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08-09-2017, 07:20 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
Conifer
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,453
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Reporting Scam Attempt from Classifieds Ad
I recently posted a nice ad for my vintage Airstream on Classifieds. It's a good place to market our trailers.
My first response to this ad is a scam attempt. The purpose of this thread is to alert sellers there are thieves out there. If you catch a thief, show no mercy.
Here is the e-mail I received:
I will like to purchase it, but I cant make it there with cash or to check it out,I will pay you through PayPal and the freight company will pick up after you receive payment and do you have PayPal account?
Obviously the seller stops payment as soon as the freight company leaves your property. Now you have no trailer or no money. Stolen.
David
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08-09-2017, 07:43 PM
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#2
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Dazed and Confused
Currently Looking...
1983 31' Airstream310
Hillsburgh
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,805
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Yup,
You don't accept Paypal as a secured form of payment and that once all funds have COMPLETELY cleared into your account, then, and only then will you transfer ownership and release trailer.
You should admend your ad to state the same as it may deter other scammers clogging up your e-mail.
Cheers
Tony
__________________
Per Mare, Per Terram and may all your campaigns be successful.
“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose your own.” "Harry S Truman"
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08-09-2017, 07:57 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,747
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbj216
I recently posted a nice ad for my vintage Airstream on Classifieds. It's a good place to market our trailers.
My first response to this ad is a scam attempt. The purpose of this thread is to alert sellers there are thieves out there. If you catch a thief, show no mercy.
Here is the e-mail I received:
I will like to purchase it, but I cant make it there with cash or to check it out,I will pay you through PayPal and the freight company will pick up after you receive payment and do you have PayPal account?
Obviously the seller stops payment as soon as the freight company leaves your property. Now you have no trailer or no money. Stolen.
David
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It doesn't work exactly like that, but the result is the same. The buyer swears that the trailer is not a represented and PayPal pulls the payment back. Or, the buyer gets your PayPal account ID and attacks it to determine your password.
As someone on here previously noted, the best option for the buyer is electronic funds transfer. Once you have it, you have it. Paper checks, even "Cashiers Checks" can be forged. The funds go to your account (on hold) but when your bank tries to pull them, it is denied.
If I were selling a trailer I would post that an inspection is encouraged. Following inspection, funds to be transferred electronically and sale is final.
Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Ram 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
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08-09-2017, 08:50 PM
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#4
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diesel maniac
Airstream - Other
Tucson
, AZ
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,788
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And not more than an hour ago I told my wife "Craigslist is so full of scammers when we buy our Airstream it will probably be off the forum classifieds". Scammers are everywhere. Wish there was a way to get back at them.
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08-09-2017, 09:17 PM
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#5
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 16,528
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy
It doesn't work exactly like that, but the result is the same. The buyer swears that the trailer is not a represented and PayPal pulls the payment back. Or, the buyer gets your PayPal account ID and attacks it to determine your password.
As someone on here previously noted, the best option for the buyer is electronic funds transfer. Once you have it, you have it. Paper checks, even "Cashiers Checks" can be forged. The funds go to your account (on hold) but when your bank tries to pull them, it is denied.
If I were selling a trailer I would post that an inspection is encouraged. Following inspection, funds to be transferred electronically and sale is final.
Al
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Hi
The same electronic approach that transfers funds *into* you account can in some cases "reverse" and transfer them right back out again .....
Bob
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08-09-2017, 09:48 PM
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#6
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,467
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I would talk to your local bank and tell them what you are trying to do. Ask them what is the best form of payment that they would suggest and ask them if there is any recourse once the funds get to your account. Follow their advice and they will give you the best way to accept payment. When I sold my SOB I asked for a Cashier's check but met the buyer at his bank. The teller handed me the check so I knew it was valid and was truly paid for. Doesn't work as well if the buyer is out of town but in my case the buyer was local.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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08-10-2017, 05:38 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2020 28' Flying Cloud
Upper St Clair
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,943
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Cash. Period. I've sold a motorhome, well into the six figures. I've sold three Airstreams, high price as well and I've sold a number of sports cars, one to a young man from Germany, plus about 20 motorcycles over the years. Each and every transaction has stated, "cash only - prior to title transfer the legality of the cash presented will be verified by a bank of my choosing". Except one instance which precipitated my cash only policy.
I know I've lost sales, I know I've irritated buyers, but I've sold each item and I've gotten paid in full at the time of the transaction. Most transactions have occurred at the storage lot we use to store RVs at OR, at a neutral location or at our home.
When doing transactions of this sort we are both legally armed, These methods I realize are not what one could consider "the norm" and not for everyone. But having been stiffed by a Cashiers Check on a Motorcycle which was eventually made good I have opted for cash only.
Works for us. Good luck
Bud
__________________
2020 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2021 F350 6.7 King Ranch
USAF Master Training Instructor (TI) & (MTI)- 68-72
Volunteer K9 Rehabilitator & Trainer
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08-10-2017, 08:49 AM
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#8
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 16,528
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paiceman
Cash. Period. I've sold a motorhome, well into the six figures. I've sold three Airstreams, high price as well and I've sold a number of sports cars, one to a young man from Germany, plus about 20 motorcycles over the years. Each and every transaction has stated, "cash only - prior to title transfer the legality of the cash presented will be verified by a bank of my choosing". Except one instance which precipitated my cash only policy.
I know I've lost sales, I know I've irritated buyers, but I've sold each item and I've gotten paid in full at the time of the transaction. Most transactions have occurred at the storage lot we use to store RVs at OR, at a neutral location or at our home.
When doing transactions of this sort we are both legally armed, These methods I realize are not what one could consider "the norm" and not for everyone. But having been stiffed by a Cashiers Check on a Motorcycle which was eventually made good I have opted for cash only.
Works for us. Good luck
Bud
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Hi
They may have a way to set up a "one time use" account for an incoming transfer. I believe there is a waiting period on any transfer to allow for reversal of stupid errors. As noted above, your bank is a much better place to dig into all this than some strange guy named Bob .... Once you have the info, make that part of your selling description.
Bob
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08-10-2017, 12:25 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
belen
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 191
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Cash cash cash!!!!
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08-10-2017, 12:58 PM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
2013 20' Flying Cloud
Between Here and There and Nowhere
, what have you got?
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 146
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A quick and easy way to spot a fraudulent Craigslist ad is that their response never mentions the item you are selling. It's a boilerplate response to any ad for airstreams or vacuum cleaners.
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08-10-2017, 01:07 PM
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#11
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Moderator
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,694
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When using AirstreamClassifieds, if you're contacted by email they sent it via the "Contact Seller" dialog box which connects us to their forums login. While it doesn't actually punish the sham "buyers" we do terminate any accounts that are used for this sort of activity. If you receive suspicious emails from fishy buyers, you may forward those to the email address classifieds at airforums.com
__________________
— David
Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566
He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
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08-10-2017, 04:06 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1972 29' Ambassador
Boynton Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 568
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Don't reply, and block their email/phone. Remember that these people are criminals!
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08-10-2017, 04:11 PM
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#13
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Moderator
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,694
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SuzyHomemakr
Don't reply, and block their email/phone. Remember that these people are criminals!
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This is correct, certainly do not reply, because until you do they do NOT know your email address. When they respond to you via the Classifieds, our servers forward their response and THEIR email address to YOU, but yours is not visible to them unless/until you reply.
If you list your phone number in your ad, they can see that as long as your ad is active. The moment you click the "Mark Sold" button at the bottom of your ad, your phone number is hidden on the ad so it's not an ongoing advertisement of your phone number.
__________________
— David
Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566
He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
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08-10-2017, 05:17 PM
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#14
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1 Rivet Member
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
Kenmore
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 19
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I received exactly the same response to my ad on this site, via text, but they first texted me a few questions about condition and my reason for selling. So they put a little more effort into their attempt to scam me, but it was obvious when the second text came in.
I also posted an ad on Craigslist, and found a very nice local buyer. We will complete the deal at the credit union that we both happen to belong to. Local transactions are great!
__________________
MitchR55
Issaquah, WA
2015 25FB Flying Cloud
2014 F-150 Ecoboost
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08-10-2017, 07:00 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
Conifer
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,453
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Thank you Airstreamers for your replies. I was a bit surprised by this scam attempt. It is a rather common scam, kinda like "you're being sued", or "call the IRS right away".
And thanks for the advice on title <> money transfers. I too like local deals. I too have sold a lot of vehicles privately. I purchase my Trade Wind privately and we did the transfer at our bank. I may try to advertise my Trade Wind in a more local market. We'll see.
David
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08-11-2017, 09:32 AM
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#16
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 16,528
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbj216
Thank you Airstreamers for your replies. I was a bit surprised by this scam attempt. It is a rather common scam, kinda like "you're being sued", or "call the IRS right away".
And thanks for the advice on title <> money transfers. I too like local deals. I too have sold a lot of vehicles privately. I purchase my Trade Wind privately and we did the transfer at our bank. I may try to advertise my Trade Wind in a more local market. We'll see.
David
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Hi
It's a very common scam any time you try to sell things on Craig's List. They eventually morph and latch on to other internet "for sale" sites, with basically the same scam.
Bob
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08-11-2017, 08:21 PM
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#17
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4 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Lebanon
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 250
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No way would I drive across country with big cash in my pocket. I find a local bank willing to accept a transfer from my bank, then either do the trade in cash or a cashiers check. If buyer does not accept that I just don't buy the item.
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08-11-2017, 08:39 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
Currently Looking...
felton
, California
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbj216
I recently posted a nice ad for my vintage Airstream on Classifieds. It's a good place to market our trailers.
My first response to this ad is a scam attempt. The purpose of this thread is to alert sellers there are thieves out there. If you catch a thief, show no mercy.
Here is the e-mail I received:
I will like to purchase it, but I cant make it there with cash or to check it out,I will pay you through PayPal and the freight company will pick up after you receive payment and do you have PayPal account?
Obviously the seller stops payment as soon as the freight company leaves your property. Now you have no trailer or no money. Stolen.
David
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yep, this a common one .... IGNORE !!
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08-12-2017, 09:45 AM
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#19
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4 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Lebanon
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 250
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I am thinking about trying to make big money payment using PayPal. If payment is pending or unclaimed, payment can be rescinded. But once payment is accepted or final it cannot be stopped or rescinded. Seems like an ideal way to make a large purchase, without the risk of having a large amt of cash on hand.
BTW, cops can legally confiscate large amounts of cash during a traffic stop, if they see it while investigating for probable cause. Happens in my State many times.
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08-12-2017, 10:36 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,997
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rzrbrn
BTW, cops can legally confiscate large amounts of cash during a traffic stop, if they see it while investigating for probable cause. Happens in my State many times.
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Yes, and it's out of control. It's called "asset forfeiture" and it assumes if you're carrying a large sum of money, you must be a criminal. So the state/county/local/ cops take it and it's up to you to prove you're innocent. Meanwhile, the cops don't want to give it back, so it becomes a nightmare.
I'd never pay in cash (>$1000). I agree, a wire transfer is the best way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rzrbrn
I am thinking about trying to make big money payment using PayPal.
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As a buyer, PayPal is great. As a seller it's terrible. The buyer has 90 days to change his mind, PayPal almost always sides with the buyer. So I could buy the item, and two months later say I want my money back. The item was not as described. I win.
I've actually bought items at a discounted price by telling the seller I won't use PayPal.
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