Thread: Watch out for SCAMS!!

Ive recently been looking to buy a second car and came a cross a deal too good to be true.

Beautiful MINT 1995 BMW M3 39k miles for $4,000 from NY
1995 BMW M3, $4,000 - Cars.com


Already sounds fishy but I live in NJ and would drive up to NY to see the car and buy it.

Anyway I email the seller, I'm very interested blah blah blah.

Their reply


Hi there,

The car is still for sale. Thanks for being interested in buying my 1995 BMW 3-Series M3. The mileage represented on this vehicle is accurate.There is no previous collision damage to this vehicle.This is a garage kept vehicle.The engine is mechanically sound and can be driven anywhere with confidence.
Great, smooth shifting transmission.The exterior of this vehicle is extra clean.Extra clean interior. Absolutely no rips, odors or abuse. It has an 3.0L L6 FI DOHC 24V engine , 39,278 miles, clear title, a perfect car.
The price is not negotiable , $4,000.00 firm. The only thing I am selling it is because I divorced with my husband and after the divorce I own this car, now as a woman I don't need it...(I don't have driver's license)
I can provide vin # to check on your own. Also, I can send you the pictures and more details too. Just let me know if you are still interested.
I am looking for a quick sale so if you have have the funds available lets make this happen ASAP!


Thank you very much for your interest,


My reply

yes i would love to see some pics and hear some more details. Is it possible for me to come look at it this weekend.

Their reply along with pics....

Hi again,

Here is the VIN#: WBSBF032XSEN90243, title is clear in hand with my name on it, no liens. The car is located and registered here with me in Roseburg, OR, we will use Yahoo Finance Vehicle Purchase Protection, so we can both be protected and insured. I just need your full name and full address along with phone number so Yahoo Finance can send you the invoice in which you'll see how to make this transaction. I supposed to ship the jeep to another buyer, then he told me that he found another vehicle so is no longer interested. He already paid the shipping charges, the shipping is paid. I will send the car with all the papers ( vehicle registration, bill of sale, title, owner's manual ,2 sets of keys, transfer papers etc )
I have advertised the vehicle in different locations just to increase my chance to sell it faster because I need the money to pay something asap.
If you are interested in a quick sale I am just waiting your full name and address also your phone number so Yahoo Finance can complete the shipping papers and start the delivery process.
Yahoo Finance will assist you with this purchase as soon you will receive the invoice and they can answer you any questions you might have.

Thank you very much for your interest,


So suddenly the car has been moved to Oregon from NY. The shipping is already paid for and they want to use Yahoo Finance Vehicle Purchase Protection. The state change threw up a red flag in my head, shipping already paid for 2nd red flag, and just wanted to see what the yahoo service was so i googled to find out there is no such service and to find out that it is indeed a scam.

My reply

oh wow the car is in Roseburg now? I am actually on a business trip in Roseburg, what's your address and number? I would love to come check it out.

Still waiting on a reply.

I reported it as a scam.



BE CAREFUL OUT THERE. IM SURE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO WOULD FALL FOR THIS.

Any offers to ship cars are fraudulent. Always do business face to face and you will avoid most scams.

These are the very instructions from Craigslist. If anyone won't meet you face to face or provide a telephone number, avoid them!!

Plenty of scammers out there on CL. Just have to be careful and never provide any info until you actually meet the person face to face. But you have to be careful too cause around here people have been getting jacked when they go and see the car especially when they have a huge amount of cash on hand.

CL is full of scammers and con artists. It is very unfortunate because there is no fee. I prefer selling on CL as opposed to eBay because there are no fees or shipping headaches.

I've also seen a lot of these out there. Craigslist is pretty much the worst place to look for ANYTHING... at least half of what I've replied to was a scam