TEXAS LIVING!

OH NO! Another car scam! The year we arrived here we decided to sell our Corvette convertible and buy another convertible with a back seat. That way we could, on short trips, like out for dinner, take another couple with us. When Ronnie & Sandra Steigman were here last year, we did just that on a gorgeous North Texas evening. Well! Someone tried to 'scam' us by offering to buy the car for $40,000. When the cashier's check arrived, they wanted us to immediately wire them the difference between the selling price of $34k and the $40K check. We played along! Naturally it was 'timed' for the $40K cashier's check to arrive on a Friday so it couldn't be cashed. They then hounded us for the wire transfer to cover shipping costs for the car to go to Chicago via Houston. I e-mailed them and told them I had hurt my back, and wouldn't be able to get their check cashed for several days. OH MY GAWD! They sent all kinds of e-mails over the next few days, imploring us to wire their money. When the cashiers check arrived it was post-marked London, England, drawn on a credit union in Portland, OR. The credit union did exist, but it was a phony sequence of check numbers. After a week, I finally sent them an e-mail that all our correspondence, including the check, had been given to the Dallas office of the FBI. Of course the FBI didn't really care, they get thousands of these a day. Today the $40,000.00 cashiers check is framed with a photo of our Corvette! Well now we have decided to sell the Mustang GT, a gorgeous little car, and just maybe buy a Smart Car. Now we have another opportunity to be scammed! DUH! I like to think Donna and I are smarter than we look. Below in red is the actual, un-edited e-mail (notice the lack of spacing and the language) that just arrived today after I told them we had a deal for $10,000 for the car in several e-mail exchanges. I will do the same thing - wait for the check, frame it with my car photo, and 'string' them along. As a retired guy with lots of time on his hands, what the heck! Might as well have some fun while living in North Texas! LOL From: paul Mikel To: Bruce & Donna Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2007 12:56:49 AM Subject: Payment/ Statues Shipping Information HelloI have forwarded your Vehicle information to my client and after evaluation and due to time constraint on the fact that we are running short of time. I'm delighted to tell you that my client has recommended your Vehicle, with full interest and he has instructed me to carry on with his transaction,he hopes the engine is serviced and oil changed too .He cant wait to see the Vehicle parked in his garage.However,My client made out a certified cashier check of($17,000) before he travelled to germany for death of his daughter,for a previous Vehicle and its shipment charges etc,but it was unfortunately sold.The amount on the check he deposited for the Vehicle is bigger than what should be paid to you now, so the check is now meant for the total expenses which includes the purchase of your Vehicle,the pick up of the Vehicle from its present location and the shipping charges/other necessary shipping arrangements. However he has instructed us to carry on with this transaction. So you're required to deduct the cost of your Vehicle ($10,000)and send the balance of($7,000) to the Agent ( our shipper ) for him to be able to offset shipping & tax charges, and other cosmetic repair costs.After payment has reached you and balance sent to shipper, the shipper's agent will come for inspection, pick up (of Vehicle & signing of title papers), make some cosmetic touches and drive to a prepaid shipper to be shipped to my customer.and also conclude other necessary shipping arrangements.so you dont have to bother yourself about the pick up and shipping arrangements.Please Confirm this and provide name,address and phone number for check payment to be delivered to you via fedex courier .Thanks and God bless.Regards,