FOR SALE 1994 E500, Spruce Green / Parchment, 91kmi, $11k - What's the catch?

[JAB12]

...Run for the Hills..!!!

 

[cascade]

I have contacted the seller and asked for an immediate test drive because I am in his area. So far, no response from the seller.

 

[gerryvz]

It's been quite a while since we've had a good online sales scam on an E500E. I don't think the seller of this car has even a clue that the market for these cars is so closely watched and tracked over time. If he did, I think he would probably have chosen a more generic, anonymous model to try to scam with.

It's pretty easy, if you are using Google voice, to select where (area code) you want your number to be from. So if you say that you are in Montana, you can easily get a Google number with a Montana area code (the entire state is the 406 area code) to assist with the scam.

This unfortunately for the scammer, is a pretty poorly run scam anyway.

Has anyone alerted Cars.com that they have a fraudulent listing, and asked them to investigate it?

 

[poormans500E]

Yes, I reported the listing to Cars.com this afternoon. I noticed that the listing has also been changed since yesterday and has obviously been cut and pasted from somewhere with no mention of the name "Jim".

 

[gerryvz]

E-mail from the seller scammer.

brasciadominick@gmail.com






Of course, "Dominick Brascia" is (was) an actor, who died in 2018. Dominick Brascia - IMDb

 

[JAB12]

I reported it earlier as well. At this stage any W124.036 advertised for less than $20K from an unknown source should be investigated. Unless, as noted in posts above, they are the subject of bitter divorce settlements or unfortunate passings from previous owners etc. Not the 'circumstances have changed' argument.

 

[szvook]

I think this board (if given the opportunity) can find out where Jimmy Hoffa is buried...

 

[JAB12]

@szvook Watch "The Irishman" on Netflix if not already done so. Recommend The Crown and Queen's Gambit too.

 

[Bogeyman]

He died in Bozeman, so there's that connection...

 

[gerryvz]

We really need the @Jlaa, @ace10 and @LWB250 to do their deep-Intel thing.
Miracle workers

 

[LWB250]

Already working on the OSINT.

Perp has responded to my sock puppet and has been asked for additional information with the promise of wired funds for a deposit upon reciept of the information. Let's see if they respond.

Dan

 

[Jlaa]

We really need the @Jlaa, @ace10 and @LWB250 to do their deep-Intel thing.
Miracle workers

I wasn’t going to mention this but you’d figure the scammer, if he were clever about it, would pick a dead guy (D. Brascia) that WASN’T accused of child molestation and sexual abuse / rape of others actors (Corey Feldman and Corey Haim - RIP)

 

[gsxr]

YIKES. Well, if he had a brain, he also wouldn't have made the sale price so low that it screamed "scam". Had the car been listed for $25k it would have probably gotten a lot more bites, maybe serious ones. At least it was easy to spot. Maybe he'll figure out it's easier to pick on Bimmer owners.

 

[steve h]

DOH I am so insulted.

Sorry!
Just as an aside joke, dealers in France say if you buy a green car , it will never get stolen, as you can never sell it.........

 

[gerryvz]

Lots of Spruce Mafia hate on this thread, Lol.

 

[nocfn]

Most frogs agree, it ain't easy being green. Back to the lockdown!

 

[gerryvz]

The Cars.com listing has been taken down.

 

[gerryvz]

Already working on the OSINT.

Perp has responded to my sock puppet and has been asked for additional information with the promise of wired funds for a deposit upon reciept of the information. Let's see if they respond.

Dan

Any updates?

 

[ace10]

My email comms went in circles with the guy.

And calling him just doesn't interest me.

He's not a very polished scammer, but knows what the steps are. He might get a deposit out of somebody, or maybe a full payment from a particularly gullible mark, but I think it will fall apart to most anyone with a brain once they request a photo ID that matches the p-chopped Title.

Though some people seem to ignore that critical step in the process.

The phone is likely a burner cell. I couldn't find any instances of it being used on other car listings.

 

[gerryvz]

He evidently received some very scathing e-mail and text-message communication, and also was made aware of the existence of this thread. Once the fake Montana title came up, he realized quite quickly that the game was over.

 

[daantjie]

These bottom feeders have all the time in the world to scam folks, so pretty much like a constrictor eats a large meal for months, they only have to catch one unfortunate soul every now and then, it's a numbers game and unfortunately time is on their side.

 

[gerryvz]

The idiot sent me a link to his photo gallery this morning, no other comments or responses.

 

[gsxr]

Someone should reply that the are local in Montana and want to drive over and pay cash in person.

 

[LWB250]

Already working on the OSINT.

Perp has responded to my sock puppet and has been asked for additional information. Let's see if they respond.

Dan

Any updates?

Nope. I suspect the perp got wise around the time I was asking for more information. Clearly not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Dan

 

[gerryvz]

Someone should reply that the are local in Montana and want to drive over and pay cash in person.

I did, yesterday. I left him a voicemail with exactly that information.

 

[Duh_Vinci]

Someone should reply that the are local in Montana and want to drive over and pay cash in person.

@cascade did, looks like he got nowhere... the seller is currently "unavailable"

I have contacted the seller and asked for an immediate test drive because I am in his area. So far, no response from the seller.

 

[gerryvz]

Correct. My experience was evidently the same as @cascade's. Zero response to a voicemail saying I am highly motivated, have immediate cash, and am local and can come pick up the car.

@gsxr, you're not that far from Montana....

 

[zentoed]

Wow, "my" (employer's) car is registered in Montana. LOL