Is this a fraud?

[coonrebel]

What Do you think about this? This was about the car I talked about for sale.
--- On Wed, 10/22/08, jj D > wrote:

> From: jj D <.>
> Subject: Re: 00 Chrysler 300 c Chrysler Low Miles Digital Clock - $2700 (Denver, US.)
> To: *
> Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 1:36 PM
> Hello,
>
> The sale will be managed by eBay for our own protection as
> they act as a neutral third part.
> eBay will keep the money until you inspect/drive the
> vehicle. The title is clear.
> This is how the Vehicle Purchase Protection Program works:
> 1. I will contact eBay and give all the info about this
> deal.
> 2. They will email us the forms which are needed for our
> deal.
> 3. You will send the payment (2700) to eBay and they will
> notify me to ship the vehicle to your location.
> 4. After you will inspect/drive the vehicle and decide to
> keep it, eBay will forward me the funds and the deal is
> done.
> Remember you have 5 days to test it. If by any reason the
> vehicle is not as described or if you find any problems with
> it I will pay for the returning fees. I'm sure it
> won't be the case because it's a state of art
> looking and working vehicle. I apologize if it seems like
> I'm pushing on this deal but I really want to be sure
> everything is clarified before any further steps.If you wish
> to purchase it please let me know so I can initiate the deal
> through eBay.
> The car is being shipped from Helena MT on my expense.
> Thank you
>
> J*

[Miriam C.]

Never pay before you drive!

[satch]

Never pay before you drive!

Total agreement, I would'nt even pay until I had the title papers, and other DMV forms signed and ready. I'm not very trusting these days.

[S. Heisley]

The whole thing may be baloney and it smells like rotten baloney. Ask EBay if they really do hold the money and send paperwork. I'm doubting it.

Good Luck!

[cdfnchico]

EBAY does have an affiliation with an escrow service ...escrow.com and tells you to ONLY use escrow.com cos there are other that are scams. Here is what they have to say about escrow services:

Important: Only use www.escrow.com.

An escrow service is a licensed and regulated company that collects, holds, and sends a buyer's money to a seller according to instructions agreed on by both the buyer and seller. Typically, once the buyer receives and approves the item from the seller within an agreed time frame, the escrow service then sends the payment to the seller.

Escrow is available for any purchase, but typically is used for purchases of $500 or more.

I have used it to buy a higher ticket item from out of state that if is as described is worth what I am willing to pay for it. It has worked out fine for me. If, during the time period agreed to you feel that the item is NOT as described...you notify escrow.com and they withhold payment to the seller until the situation's resolved satisfactorily. There is a fee for the service, a percentage of the sale.

[S. Heisley]

Thanks, Cathy.
So, it's not baloney
You've just taught me something new!

[G-force]

Sounds like a Scam to me. Get the VIN number before doing anything, a legit seller will have no problem giving you it so you can run it. DO NOT send money to anywhere they tell you too. If you do go through escrow.com have them tell you the transaction number so you can go there directaly. It is too easy to set up fake web sites nowdays and they will guide you to it.

[wanders]

If you have to ask, it's a scam 99% of the time

[48Rob]

If you have to ask, it's a scam 99% of the time

be careful!!

[coonrebel]

Thanks to all for the replies. Decided not to do it.

[Wimperdink]

I bought a car on ebay.... my current vibe actually. After I won the auction, I had another member email me to warn me to be careful as this seller sells fixed wrecks. I emailed the guy and asked him, sure enough this car had been crunched and repaired. It only had 18,000 miles on it... I told him i'd send him $20 to cover half of his listing fees and to cut my losses since he hadn't been totally honest in the auction. He offered to bring it from Ohio to TN for me and allow me to make up my mind when he got there. I let him, I drove it, and I handed him the cash. now 3 years later, I have 125,000 miles on that same car. I agree though, gotta be carefull and don't pay till you drive it. I had a lucky experiance.