Multiple people have been contacted from African, European, or U.S. buyers involving a common scam.

Follow these common-sense rules when contacting by any buyer or seller:

* BE WARY OF WIRING ANYONE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - these are common methods used by the scammers.

* Scammer often send FAKE CASHIER CHECKS or MONEY ORDERS - BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE. Sometimes they are not discovered to be fake for weeks or months.

* NEVER GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION like your social security number, eBay/Paypal passwords, your ATM PIN number, etc.

* AVOID DEALS INVOLVING ESCROW SERVICES, especially if the deal requires you to login to a web site and enter a bunch of personal information. These websites are often fake and run by the scammers.

One basic rule:
If any deal requires you, the seller, to send the buyer money, it is a scam.

Additional information:
National news story
More info and links
Wikipedia - Internet Fraud
Wikipedia - Advance Fee Fraud

Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?
* FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
* FTC online complaint form - http://www.ftc.gov
* Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
* Internet Fraud Complaint Center - http://www.ic3.gov
* Non-emergency number for your local police department.

Website from the US Federal Trade Commission:
OnGuard Online - http://onguardonline.gov


Scam Examples:
1. Your vehicle or part is for sale for $3000.
* The buyer wants to have his friend, business partner, or employee send you $9000 because his friend or business partner owes him $6000.
* You are supposed to cash his bank check for $9000 and then send the remaining $3000 to the buyer, usually by Western Union.
* DO NOT DO THIS! It is a scam. You deposit the check and then send the buyer the extra $6000. The bank check either bounces or was a forgery and you lose your $6000. They don't want your car, just the cash - the car is never picked up. YOUR BANK WILL HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAKE CHECK.

2. Your vehicle or part is for sale for $3000.
* The buyer sends you the cost of your car + the cost of shipping. Later, they say they have taken care of shipping and ask for you to refund the shipping cost. They keep your refund and the original bank check bounces.
* The buyer sends you the cost of your car + the cost of shipping. You are supposed to forward money to the shipper. The shipper is them using a different name or it is their partner. You will lose whatever money you send to the "shipper".

More warnings:
• Beware of anyone "representing a client". There are legitimate car brokers out there but this is a common term used by the scammers.
• Beware of any buyers from Saudi Arabia or Egypt who want to wire you money.
• Beware of anyone who does not ask you specific questions about your vehicle.
• Beware of anyone who speaks with you on the phone through a operator-assisted relay call (Normally used for deaf or mute people)

Why do they say they want the money sent by Western Union? Because this puts cash directly into the scammers hands immediately.

Beware of people (who may say they are from outside the US) expressing interest in buying your vehicle and who want your address immediately. Do not give out your address before making an appointment to show the car, and only provide the address to the person who will be coming over. Ask them some questions (about themselves, their relationship to the buyer, their knowledge of VWs, what they will be driving, etc.) so that you can be reasonably assured that they are credible before you give out your address.


Why do scammers want your personal information?
Here is one answer from a site visitor:
"They take the information that they gather from the classified scams; Name, address, phone number, etc. and call you claiming to be a credit card company, Federal Loan Office or some other organization that has "money" for you. They then request your credit card or bank account information in an attempt to charge your card or draw all of the money out of your bank account. They are very clever and will actually transfer you to different "departments" to process your information. They build your confidence by knowing all of your personal information and are busy on the computer researching banks in your area."