off topic sorry. Question about selling cars. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

fz500sel · #1 07-29-2003, 12:17 AM

Has anybody dealt with dealers that buy cars for "clients" overseas? I am selling a couple of MB diesels and have had some inquiries (emails) from people who claim to be looking for cars for "clients" overseas. I see what seems to be alot of older MB's overseas (Far East, Middle East, etc.) and was wondering if these are cars that were bought by these "dealers" just for these "clients".

The emails I've received (2 of them) state that they will issue a certified check drawn on a U.S. bank. I'm just a little apprehensive since I've never done business like this. The emails tell me that they will arrange shipping, pickup, etc. You might say that it would be easier to just sell to a local guy but it seems the local guys always try to haggle with you about this and that whereas, I can picture some guy with $$ taking my vehicles as is without nitpicking me to death.

Comments?

Limited Edition · #2 07-29-2003, 12:36 AM

They're not from Nigeria are they?

stejm · #3 07-29-2003, 01:20 AM

A major scam right now... The cheques are fake, but it can take a bank up to 2 weeks to discover this. Once they do, you're on the hook for the full amount, even if the cheque in fact "clears". Do a google search, and you'll find tons of stories about these people...

sixto · #4 07-29-2003, 03:50 AM

I don't really care who buys my car but in such a case I'd conduct the transfer at your bank and have the bank verify the form of payment even if it's cash.

What I don't understand is why they give you a story. Why not just buy the car without the story?

The US is the most MB Diesel starved country in the world. Why would anyone source MB Diesels here unless they have clients who must have W123 300CDs and W116 300SDs? If such were the case, they'd be better off establishing connections in the dealer auction circles.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Larry Delor · #5 07-29-2003, 10:03 AM

If it is a cashiers check...find the bank it is drawn from, and cash it.

Once you have the cash, release the car.

I don't know if any of the US banks have branches in Central America, so you might want to do a search. Maybe that country has a chamber of commerce website?

I believe you told me the buyer wants to use it for Taxi service. Sounds reasonable, as we all know that Diesels are a popular choice for this kind of operation.

There was a member who posted his dealings with one of the fake buyers...the kind that were playing the money transfer game...but I think that scam artist wanted to know the bank account numbers of the seller. He hasn't asked you for those, has he?

geoellis · #6 07-29-2003, 11:36 AM

The old adage "if it's too good to be true it probably is" fits very well here. It appears to me that your instincts are making you question this type of deal.....go with your instincts as they rarely let you down.

#7 07-29-2003, 11:56 AM

when a real good deal comes along I always ask myself "why am I so lucky" If I give myself the right answers - I do the deal. Most of the time I do not give myself the right answers!

afmcorp · #8 07-29-2003, 03:39 PM

stop what you're doing, put down the mouse and run to the nearest exit.

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!

if it's legit then meet at your bank ... take cash only ... then deposit it.

i still get the nigerian government offical one several times a year still.

remember... if they contacted you by blind email then they were looking for a victim.

tks
craig

jcyuhn · #9 07-29-2003, 04:40 PM

I sold a car "long distance" earlier this year. The buyer mailed me a cashiers check. It was drawn on his local bank. Thanks to the convenience of the internet, I simply looked up the phone number of the bank and gave them a call. They were happy to verify the check was authentic, giving me the check number, the amount, the date issued, and buyer. Since all this information checked out, (ouch! accidental pun.) I deposited the check and decided to do the deal.

Key thing is to verify the check is authentic. I have read about forged cashiers checks, thanks to the quality of home printers. Look for security features on the check, such as microprinting and an artificial watermark on the back. Then contact the issuing institution and have them confirm the authenticity.

- JimY

Q · #10 07-29-2003, 04:56 PM

Easy solution. Release the title only after the check has cleared.

95s420 · #11 07-30-2003, 02:24 PM

Foreign coutries, especially Middle East countries love to come to the US for the more expensive Mercedes such as the W140. They buy them dirt cheap and they are generally in very good condition. As the previous post said, simply dont release the vehicle until the check has cleared. Better yet, get a wire transfer.

Meza · #12 07-30-2003, 07:41 PM

I have never heard of Mercedes cars imported from the US to the middleeast. I heard of Ex-police Chevy Caprice and the Chevy Suburban cars. It is a lot cheaper to go to Germany,buy and drive them (used German cars with big engines are cheap in Germany) instead of shipping them accross the Atlantic. Not to mention the European MB models are what they use in the middleeast (gages,lights, bumpers, ..etc).
Meza

fz500sel · #13 07-30-2003, 08:36 PM

I talked to a good friend at my bank and she said that there wasn't anyway for her to verify if a cashiers check is legit. She advised me to do what jcyuhn stated "since it is drawn on a U.S. Bank, call the bank and verify that it is a good signature on the check and also to make sure there is no STOP PAYMENT on it."

I'm awaiting to hear from the guy and see what he has to say.

I'll let you guys know what happens.

95s420 · #14 07-31-2003, 10:16 AM

the Big S Classes with V8's are extremely rare overseas. Just last month a guy from Jordan was here in Austin and purchased a 94 W140 for export back to the middle east. It does happen.

fz500sel · #15 08-01-2003, 09:12 PM

I've decided that these guys are scammers and I told them to take a hike.

http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Nigerian/purchase_used_cars.htm