Craigslist tractor scam

Here's the link: http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/grd/798840470.html

I can't figure out of this is a scam. After inquiring, I got the following email:

First of all I want to thank you for your interest for my tractor! This 2005 John Deere 3120 is in great shape,no engine problems,damages or hidden defects. It was always garaged and never kept outside. I`m a single mother with 2 children because i divorced with my husband and after the divorce i got this tractor,i don`t need it and that`s why i`m selling it so cheap. CLEAR TITLE on my name and the price is $6,000 (Shipping included ) . We will use eBay`s protection program for our safety. I just need your full name and address so i can open a case. (with no further obligation or fees).Have a nice day!

I'm no expert, but the use of phrases like "CLEAR TITLE" and "with no further obligation or fees" makes me question it.

Thanks for your help

Hi dq & welcome.

Definitely a scam. Does this look familiar?

You made the right choice! My 2006 Sea Ray 280DA is in great shape,no engine problems,damages or hidden defects. I`m a single mother with 2 children because i divorced with my husband and after the divorce i own this boat,i don`t need it and that`s why i`m selling it so cheap. The price is $4,900. We will use eBay`s protection program for our safety. I just need your full name and address so i can open a case. (with no further obligation or fees).
Have a nice day!

That was one of many similar adverts I found after searching for "ebay's protection program".
The ebay protection program gives it away instantly. Ebay doesn't give any protection for Craigs list sales. The scam is a fake escrow and/or shipping scam which would probably involve fake ebay emails.
Well done for being suspicious

thanks for your help ben

^^ If more people were like you, scammers would have less money.

I see it's now been removed. It would be one strange divorce settlement, wouldn't it?
If true, why not sell it back to her ex?

Just finished flagging about 6 ads for a tractor listed at $15000.00 below book price on Craigslist. After a bit more searching, found the pics that the scammer hijacked on a reputable site. Asking price $18,800.

Well done trkrd. If there were more people like you these scammers wouldn.t have a chanche.

Here is another example....."to good to be true" are words to live by. This is an email that I received when checking into this bike. Thanks to everyone for posting here to save me from a bad mistake.

"Hi,
My 2006 YAMAHA ROADSTAR SILVERADO is in great shape,no engine problems,damages or hidden defects. It was always garaged. I`m a single mother with 2 children because I divorced my husband. After the divorce I got this beautiful bike but I don`t need it and that`s why i`m selling it so cheap. The total price is $1,900 including shipping and handling. I have recently moved to Canada after the divorce and I took the bike with me, that is why i am sending it from here. The bike still has US papers with a clear title so you will not have to pay any Customs taxes. The sale will be through eBay's Protection Program for our safety. Your money will be transferred to me from ebay only after you will drive, test the bike and sign the contract.
Remember that time is an issue for me and I received many emails regarding the bike, so please contact me to start transaction through ebay asap."

Welcome!

I'm glad you spotted this scam (and there is no doubt it is one) before losing any money to it. Thank you for posting this one too--with every format posted, we increase the odds that another potential victim will recognize the scam before it is too late.

If the scammer emailed you directly and you can post the scammer's information (email headers with your name/email removed are best because they often show us where the scammer is really located, but if you can't access the headers, the name, email address, and any phone numbers the scammer provided) you will further increase the odds that a future victim will be saved. Suspicious buyers often search on the seller's information, and while some scammers change names and emails constantly, others use the same name and/or email in several scams--if this scammer reuses aliases, the odds of being discovered will go up even more.

Okay, here's my scam finds. I just started looking for a small tractor and ran across some Craigslist posts that just seemed too good to be true. I emailed the sellers requesting the location of the tractors for inspection and got these two replies:

"Hi ,
My name is Laura Storming and i want to appologize for my delay. Anyway, thank you for your interest in buying the Jhon Deere.
It is in good condition,no damages, never been involved in any accidents ,
no problems with the engine,it is a turbo diesel. The price is not negotiable , $5,700.00 and that includes 419 QA loader 5' bkt, box blade, cutter and standard duty trailer,Joystick loader 5' Heavy Duty Box with rippers 5' Rotary Cutteer.
The only reason that i am selling it is because i have divorced my husband and after the divorce i got this Jhon Deere,
now as a woman i don`t need it... we will use only eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection to complete the sale.
Features include 30 hp diesel engine, power steering, four wheel drive, and quick tach loader.It has been stored indoor so it does not show much weathering. Everything works great and I didn't find any leaks at all when I cleaned it up. I recently serviced it completely so it is ready to go. Here you have some pictures of the tractor :
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2010-3/1355295/0
If you are interested and you have the funds available email me your full name and shipping address.Regards"

"Hello,

First of all I want to thank you for your interest for my tractor. I am selling it at this price ($5500) because I just finished the divorce with my husband. When the divorce has finished i owned this tractor. Now as a woman i don't need it. The 2005 L2800 Hst Kubota Tractor is in great shape, no engine problems, damages or hidden defects.The Engine: 29 HP,Transmission: Hydrostatic drive transmission ,Drivetrain:4 Wheel Drive,Fuel type: diesel,Interior color:Orange ,Exterior color:Orange.Title:Clear,Hours:145.The tractor comes with the following attachments:
- Kubota LA463 Front end loader
- Box scraper
- Rear mounted mower
>From the beginning you have to know that for the payment I request only secure pay, I prefer the payment to be done using eBay services.
We will use a safe payment method because I am affiliated at eBay and I have a purchase protection account for $20,000. The final price that I want for this tractor is $5500 US including shipping and handling.

If you are interested in buying it please provide me your full name and address so I can initiate the deal through eBay.

I will wait your answer(if you are interested to buy) very soon.

Thank you

Rebecca Logan"

I don't know how they intend to steal from me, but it's clearly a scam. Notice the similarity in the replies from two purportedly different seller. Beware!

Marty

yup, you are right that they are scams. Can you post the headers for both emails, full headers if possible, so we can have email addresses and possibly locations of the scammers?

As to how the scam works: There is such a thing as ebay vehicle purchase protection, but it's not what the scammer will claim it is (and incidentally, tractors aren't covered under it anyway, and neither are purchases that are made outside of eBAY). The scammer knows that some people will google the name, and once they find out there is such a thing as ebay vehicle purchase protection, they won't actually bother to read the terms and conditions.

Your scammer will tell you that ebay is going to act as an intermediary, and you will pay them (often by Western Union), before the tractor ships. Then ebay will supposedly hold the money until you see the item and confirm it is ok. This scam will often be supported by fake ebay emails.

In reality, ebay has nothing to do with this, and any money sent by the victim is not going to ebay. It is going to the scammer or an accomplice who is in Africa or Malaysia, and any accomplices helping with the scam. The victim will often learn of the scam when they contact ebay to complain the item never arrived, but by then the money is long gone.

Here's the latest correspondence from the "too good to be true" Craigslist tractor deal. The tractor was listed under my local area, but the city did not show up on the listing. I emailed the seller to find out where the tractor was located so I could inspect it. The first response was the one I listed earlier in this thread. Remember, this was supposed to be a poor divorced woman who got the tractor in the divorce and wanted to sell it fast and cheap. Here's the email I just received:

"The tractor is already at the shipping company in Springfield IL sealed and ready for the shipping. I have a contract with eBay so this deal must go through them. According to eBay you have 5 days from the time you receive the tractor to inspect it and decide if you want to keep it or not.

Here is how it will work:

1.First of all I will need the following details from you:
- Full Name
- Full Shipping Address
2. After I will receive the details from you, I will forward them to eBay.
3. After they will process your info, they will send us both invoices.
The invoice will send you the details on how to make a refundable payment.
4. eBay will contact me and I will ship the tractor to you. After you receive the tractor you will have 5 days to test, verify and do whatever you need to the tractor. If you will buy, then I will receive the payment details from eBay so that I can pick up the money.
5. If you will decide that you will not buy the tractor, eBay will refund the money and I will have the shipping company come pick up my tractor. If you wish to make the transaction, please send me the necessary info so that we can proceed. I look forward to hear from you."

What are the odds that anyone would ever see that tractor if they made that payment?

Marty

The odds are zero. The scammer does not have that tractor--if they sent you photos and/or specs, those were simply stolen from an ad or website.

Doti,

Here's one of the original Craigslist posts:

"2003 John Deere 790 4x4 tractor loader$$$ - $5700

Up for sale is a very nice clean John Deere 790 4x4 tractor with John Deere 419 QA loader 5' bkt, box blade, cutter and standard duty trailer.
Tractor has R4 (Industrial) tires. This unit has lots of power at 30 horse and is work ready.
3 cylinder diesel
Quick attach loader and bucket
All new package to include the following.
5' Heavy Duty Box with rippers
5' Rotary Cutteer
Trailer Specs:
18' length
77" inner width
2" ball
Safety Chains
Brake Axle
Break away safety switch
Lights
ramps
Pocket
7K G.V.W.

Please contact me at : [email protected]"

I just got an answer to the tractor's location. Here is the answer:

"Hello, The tractor is located in Austin,TX
I want to tell you that we will use eBay in this transaction in order for both of us to be 100% protected and insured by them.
eBay will supervise this transaction so there won`t be any problems. The shipping is free i will take care of it and i will send the tractor with all the papers ( vehicle registration, warranty papers,transfer papers etc )
You will get the tractor and you will have 5 days of inspection in which you can decide if you want buy the tractor or not.
If you won`t like my tractor (not your case) you must notify eBay and send the tractor back on my cost,
if you want to keep it you announce eBay to send me the money (payment method and all the details will be set up by eBay) and you keep the tractor .
eBay will send you an invoice at your email in which you will see how to start the this transaction and in which you can see that this transaction is legit.
Please get back to me with your full name and full address so i can forward your details to eBay in order for you to receive the invoice.Wait your reply"

Now you can see that the writer has problems with the English language. I deal with China quite a bit, and it reads like a Chinese person writing English. (e.g., "if you want to keep it announce eBay to send me . . . ").

Another similar posting came from "Albert Leary [[email protected]]".

Marty

I have been corresponding with someone I believe to be the same person / scammer. The e-mail is [email protected] or on the more recent e-mails [email protected]. He is selling a John Deere 2305 for $2190 including "shipping and fees". That is a ridiculously low price for that tractor. He listed it as being in Iowa. As I live within a couple hundred miles of where he said it was, I offered to drive out with my trailer and cash and pick it up directly. Suddenly, it was actually in Texas and I have three days after it arrives to approve its condition and have ebay release the money. I asked for a serial number several times. He eventually provided LV2305H227798. I looked on the John Deere web site but was unable to find a way to check serial numbers. I will happily provide the complete e-mails of our correspondence if that would be helpful.

Gary N