Err is this a scam or not?

[iguana]

I know the bizarre Nigerian scams are doing the rounds, but got this one and can't make my mind up if its dodgy/a scam or what?

Cut & Pasted it below-

"Good Day Alex
It Quite obviours that we have never meet or talk befor.i am an international
business man.i deal iwth all kinld of Autos such as Used&New
Cars,Bike,Tractors,Boat and others.i was searching for a Bike on the web i now
came across your advert for the sales of Honda RVF400 (NC35)in which i am well
pleased with the price £2,500.let me know if you would accpet a cashiers check
for payment.hope to read from you asap.
Thanks,
Lowi"

I guess there is no harm in replying? as they already have my e-mail address?

Edited to add-

Actually I forgot the PH adverts don't reveal your e-mail adress, so I guess it might not be a bad idea to reply from a different address that I dont mind getting spammed out?




>>> Edited by iguana on Wednesday 17th September 20:55

[li'l pugs]

Yep.....done before a number of times......ask for a deposit.....

[pesty]

ask them why they won't bring cash.

if they wil only bring cheque
take them to a bank and pay it in together if the bank accepts it then ok


>> Edited by pesty on Wednesday 17th September 21:10

[gixxer1000]

Got to be a scam!

* He's an "international business man".
* Dealing in "cars, bike(s), tractors, boat(s) and others".
* That's a pretty disparate mix!
* He wants to give you your asking price, without knowing anything about the bike (other than whatever you claimed in the advert - you could have been bullshxxing!), or even seeing it.
* He's not much of a businessman if he doesn't want to haggle you down in price.
* His name is "Lowi" (say no more).

If your curiosity does get the better of you and you do indeed decide to contact him, do not sign anything, and insist on cash.

Oh, and don't divulge your address until you are more certain he is genuine (he'll then know where to come and pinch your bike from).

If he's real, I'll eat my shorts!


>> Edited by gixxer1000 on Wednesday 17th September 22:39

>> Edited by gixxer1000 on Wednesday 17th September 22:40

[a j]

i Heard a similar story on the radio the other day. The buyer wanted to give the seller more than the cars worth by cheque, he then wanted the seller to send the difference, some £15,000, back by cheque also. The fool almost did this before the cheque he'd received had'nt even cleared. Easy answer in my mind make sure the cheque has cleared. No problems?

[PetrolTed]

I checked the logs and the bloke dished out the same response to about 12 bike ads. Ignore him.

I'll work harder on the conman filter...

[rlawson]

Definitely a scam- but can be fun to run along with it to see the lengths these guys will go to.

Had same experience selling a van- smelt a rat but carried on. To summarise guy will offer to send you a bank cheque for value of bike plus cost of shipping to Nigeria or wherever.

Ended up receiving via UPS a post daten cheque. I was drawn on a genuine Jersey bank account (called the brand of the bank and it was all legit) for £2k over the asking price.

About two days after this the guy emailed me saying that he needed some cash to help him travel to the UK to see the bike prior to shipping and could I wire some cash over to him given that I had a cheque for more that the worth of the van.

Told him in no uncertain terms, no cash in my bank account = no van and no money wired to him, and never heard another thing from him.

Am still sitting on the cheque which is dated for sometime in October- am quite tempted to try cashing it just to see what happens!

[rlawson]

Check out:

www.scamorama.com/