Another Craigslist Scam

[Patrickmilburn]

Earlier today another Insight scam made the rounds on Cragslist in most metropolitan areas of the United States. The ad purported to be offering a 2003 silver Insight with CVT boasting of 70 MPG for only $4,800. Its is another variety of the "send your money overseas and get a bargain too good to be true in return" scam. In this case some scammer is posing as a member of the US armed forces looking to sell an Insight in England to a buyer back home in the US. I don't know whether it angers me more that the scammer is using an Insight as part of the con, or that he is posing as a member of the US military (a common ruse). Probably some terrorist seeking to fund his efforts off gullible Americans. The email that follows the listing pretty well lays out the con:




"Hi there ,

Thank you for your interest in my car.This is a 2003 Honda Insight Hybrid ,Exterior Color Silver,Interior Color Gray,Automatic Transmission,non-smoker, clean title,only 59,600 miles on it,VIN# : JHMZE14783T000190.

Here you can find more pictures of the car: http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk17 ... daInsight/
(if the above link does not work copy and paste it into a new web browser window).

The car has been well taken care of, always kept in the garage.Flawless exterior/interior condition,no scratches and no dents.It has never been involved in an accident.The engine starts and drives like new and the paint looks great.It comes with US clear title which will be signed and notorized in the buyer's name.Have original manuals and all keys.

I'm an US Air Force Lieutenant currently stationed in United Kingdom.The car is here with me. It was bought in the US and shipped to Europe, but it was never permanently registered here, the car is still registered in the US.The car is for sale locally as well, but there are slim chances of this to happen. In order to be able to register this car here in UK the buyer would have to pay very high import/custom taxes that will double the price. So I decided to sell the car back in the US.

The price is $4,800.00 including shipping from UK to the US and delivery to your home address.

So if you decide to buy this car or need further information please get back to me as soon as possible.

Thank you
Lt. Michael Wagner "





I'm curious whose photobucket Insight picture file they pirated. I'd swear I've seen those pics somewhere before.


Thankfully, to the credit of Craigslist and some of it's readers, the listing got flagged and booted shortly after it appeared.

Like WC Fields used to say, "You can't cheat an honest man!" I wonder if "Lt. Wagner" would be willing to swap his "Insight" for some gold bricks or maybe part interest in a New York bridge?

[ibjeff]

These show up on my local AZ craiglist regularly...they especially use Insight, Civic Hybrid, and Prius in their bogus ads. When you find them be sure to FLAG them (the icon to flag a listing is on the upper right side of the ad)

[IMAhybrid]

Originally Posted by Patrickmilburn

This is a 2003 Honda Insight Hybrid ,Exterior Color Silver,Interior Color Gray

I thought only the 2000s had grey and black interiors??

[joecvt]

Originally Posted by IMAhybrid

I thought only the 2000s had grey and black interiors??

The interior color change from grey to beige started in the 2004 model.

JoeCVT = Just your average CVT owner

[Dgate]

This guy claims to be an AF Officer.... I noticed stickers in the middle of the windshield like the type used for base entry.
These are not however used in the UK at present though they may be left over from shipping the car from the states.
Since he posted the vin number can't that be checked for authenticity ?
I do know the info he gave about selling the car in the UK would attract high taxes and be undesirable (LHD) but he would still have the option of selling to another military member or as the case here advertise for stateside delivery.

I live a short drive from the two main flying bases and being ret AF have past experience of buying and selling with AF personnel.
I assume all condeming this as a sham have proof it is so.

DGate

[whychug]

A few weeks back I came across a dangerously similar ad for a twin turbo 300zx. Wanted WAY below blue book. Same deal-
*Alleged* military guy wanting to sell car quickly- willing to ship anywhere- free! I told him that I'd meet him in person to check it out, but he said that I wouldn't be allowed on the military base to see it, so I should just wire him the $$ and he'd ship it to my door. He even offered to have it detailed.. HA! The sad part is odds are that somehow, somewhere, a naiive person took the bait and is out a couple of grand.

[Patrickmilburn]

Originally Posted by Dgate

This guy claims to be an AF Officer.... I noticed stickers in the middle of the windshield like the type used for base entry.
These are not however used in the UK at present though they may be left over from shipping the car from the states.
Since he posted the vin number can't that be checked for authenticity ?
I do know the info he gave about selling the car in the UK would attract high taxes and be undesirable (LHD) but he would still have the option of selling to another military member or as the case here advertise for stateside delivery.

I live a short drive from the two main flying bases and being ret AF have past experience of buying and selling with AF personnel.
I assume all condeming this as a sham have proof it is so.

DGate

Since you're already there, perhaps you should email Lt. Wagner and see if you can come round to see his Insight. You could say you were checking it out for an interested member back in the States. Bet you don't get very far. This is just another permutation of a very common scam that we see a lot of on Craigslist.

[Dgate]

Send me his e-mail and I will try to make contact,might be interesting.

DGate

[JimIsbell]

I found an Insight for $4,800 in Las Vegas, on Craigs List, that was also a ruse. It was a "poor single mother with two children" She offered to ship it in a crate from Las Vegas to Texas at no additional cost. My sister lives 200 miles from there so I offered that she might come by and see the car. Communication ceased immediately.

A couple of weeks before that I had an offer of a $100,000 Jaguar XKE in museum condition on EBay for $9,500 that was in Hawaii. The seller offered to ship it to me in Texas...BY TRUCK..at no additional charge. I had a friend in Hawaii that offered to go look look at it...and, of course, the guy wasnt available at any time that we suggested. The pictures were from an Ebay auction 6 months ago.

[Patrickmilburn]

I don't think you'd want that $100k Jag after it was shipped by truck from Hawaii! -LOL!!! I doubt the Lucas electrics would survive the soaking in seawater.