Scam - Prius Price too good to be true

2004 Prius for sale - $5800. Latest scam to sell non-existent car. Warning to all.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=245789247&dealer_id=62726795&car_year=2004&model=PRIUS&num_records=25&systime=&make3=&make2=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=25&marketZipError=false&model3=&color3=&model2=&color2=&search_lang=en&make=TOYOTA&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=85020&advanced=&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=0

Claims he's getting a divorce and just wants to sell. Lists a Phoenix zipcode and my sister sent message so she could come see it. Amazingly, he is actually in Ashland, VA and accidently put in wrong zipcode. Apparently, made same mistake with Phoenix phone number also. Signs off as Sg. instead of Sgt. Usual poor english common to all these scams.

Following are two emails he sent in reply. My sister told him that she works for an airline and would like to fly in to see the car. Turns out he was busy and car was already wrapped (? - in what he doesn't say) and at the shipper - DAS. So, unfortunately, wouldn't be available to show her car but not to worry because as soon as sends money car will be shipped and Ebay will protect her, etc. Needless to say when she asked for Ebay item number conversation terminated.

From: Removed Email Address
Date: Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Subject: Re: 2004 Toyota Prius 130,191 mi $5,800 JTDKB20U840028975
To:

Thanks for your inquiry regarding my beautiful 2004 Toyota Prius HYBRID, still
available for sale at the $5,800 price.
As you see in the pictures the car is in excellent condition, It drives
great and looks amazing, very well maintained, no accidents, no scratches,
no dents, NO BATERY PROBLEMS, no need for additional repairs, it is in
showroom condition, the maintenance schedule has been followed to the letter
and all service has been performed by dealer.
Few specification:
Transmission: Automatic, Fuel type: Hybrid-electric, Power Door, Locks
Cruise Control.
Power Steering CD, AM/FM Radio, Air Conditioning, Power Windows 5DR HB (SE),
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, Dual Air Bags, 130,191 miles, all inspections made...
Where are you located?
The reason why I'm selling it is a divorced settlement.....
I am very mad on this situation by I don't have any options...
I will only conclude the transaction through eBay for our own protection.They act as a neutral third party.
If you are a serious buyer and you want to buy my car, I can ship the car to
you and I will handle the shipping and insurance charges. You will have 7
days to test drive the car, prior buying.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate ask...
Best Regards,
Peter L

FEW PICS WITH MY PRIUS:
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm263/mbenz04/Toyota Prius/1.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm263/mbenz04/Toyota Prius/2.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm263/mbenz04/Toyota Prius/3.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm263/mbenz04/Toyota Prius/4.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm263/mbenz04/Toyota Prius/5.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm263/mbenz04/Toyota Prius/6.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm263/mbenz04/Toyota Prius/7.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm263/mbenz04/Toyota Prius/8.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm263/mbenz04/Toyota Prius/9.jpg

From: Removed email address
Date: Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Subject: Re: Owner 62726795: AutoTrader.com: Vehicle Lead 2004 Toyota Prius

Hello again K,
The Toyota is paid off, no lien or lease, clear title in hand.
The problem is that I've post the car on the wrong zip code.
I live in Virginia and the Prius will be shipped from here at your earliest
convenience.
I guess you should not lose this opportunity to own it.
The sale price is $5,800.00 with shipping/handling included.
I also accept a downpayment of $2,900..The ball is in your court.
It will be insured during transportation and will be delivered in 5-6 business
days at your door.
I´ll like to use an eBay service, so we'll be both protected. The
transaction will be made under eBay's buyer protection plan.
Please let me know if you have the funds available and wish to move foward.
Kind Regards,
Peter

Craigslist is flooded with these bogus car ads too.

I think the scam is to direct you to send money to a phony escrow company. It might be worth stringing a scammer along just to get the name of the phony site in order to shut it down.

If anyone knows how to contact Dateline other than standard email would love to turn Chris Hansen loose on them. He loves this stuff.

OH Lord, The Nigerians have now stepped into the arena... This is a classic Nigerian scam artist.. You can tell from their awful English. Craigslist is chock full of them and no offense to anyone on this board that might be Nigerian, I know you are not all involved in this stuff, many but not all...

Lol, just a few evenings ago they had an oil advert posted here. I was impressed at how quickly it disappeared.

This is not a new scam... they target different vehicles, even motorcycles and other new-ish vehicles that are in tight demand.

Classic vehicle scam... Look for:
- Price too good to be true
- No Reserve Price
- Ships Worldwide
- Often, shipping included
- Seller is in location A but vehicle is in location B
- Seller has 1 or few sales to their name

you should mess with the seller, ask him if the 6 speed automatic shifts well. ask weird questions like does the TCP/IP work.

Next we'll be gettingn one like this: "Hello friend, I am the consul for the late Edmund Baxter Somebody, president of Nigerian Oil company. I am sad to report to you that Edmund Somebody and his entire family died in a car crash last month. He leaves $50 million in his account, and my search has turned up your name. Please contact me so that the funds may be transferred to your account." Are you ready?

This sounds like a job for Doc Willie

He keeps his Mercedes pictures here:

mbenz04 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

And you would want me to help you. . . how? Figure out more ways to frak with his head?

There is starting to be more scams on Autotrader. I don't know if there is a way to report fraudulent listings but there should be. I remember when I was looking for a car about a year ago and the car had a super low price and the guy said that if I paid the deposit he would ship it to me, and if I didnt I could get a refund and he would ship it back. The car was also in Hawaii and he was somewhere like Utah or something. Very odd. Also the listing from the original post has a phone number listed with it that is the fax number for the Phoenix Public Library.

Well, since we added that protocol shifter, the TCP/IP runs as smooth as oil.

ZC1

But... But... does it support jumbo packets for maximum throughput at 56km/h speeds? Is the steathmode available on it's firewall to block the gas ports? Does the "B" gear actually mean boost?

:spy:What a piece of shiiiii.... I work outside of Ashland, would love to know the address for a driveby to see what the location is. My guess is an abandoned business or P O Box.

How did I know before I opened the pictures that there would be no numberplates?

I'd never fall for a scam like this. I just got an e-mail letting me know I won a foreign lottery, I didn't even know I entered, so now I don't need to save money.

Amazingly this is all on the heals of becoming the sole beneficiary of a Nigerian general, who about to pass away.


Seriously (or not so seriously), check out Welcome to the 419 Eater for some hilarious stories of "Scambaiting." Look at the archives, and check out "Busted."

I noticed he listed "Fully Loaded.. GPS system" yet the photos clearly indicates this car does not have gps - lack of the map and voice command buttons on the steering wheel and no extra buttons on the MFD.

It is curious why he chose to list it with such a high mileage. Wouldn't folks be more enticed by lower mileage and slightly higher price? Like 50K miles @ say? $13K?

Darn it, some people get all the luck.

ZC1

Often, my favorite part about these types of scam ads is that the "seller" picks out somethingly completely stupid to describe how mint the condition of it is, such as the headliner or door panels. It helps point out the legit ads from the bogus ones very much.