That all sounds about right except the part about the buyer and his agent being the same person. Perhaps I'm wrong but I'd expect the operator of the scam (the "buyer") would hire some flunky intermediary to be the "agent" who actually delivers the fake check and picks up the car — on the off chance that the seller catches on and arranges to have the police present at time of pick up.
The same number just contacted me about my add on kijiji and he says that he will send his agent to pick up the car and ready to pay $500 extra !
I wonder how this will end ....
The buyer's check will include the cost of the car, $500 extra, and an additional amount to pay "his agent", the guy who is supposed to pick up the car. You will be asked to deposit the buyer's check then wire the agent's fee to him.
Your wire transfer clears instantly. The buyer's check is a well-made fake. It will take weeks to bounce. Your bank will make you pay back all of the money plus a bounced check fee. The buyer and his agent are probably the same person. They will keep the agent's fee. You will not be able to find them.
That all sounds about right except the part about the buyer and his agent being the same person. Perhaps I'm wrong but I'd expect the operator of the scam (the "buyer") would hire some flunky intermediary to be the "agent" who actually delivers the fake check and picks up the car — on the off chance that the seller catches on and arranges to have the police present at time of pick up.
In the one report I saw on the tv news the fake check was mailed and the agent never showed up. At least the victim didn't loose the car. They were only out the agent's fee and the bank's bad check fee.
If the car is picked up when the check bounces the victim will file a police report and the car will go on the nation-wide stolen cars list. That will make it hard to sell. If the scammer never picks up the car and is never seen he can continue to run his scam from anywhere.