my camaro for 5 grand. Then he told me he was gonna send me a check for 9500 and have me send the rest of the money back. I basically told him to shove it. If he wanted the car, he would give me an exact amount not over or under. Its a scam. and when you ask them to renegotiate, they never talk to you again.