Gilkar

I ran into an interesting potential scam yesterday. Here is the background story. I was perusing Facebook Marketplace looking for camera lenses. I ran across an offering in Columbus, OH for a 2002 mobile home for $1200.
Wow! (I thought), this must be in really bad shape. But when I looked at the description and photos it looked brand new! (Red flag #1). I am planning a trip to the Southwest, (Grand Canyon, Vegas, Carlsbad, etc.), so I became intrigued. I contacted the seller with an "I'm Interested" note and requested a meeting for a look see. I got an immediate response. (Unusual on Facebook Marketplace, kinda like a spider waiting in a web). The reply was, "I am at work, contact me at this e-mail address, I'll get back to you." The seller was listed as a guy named, "Todd" but the e-mail was to a woman named "Margaret Adams". (red flag #2). I send off an email indicating my interest to "Margaret". 10 minutes later I received a response from her. The gist of her e-mail was, "I used to live in Columbus but when my husband died I moved to Minneapolis where I now work. The mobile home has too many fond memories of my wonderful life with my husband and I need to get rid of it. The mobile home is in Minneapolis. I have made arrangements through a shipping company to send it to you free of charge. (red flag #3).You can examine it for five days and if all is good you can send me the money through Ebay." (There was no arrangement given for sending it back if I wasn't satisfied with my "examination".). (red flag #4). Just send your name, address, phone #, etc. to Ebay along with payment. They will hold the money until you notify them that you have received the mobile home in good order." (Send money to Ebay? Red flag #5). Along with Margaret's e-mail were 7, (count 'em), images of the mobile home. Each one showing the interior of a brand new RV. (red flag #6). Best of all the mileage on the vehicle was only 56,000 miles!
My response was "Sorry, the vehicle is listed as being in Columbus, OH. That is the reason I was interested because I can drive to your location to see it. However, I am retired and my time is my own. I have been wanting to take a road trip. Let me save you the cost of your "free" shipping offer. My partner and I will drive to Minneapolis and pick the RV up. We have cash in hand and will pay you on the spot.
I believed I would not get a response but this morning I received and e-mail from Margaret telling me, the vehicle was mine if I wanted it and to send my info to Ebay because they were waiting for my response.
I guess they're gonna hafta wait. I sure hope I'm not missing out out the deal of a life time.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

Yup SCAM, big time!!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

They'll try anything won't they.

The sad part, people get suckered in.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Someone will fall for it. It won't be me.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

There was a similar worded one out here in Oregon two years ago when I was looking for a class C RV to bring my Mother from South Carolina to Oregon. Lots of red flags. If it isn't actually listed on E-bay its a scam. Don't fall for it.

Abo

You outa tell them you've sent payment... just to build there hopes up and have them
frantically try to get their criminal paws on the non existent payment LOL

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Toment Loc: FL, IL

what about the lenses? 😁

Gilkar

Never found any. Stopped looking because I want lenses that will work on my Z6 with the FTZ adapter.

Gilkar

For those who are interested here is a copy of the e-mail exchange. I would be interested in how the scam would be accomplished. I am sure that sending the info to "EBAY" through my EBAY account would not result in the scammer getting any money. I can see how it might work if the scammer sends a bogus e-mail address similar to Ebay's and asked me to click on it. Any thoughts? Here are the e-mails from "Margaret" to me. . .

"On Fri, Mar 4, 2022 at 12:11 PM Margaret Adams <MargaretAdams261@comcast.net> wrote:
Hi again,
Thank you for your reply. As I explained in my previous email I was accepted for a new job and I moved to my hometown Minneapolis, MN. I am a regular eBay user and now with this new virus situation I decided to use their services. You will have to pay eBay and they won't give me any money until you receive and test the vehicle for 5 days. The vehicle is at the shipping company, ready to be delivered. We also benefit from free shipping, it will be delivered to your address within 3 days and you have a 5 days inspection period to test and inspect it. Please provide me your information (name, address, and phone#) so I can register you as the buyer and after that eBay will send you an email with the terms and conditions, with no obligation on buying it and also they will confirm the fact that the transaction is conducted through them. Waiting for your email with the requested details.
Thank you."

"
Margaret Adams <MargaretAdams261@comcast.net>
Fri, Mar 4, 11:19 AM (1 day ago)
to me

The 2002 Ford E-350 Motorhome RV is still available. It is in a good condition, no scratches, no damages, never been involved in any kind of accidents. Automatic transmission & only 58,042 miles. ABSOLUTELY NO ISSUES at all and I have the clean title in hand. I'm selling it at this final price of $1.200 because my husband passed away 2 months ago (he had a heart attack) and brings me bad memories and that's the reason I want to sell it asap. I also got a new job, moved back to my hometown, and many other things have priority now, so, this RV has to go. If you are interested in buying, feel free to email me."

Hope this entertains you as much as it does me. I may take your advice about sending the money just to watch them scramble, although I already told her to "bugger off".

Abo

LOL

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

This type of scam was used a number of times a few years ago - mostly on cars.

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

That "ad" has been running in various forms for over three years and for many different items, Welder, small camper trailers, and other things, The first clue it is a scam is the 1K price for a 19K trailer.

Fayle Loc: Seward, Alaska and Rionegro, Colombia

I posted this scam alert before. It is worth reviewing. This is so insidious I thought I should remind everyone of the dangers out there.


Women often receive warnings about protecting themselves at the mall and in dark parking lots, etc. This is the first warning I have seen for men. I wanted to pass it on in case you haven't heard about it. This will only become more commonplace as the weather warms.

A 'heads up' for those men who may be regular Lowe's, Home Depot, or Costco customers. This one caught me by surprise.

Over the last month I became a victim of a clever scam while out shopping. Simply going out to get supplies has turned out to be quite traumatic. Don't be naive enough to think it couldn't happen to you or your friends.

Here's how the scam works: Two seriously good-looking 20-something girls come over to your car as you are packing your shopping into the trunk. They both start wiping your windshield with a rag and Windex, with their breasts almost falling out of their skimpy T-shirts. It is impossible not to look. When you thank them and offer them a tip, they say 'No' and instead ask you for a ride to McDonalds.

You agree and they get into the back seat. On the way, they start undressing. Then one of them climbs over into the front seat and starts crawling all over you, while the other one steals your wallet. I had my wallet stolen November 4th, 9th, 10th, twice on the 15th, 17th, 20th, 24th, & 29th. Also December 1st & 4th, twice on the 8th, 16th, 23rd, 26th & 28th, three times last Monday and very likely again this upcoming weekend.

So tell your friends to be careful. What a horrible way to take advantage of older men. Warn your friends to be vigilant.

Wal-Mart has wallets on sale for $2.99 each. I found cheaper ones for $1.99 at K- Mart and bought them out. Also, you never will get to eat at McDonalds. I've already lost 11 pounds just running back and forth to Lowe's, Home Depot, and Costco.

nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas

This is a scam that showed up frequently a few years ago on Craigslist. It involved numerous large items from cars to motor homes. The seller always told a 'sob story' and that the transaction had to take place through a third party. It is always a deal too good to be true. Sadly some have fallen for it. I once saw a super deal on a Toyota motor home. It was in Memphis, TN, about a 60 minute drive from me. The owner said he was on the west coast waiting to ship out on a military deployment, and I would have to conclude the transaction with a third party in Nashville, TN. I thought," Oh yeah, I bet" and sent an email telling the person to go jump in the lake.