# This sounds like a new internet scam but can anyone explain it. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345 "2010-07-12T00:43:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/1 "2010-07-12T00:43:51Z")
This landed in my inbox: > [@](#): > > Hello there, > > My name is Audrey Fanoll I am sending this email to inform you that I have a 2000 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 convertible, 49,750 miles, automatic transmission, 8 Cylinder 5.7 Liter engine, VIN: 2G1FP32G3Y2174777,is in perfect condition without any mechanical problems,with no damages or hidden defects,no need for additional repairs,no scratches or dents,never been wrecked and no accidents of any kind.clear title without any accidents,liens or loans(you can verify it at [carfax.com](http://carfax.com) with the vin number). > The car has a clear title in my name. I’m from Anchorage, Alaska, USA. > > My final price on it is US $2,500. It is priced to sell fast ! > > I am selling this car because of the financial crises that affected me in the same measure it affected the most people of this country.I’m in a hurry to find a buyer because I’m in debts with my bank and a few days ago I was made to work. But what it’s really worrying me is that if I don’t get money quickly I’ll lose my house because the term due at my bank is near and I don’t have the money to pay my rate.So now you can see the reason why I’m selling my car at $2,500. > > I’m from Anchorage, Alaska, USA. The car and the shipping/handling will cost you a total price of $2,800. > > More pictures of the car : > > [Edited for everyone’s protection in case there is a virus.] It rings of a scam, especially the “financial crisis” aspect. So is this something new? Is it a virus, a Trojan horse or a variation of a Nigerian scam? ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/2 "2010-07-12T00:52:00Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > This landed in my inbox: > > It rings of a scam, especially the “financial crisis” aspect. So is this something new? Is it a virus, a Trojan horse or a variation of a Nigerian scam? My guess, money will need to be wired to a pickup point before delivery can be arranged…its probably audreys car, but she didnt send the email.. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/3 "2010-07-12T00:54:54Z")
300 shipping from Alaska? What a steal! What bargain! What a scam! Just the fact that he’s randomly emailing total strangers to buy a car is a tip-off. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/4 "2010-07-12T01:15:10Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > 300 shipping from Alaska? What a steal! What bargain! What a scam! > Just the fact that he’s randomly emailing total strangers to buy a car is a tip-off. Well, yes. Certainly I’m not biting. Is this new? If so, then I guess the point of the OP is to warn others and spread the word. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/5 "2010-07-12T01:27:02Z")
That sounds like scam grammar to me. ---
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/6 "2010-07-12T08:05:04Z")
Yup. You pay to some random account, never get any car. A couple of days later you’ll get an e-mail from the Alaska police, informing you that they caught the fraudster and they require your account information in order to reimburse you. Poof go your savings. Oldest scam in the book. ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_in\_NJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/97f17d/32.png) [@Rob\_in\_NJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rob_in_NJ)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/7 "2010-07-12T10:51:51Z")
If you read the e-mail it says she is in Alaska, but if you look at the pictures of the car there is one with the tag showing… it is tagged in Louisiana. This thing is a new, inovative scam and I am sure there will be more than several idiots that will willingly send her whatever she is asking. ---
**Author:** ![Sizzles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@Sizzles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sizzles)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/8 "2010-07-12T11:38:35Z")
> [@kombatminipig](#): > > … the fraudster and they require your account information in order to reimburse you. Poof go your savings. > > Oldest scam in the book. I’ve never understood how a fruadster can raid my account with just the account info. How do they do it ? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/9 "2010-07-12T12:00:52Z")
> [@Sizzles](#): > > I’ve never understood how a fruadster can raid my account with just the account info. How do they do it ? They could buy something online that let’s you use an electronic check. To the OP, how did they get your email address? If you’re bored, I’d say screw with them. Fish them a long a little and just see where it goes. Showing a little interest in the car, maybe asking to test drive it (are you anywhere near where the car claims to be from) isn’t going to hurt anyone, but it’ll probably reveal the scam. Hell, you’d be doing us all a favor if you get them ‘primed’ and then turn it over to the police. My guess is that as soon as you show any interest at all, they’ll start bugging you for the money, at that point you could contact the police (for the FBI if this is across state lines). Or maybe you could write back that you are going to send them a check for $25,000 (TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND USD) and if they could simply take this cashiers check to the bank, cash it, keep the $2500 and give you the remainder in cash when you pick up the car, that would be just great. (But of course you’ll have to wait until the $25M check from Nigeria gets here). But seriously, I’d say string them along a little. The scam will be clear very soon. Do they want your bank account number? A check mailed somewhere? Cash? ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/10 "2010-07-12T13:21:12Z")
This scam is as old as the Nigerian thing is. In fact it may be more successful because it seems local and doesn’t raise as many flags. People always want a deal. Send enough emails and you will find one score. Your address was harvested for this from somewhere. If you get involved in it you will be asked for various things, either an account number, a check for a good faith down payment, or just the shipping. She won’t have the extra money for the down payment so you will be asked to front that. This Camaro is currently on Ebay for $10,000 and the location is North Hollywood, CA. I think we could assume this is a scam. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/11 "2010-07-12T17:03:25Z")
Another way this works is that it isn’t about the money for the car at all, the scam involves the buyer sending $300 to a third party bogus freight company. The buyer doesn’t get too suspicious because he hasn’t been asked to pay for the car yet, just $300 for the freight. The person who receives the freight money is the actual scammer. BYW that VIN does match to a 2000 Convertable Camaro. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/12 "2010-07-12T18:12:35Z")
This is not a scam. I can guarantee delivery of the car to you. Send me a private message and I will send you an account number and bank code where you can wire the $2800, where it will be held securely until you receive your car. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/13 "2010-07-12T18:39:39Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > This is not a scam. I can guarantee delivery of the car to you. Send me a private message and I will send you an account number and bank code where you can wire the $2800, where it will be held securely until you receive your car. 🙂 I’ll insure that transaction for an additional $1000 wired to my account. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/14 "2010-07-12T18:46:18Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > That sounds like scam grammar to me. Good one, but I propose the modifying it slightly to the catchier term “scammer grammar.” ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/15 "2010-07-12T20:21:34Z")
> [@Sizzles](#): > > I’ve never understood how a fruadster can raid my account with just the account info. How do they do it ? [http://www.g7ps.com/](http://www.g7ps.com/) Software like versacheck can easily print a very real check and add your account numbers/routing info. At that point they can print checks to a dozen people who try to cash them at a dozen places with a dozen fake ids. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/16 "2010-07-12T20:25:38Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Just the fact that he’s randomly emailing total strangers to buy a car is a tip-off. The needle on my fraud-o-meter jumped at the salutation, “Hello there”. ---
**Author:** ![bonitahi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7993a0/32.png) [@bonitahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonitahi)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/17 "2010-07-12T21:02:19Z")
Welcome Rob in NJ ! ---
**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-sounds-like-a-new-internet-scam-but-can-anyone-explain-it/546345/18 "2010-07-13T02:10:53Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > This is not a scam. I can guarantee delivery of the car to you. Send me a private message and I will send you an account number and bank code where you can wire the $2800, where it will be held securely until you receive your car. 🙂 I suppose you’re also holding the keys for the house that those nice people in Malaysia tried to rent to me.