For Sale 1978 FJ40 on autotraderclassics (scam?)

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Location
United States
Very legit-sounding response from the "seller" hellenstevens@hotmail.com:

Hello again,

My mother is terribly sick and the doctor is asking for about $3,000 before any operation can start because she has breast cancer and one of her breast have to be cut off to prevent the other from being infected since it has already been in a critical condition. My mother life is preferable than a car.
The total amount that you will pay is $5,250 with shipping and transfer fees included . First payment is $2,750 and the rest of payment($2,500) you can make after you receive the car and decide to keep it.
I can only deliver the car to your front door because I'm away most of the time I will not be able to deal in person. Like I said, I had pre-arranged the deal with Yahoo Finance so my presence is not necessary. My friend works with DAS delivery will help me with the shipping of the car. He agreed to help me with the shipping process, but he told me that he doesn't have time for meetings with the potential buyers.
The car will arrive at your door in 2-3 days. You will not pay shipping charges. As soon as the vehicle will be at your home, you will have 5 days to inspect and test drive the car. If you will not like the car 100% you will ship it back at my expense. I'm sure this will not happen because the car is in excellent condition. You will receive all the original documents and keys with the car. I signed all the paperwork and the clear title is ready to be transferred to the new owner.
The only way we can do this transaction is through Yahoo Finance because I want a smooth and safe transaction. You will have the chance to inspect the car before I will be paid.
Here is how it will work:
1.First of all I will need the following details from you:
- Full Name
- Full Shipping Address
- Working Phone#
2. After I will receive the details from you, I will forward them to Yahoo Finance .
3. After they will process your info, they will send us both invoices. The invoice will send you the details on how to make a refundable payment.
4. You will send the payment to Yahoo Finance .They will hold in trust the funds and advise me to ship to your address.
5. Yahoo Finance will contact me and I will ship the car to you. After you receive the car you will have 5 days to test, verify and do whatever you need to the car.If you will buy, then I will receive the payment details from Yahoo Finance so that I can pick up the money.
6. If you will decide that you will not buy the car, Yahoo Finance will refund the money and I will have the shipping company come pick up my car.

If you are interested to buy my car, please send me your full name, shipping address and phone number so I can register the transaction with Yahoo Finance.
Yahoo Finance will reply you with more details and information about this transaction.

Thank you,
Hellen
 
Don't do it.

There is no legitimate Yahoo Finance, or Ebay Escrow, etc.
This is always the true focus of the scam.
They will spend oodles of time talking about other minor details, but it's all about them getting hold of your money FIRST.
There is no refund.
This car belongs to someone else, so do the photos.
The seller has no real address and will vanish as soon as the money is sent.

If you absolutely want to waste time with this crook, insist on using your choice of a lawyer to be the middle-man escrow holder to hold your money and the crook's papers AND THE CAR,
BEFORE anything changes hands.

To test the crook, tell him/her that you live in a nearby city and want to drive over to view the truck and that you will carry the CASH with you to buy it--then watch the excuses pour out.

BTW, very few American women spell their name Hellen--but that's not typically taught in Nigerian schools, is it.
 
Scammer!!

Same one on uh-er(jeep classifieds) don't tell anyone I was there!
My guy was a geologist and "could only ship it to my door-being out of town and all"!
 
Not even a good scammer.........i can BS better than that.
Must be a freshman.
 
Damn Scammers...

Don't do it.

There is no legitimate Yahoo Finance, or Ebay Escrow, etc.
This is always the true focus of the scam.
They will spend oodles of time talking about other minor details, but it's all about them getting hold of your money FIRST.
There is no refund.
This car belongs to someone else, so do the photos.
The seller has no real address and will vanish as soon as the money is sent.

If you absolutely want to waste time with this crook, insist on using your choice of a lawyer to be the middle-man escrow holder to hold your money and the crook's papers AND THE CAR,
BEFORE anything changes hands.

To test the crook, tell him/her that you live in a nearby city and want to drive over to view the truck and that you will carry the CASH with you to buy it--then watch the excuses pour out.

BTW, very few American women spell their name Hellen--but that's not typically taught in Nigerian schools, is it.

Exactly, these scammers take legit ads and repost with the other person's photos. There was an ad in Miami where the guy said he was about to deploy to Iraq so thats why he was selling his 05 Land Cruiser for $2900. My blood was boiling when he played the military card, I'd pay $2900 to meet this guy in person.

Anyway, guy sent me a carfax and everything. These scammers are well organized, they do this for a living and they are far from fly-by-night.

NEVER, EVER pay someone an advance before seeing the car and title in person, check their driver's license and make sure it matches the title. Make sure the title is real by checking with the DMV. Do your homework. If the seller is offended then find another seller.
 
Ditto x 10. I see these everyday on craigslist. The story is always exactly like above; they want your name and address and phone number so that they can contact you directly then flim flam you, and want a about half of the money first, which you will never get back. They never will meet you, I tried a few times; nada. Knowing they were scammers I told them I wanted to pay with gold coins I had inherited, they stopped writing, guess they figured out I was trying to scam them. I've seen these guys try it for Landcruisers, a diesel dodge pick-up, lots of Accords and Lexuses.
 
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