- Location
- United States
This seems like too good of a deal almost maybe no?
1973 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45
No affiliation.
-Joe
1973 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45
No affiliation.
-Joe
HJ45 Craigslist bayarea
- Thread starter joesfj40
- Start date
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Anybody have any history/info on the truck itself (even though it is a scam?)
As best as I can tell (i.e. from two minutes of web surfing), 1973 was the first year the H engine was introduced into the Land Cruiser, so a VIN of hj4500584 would seem to indicate the 584th truck off the line. At least his info on the truck seems like it might be square, would be curious to know the history and knowledge of the real owner if it's here in the States.
As best as I can tell (i.e. from two minutes of web surfing), 1973 was the first year the H engine was introduced into the Land Cruiser, so a VIN of hj4500584 would seem to indicate the 584th truck off the line. At least his info on the truck seems like it might be square, would be curious to know the history and knowledge of the real owner if it's here in the States.
You want mine.. I can deliver..
Wish I had that kind of money. Will you sell yours for the same price
Cheers
Is this the orange 45? It was just in Craig's list claiming to be out of Oceanside. "Vivian" claims the truck will be only sold through eBay, you can't see the truck, touch it or deal directly with her. Total scam.
The Craigslist ad has been taken taken down. If one of you has photos, would you post a shot here so that other Mudders will know to stay away?
The Craigslist ad has been taken taken down. If one of you has photos, would you post a shot here so that other Mudders will know to stay away?
This goes back a ways, but as I encountered several times purposely playing with this jerk and his friends, the crook has no vehicle, just photos copied from another listing. He then typically uses and taps into the identity of a one-time Ebay user with a dormant account, and creates the listing which you have seen.
Once a potential Buyer contacts the Seller with obvious questions, the crook eventually slides-in matter-of-factly that she (likely a "he") wants paid to the "Ebay Escrow Department," which really does not exist. This is actually an out-of-the-way Western Union Office or quick-cash store in a small town, where the Buyer is to wire the money "to be held safely by the escrow department." Then, with some variations, the Seller or the "Ebay Escrow" is to ship the vehicle to the Buyer, often for FREE. But, of course, quickly the crook has grabbed the money and run.
Continuing, while wiring the money is the most important part of the con, once it's laid out........ the emails quickly gloss over the specifics, and deliberately weave an enticing tale, focusing on shipping details, the beauty of the vehicle, and other side-stepping points, referring to the "safe-ness" of the Ebay escrow system, which really does not exist. All this has many variations, but matters nothing to the crook--just the wiring the money part is all that counts.
Since Ebay has established no plan to alert potential victims, we see this particular truck for sale every few months. I guess Ebay doesn't want to scare off buyers within its program by announcing the very real danger of multiple types of scams, or alert scammers to a golden opportunity. There has to be enough money in the Ebay system to create a mobile policing unit that could intelligently engage a few of these crooks in emails, travel to the pay-out location, and catch the creep when he comes to collect his money. Then actively publicize this for all to see.
It does however bring up an interesting point. Much like the creation of Paypal to be a safer way of payment, with the large number of vehicles sold though Ebay, an enterprising person could develop an escrow system and perhaps sell the finished concept to Ebay, or Craigslist, for vehicles and and other purchases for a small percentage fee.
Until then, this particular type of scam will continue. This is for an FJ45, but it has to be happening for a whole lot of other vehicles. It would be instructive if some of these scams were published for all to see. As with the Madhoff Ponzi scam, lots of innocent people are suckered-in by these creeps, and apparently the orange-tan FJ45 photos have enough appeal to be repeatedly used over-and-over.
Once a potential Buyer contacts the Seller with obvious questions, the crook eventually slides-in matter-of-factly that she (likely a "he") wants paid to the "Ebay Escrow Department," which really does not exist. This is actually an out-of-the-way Western Union Office or quick-cash store in a small town, where the Buyer is to wire the money "to be held safely by the escrow department." Then, with some variations, the Seller or the "Ebay Escrow" is to ship the vehicle to the Buyer, often for FREE. But, of course, quickly the crook has grabbed the money and run.
Continuing, while wiring the money is the most important part of the con, once it's laid out........ the emails quickly gloss over the specifics, and deliberately weave an enticing tale, focusing on shipping details, the beauty of the vehicle, and other side-stepping points, referring to the "safe-ness" of the Ebay escrow system, which really does not exist. All this has many variations, but matters nothing to the crook--just the wiring the money part is all that counts.
Since Ebay has established no plan to alert potential victims, we see this particular truck for sale every few months. I guess Ebay doesn't want to scare off buyers within its program by announcing the very real danger of multiple types of scams, or alert scammers to a golden opportunity. There has to be enough money in the Ebay system to create a mobile policing unit that could intelligently engage a few of these crooks in emails, travel to the pay-out location, and catch the creep when he comes to collect his money. Then actively publicize this for all to see.
It does however bring up an interesting point. Much like the creation of Paypal to be a safer way of payment, with the large number of vehicles sold though Ebay, an enterprising person could develop an escrow system and perhaps sell the finished concept to Ebay, or Craigslist, for vehicles and and other purchases for a small percentage fee.
Until then, this particular type of scam will continue. This is for an FJ45, but it has to be happening for a whole lot of other vehicles. It would be instructive if some of these scams were published for all to see. As with the Madhoff Ponzi scam, lots of innocent people are suckered-in by these creeps, and apparently the orange-tan FJ45 photos have enough appeal to be repeatedly used over-and-over.
here are a cpl images from one of the early scams a cpl years ago
EXACT same photos I recieved last Friday! I can see how people get sucked in, that is one nice 45...
I also recieved VERY official-looking descriptions of Ebays Vehicle protection Plan, right off the Ebay site, so it looks, with a transaction # and everything.
I'm circling around with this scammer right now! How can I alert the internet police and nab him?
I also recieved VERY official-looking descriptions of Ebays Vehicle protection Plan, right off the Ebay site, so it looks, with a transaction # and everything.
I'm circling around with this scammer right now! How can I alert the internet police and nab him?
It would be hard to nab the scammer as he really only has the INTENT to scam people.
I went down the same road a few years ago selling my FJ45 (what is it with FJ45's and scams?). A potential buyer talked with me several times about the vehicle and decided he wanted it. We emailed back and forth a few times and we talked on the phone a few times. He was out of state and told me he would have it shipped. He sent me a cashier's check and I told him that I would not release the vehicle until the check cleared; usually about 10 days according to my bank.
I received the check and immediately I knew something was wrong. The check did not "feel" right. The same day I received the check, the buyer called me and told me that his shipping company had a truck in the area and he wanted to come get the 45 as it would save him money on shipping. He said that since I had the check in hand, that that was as good as cash. I told him like I told him before, I would not release the vehicle until the check clears and it could take up to 10 days.
The next day, I took the cashier's check to the bank and told the cashier that I thought it looked and felt funny. She agreed but told me if I deposited it, I would be liable for the funds. She said the best thing to do would be to call the bank that it was drawn upon and verify the check number and amount. I called and low and behold, Bank of America had no record of that check number and amount.
I tried calling the scammer buyer and he would not answer. I sent him several emails and called him and left a few messages. No response. Amazing huh?
A few days later, I was running errands in a nearby town and next door to one of my stops was the local FBI office. I happened to have all the information that I had on this potential scammer and I decided to tell the FBI my story. The FBI agents made a copy of the check, I forwarded them all of my emails, and I gave them his name and phone number. They said that they would investigate the guy but unfortunately since he did not swindle me out of any money or the truck, they really can't get him for much. Intent to scam is not the same as actually scamming.
Point of the matter: This 45 a scam but unless someone hands over money, he will not be nabbed.
Another point: Be careful out there of who you sell or buy a vehicle from. My potential scammer found me and contacted me through this forum. He almost got my $12K truck for free and I would have been SOL.