# What's the scam here? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185 "2011-05-17T05:28:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/1 "2011-05-17T05:28:24Z")
I saw a Kubota tractor on Craigslist, so I sent an email inquiry. Here the response: > [@Purported seller](#): > > Hello and thank you for your email. This is the first time that I sell something on the internet but I have decided to try it since all my friends here in the Canada have been successfully using this system for quite some time. > I have analyzed all my options and I came to the conclusion that the safest way to do this deal is using the service of eBay, that can give us both the safety and the guarantee necessary to end the transaction in a secure way. > I have applied for this service and I’m willing to pay for their fee if you agree using their service. > People have asked me the reason for which the small price. The answer is simple: I do not wish to waste much time on this transaction. The tractor is in great shape, never been involved in any accidents and looks exactly like the images. I wish to inform you, that I lived in United States for 5 years and have bought the tractor there. That is why I am selling it there, because it is registered in United States. The tractor is currently in the possession of the shipping company in United States waiting to be shipped to any location. My final price is US $5,200, this also includes the transport fees. > > - The first payment that is US $2,600 would have to be transmitted to eBay. > - The shipping is started, and in 2-3 days after this you will receive the tractor. > - Then you have 7 days in order to examine and control it. > - After these 7 days you must inform eBay about your decision. > - In the case you don’t wish to keep the tractor, you must send it back and US $150 it will be deducted from the payment you already made for shipping purpose. > I understand that we are both protected through the rules and regulations eBay with regard to the safe trade on the Internet. If you are interested in the purchase and if you agree to use the services of eBay, for both our safety, write back for the more information. I’ll note that the $5200 price is definitely too low for a tractor in good condition, as is $150 for shipping. The Craigslist posting gives a location about an hour from me, so I’m inclined to see if I can drive to look at the thing - perhaps it is actually being held by a shipping company. But the awkward wording and too-good-to-be-true pricing seems to say “scam”. Is there any known eBay payment scheme that matches what’s being described here? ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/2 "2011-05-17T05:48:08Z")
> [@](#): > > I understand that we are both protected through the rules and regulations eBay with regard to the safe trade on the Internet. If you are interested in the purchase and if you agree to use the services of eBay, for both our safety, write back for the more information. Dude, this is obviously a scam. Don’t waste your time. You’ll send the $2,600 somewhere and get no tractor. ---
**Author:** ![Tess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@Tess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/3 "2011-05-17T06:52:49Z")
Don’t be so cynical, Absolute! If you can’t trust people from the Canada then who _can_ you trust? Seriously, any money you send will disappear along with the tractor and the seller. Tell him you want to drive out to see the thing and you’ll get the run around. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/4 "2011-05-17T09:25:05Z")
I might be wrong, but I don’t think ebay keep the money safe for you until the deal is completed. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/5 "2011-05-17T12:13:51Z")
I looked for Kubota tractor in ebay, and came up with [this](http://business.shop.ebay.com/Tractors-Farm-Machinery-/91952/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A4726&rt=nc&_nkw=kubota+tractor&_catref=1&_dmpt=Tractors&_ipg=100&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1514). I can’t see anything that seems to match your one. You can make a deposit in ebay, but only up to $2000 according to [this](http://pages.motors.ebay.com/buy/deposit-paypal/). But if it is not actually an ebay listing, then presumably the seller means using just Paypal. What happens in that case, I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/6 "2011-05-17T12:27:43Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > You can make a deposit in ebay, but only up to $2000 according to [this](http://pages.motors.ebay.com/buy/deposit-paypal/). But if it is not actually an ebay listing, then presumably the seller means using just Paypal. What happens in that case, I have no idea. Right. If the sale isn’t through Ebay, they are not getting their cut of the sale and none of their normal buyer/seller protections apply. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/7 "2011-05-17T12:53:48Z")
I think that is one of the biggest giveaways: trying to make you feel secure by using the ebay name. But how he hopes to continue it when the purchaser actually tries to make an ebay deposit puzzles me. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/8 "2011-05-17T12:55:41Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > But the awkward wording and too-good-to-be-true pricing **seems to say** “scam”. You misspelled “screams.” Nigerians actually don’t purchase tractors in the States. ---
**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:** [May 17, 2011, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/9 "2011-05-17T13:06:12Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Dude, this is obviously a scam. Don’t waste your time. You’ll send the $2,600 somewhere and get no tractor. This is probably it. I think you’re over analyzing it. There probably isn’t a tractor to begin with. If you want to string him along, ask to go see it. I’ll bet the communications stop or he asks for money before he’ll tell you where it’s located. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/10 "2011-05-17T14:22:14Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > If you want to string him along, ask to go see it. This is what I’ve done. I will definitely not be sending money. If any changes hands, it will be on a basis of “I hand you cash, you hand me the keys to the tractor we are standing next to.” ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/11 "2011-05-17T14:27:05Z")
In an amazing coincidence (a/k/a quick search on google), there appears to be a camper for sale and a nearly identical offer! \*Hello and thank you for your email. This is the first time that I sell something on the internet but I have decided to try it since all my friends here in the United States have been successfully using this system for quite some time. I have analyzed all my options and I came to the conclusion that the safest way to do this deal is using the service of eBay, that can give us both the safety and the guarantee necessary to end the transaction in a secure way. I have applied for this service and I’m willing to pay for their fee if you agree using their service. People have asked me the reason for which the small price. The answer is simple: I do not wish to waste much time on this transaction. The camper is in great shape, never been involved in any accidents and looks exactly like the images and the description and the engine functions great. I wish to inform you, that I lived in United Kingdom for 3 years and have bought the camper there. That is why I am selling it there, because it is registered in United Kingdom. The camper is currently in the possession of the shipping company in United Kingdom waiting to be shipped to any location. As far as the price of the camper, that is £6,900 like you already know, this also includes the transport fees. - The first payment that is £2,900 would have to be transmitted to eBay. - The shipping is started, and in 2-3 days after this you will receive the camper. - Then you have 7 days in order to examine and control it. - After these 7 days you must inform eBay about your decision. - In the case you don’t wish to keep the camper, you must send it back and £150 it will be deducted from the payment you already made for shipping purpose. I understand that we are both protected through the rules and regulations eBay with regard to the safe trade on the Internet. If you are interested in the purchase and if you agree to use the services of eBay, for both our safety, write back for the more information. \* ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/12 "2011-05-17T14:33:02Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > In an amazing coincidence (a/k/a quick search on google), there appears to be a camper for sale and a nearly identical offer! Thanks (should have thought to do that). That confirms what was already fairly clear. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/13 "2011-05-17T14:39:13Z")
P.S. If you google one sentence from this ad, you will come up with hundreds of posts from people in forums asking if this sale of a motorboat, car, tractor, camper, motor home, motorcycle, car etc is legit. It’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/14 "2011-05-17T14:53:23Z")
A further email, confirming the true nature of this: > [@Scammer](#): > > Sorry , you cant view the tractor because there is nobody to assist you. > The tractor is already at the shipping company in New York along with all documents, sealed and ready to be shipped. After you make the first payment to eBay, you will receive along with your tractor the documents you need to transfer the tractor under your name. Due to the fact that the tractor is already registered in United States there shouldn’t be any problems with the procedure. > I need your full name and address (where you want the tractor to be sent to) in order to inform the shipping company. I will get back to you with the exact time and date it will arrive at. Obviously you have to be home at that time since you have to sign some papers confirming that you received the tractor. > You have 7 days to test and inspect the tractor. > After that you have to contact eBay with your decision. They will get back at you with the necessary information depending on your decision. > If you want to buy the tractor provide me with your full name and address and eBay will give you all the details that you need to complete the transaction! Waiting to hear from you, as soon as possible. I decided to ask for details about how to send money through eBay. (I will certainly not be sending any.) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/15 "2011-05-17T15:36:55Z")
Does he want you to pay in Canadian The Dollars? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/16 "2011-05-17T16:15:26Z")
[QUOTE=scammer] That is why I am selling it there, because it is registered in United States. [/QUOTE] I have a Kubota tractor. No registration, at least in Pennsylvania. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/17 "2011-05-17T16:32:38Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > A further email, confirming the true nature of this: > > I decided to ask for details about how to send money through eBay. (I will certainly not be sending any.) I’m impressed that he apparently went to intensive English classes and upped his level to native speaker in between the sales post and that email. You should buy the tractor just for that. If not, I have a brand new combine harvester, an’ I’ll give you the key… ---
**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:** [May 17, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/18 "2011-05-17T17:33:01Z")
Be aware that in many of these scams involving a shipper, the whole point of the scam is to get you to send money to the shipper, who is actually the scammer. The shipper may be viewed by some as a neutral third party. When you are talking about a tractor and several thousand dollars sending a couple hundred dollars to the shipper to get things moving might not appear to be a major concern. But there is no tractor and all the scammer is interested in is the money sent to the shipper. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/19 "2011-05-17T21:25:19Z")
In response to my request for info on how to send a payment through eBay, I have this: > [@Scammer](#): > > I have the following agreement with eBay: They will send me a confirmation that you made the first payment. After this I will proceed with the shipping. > You will receive the tractor in 2-3 days after you make the first payment. You then have a period of 7 days to test and inspect the tractor. After this period you have to inform eBay about your decision. > And after your confirmation that you received the tractor and that you are satisfied with it and decide to keep it, eBay will release the money to me. (in this case the shipping tax is included in the price of the tractor ). > If you don’t want to keep the tractor you will get your money back from eBay minus $150 which will be deducted from your first payment for shipping purpose. I have presented you with all the facts and conditions of this deal. In case you agree with them, provide me with your full name and address and eBay will give you all the details that you need to complete the transaction! I presume this would lead to some sort of e-mail purporting to be from eBay. I’m going to break this off now - I have no interest in sending name & address info, even if fake. ---
**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:** [May 17, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185/20 "2011-05-17T21:35:41Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > I presume this would lead to some sort of e-mail purporting to be from eBay. > > I’m going to break this off now - I have no interest in sending name & address info, even if fake. Ebay has millions of customers, but he has a special deal with them. He must be have some awesome connections. Just for kicks, I’d send one more email. “I noticed the tractor is located about an hour away from me and I’m going to be in that neighborhood tomorrow afternoon. Could you give me the address so I could take a look at it before I put any money down on it?” I’ll bet you don’t even get a response. If you do it’ll either be a flat out no or some excuse that’ll require money before you can see it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-scam-here/582185.md?page=2)