[unavita]

In the past week I have been in contact with three SL/SLC owners. Two of which are one red SL and one silver 500SL with Lorinser on it.
The email returns I've gotten are extremely suspicious: nay! A scam!

I will not say why I KNOW this but here are the emails:

Hello, This 1982 Mercedes-benz Sl-class runs and drives excellent. It has been extremely well maintained with a full service history, 75.000 miles! The transmission shifts smoothly . The car has all of its original floor mats, all books, complete set of tools and keys. Everything works in the car lights, gauges, radio, seats, windows, locks, a/c blows ice cold, etc... clear title free of liens. I bought it when i was serving in Fort Lewis, U.S. Army base in Washington. The car will be delivered for free from WA, US. I advertised it on other states also to get more exposure and sell it faster.
I have dropped my price to $2.000 (purchase price) since this is an Urgent Sale! and I need to sell it before April 17th, when I will be deployed in Afghanistan with my platoon replacing the troops scheduled to come home.
If you're interested to conclude this purchase in a timely manner email me your: Full Name, Shipping address and phone number, to open a case with amazon. They will contact you to explain the entire procedure. The financial part will be managed by them, which means that you will have a 7 days inspection period before committing to buy the car. In this way both, buyer and seller are 100% covered during the steps of this transaction.

Hope to hear from you soon!

SSG Matthew Berry

FOR THIS CAR: 500SL

THERE ARE A LITANY of issues with the facts of this email. I will not divulge what they are and ask that anyone else does not either as it will alert the con.

SECOND:

Yeah. I read that. You didn't answer my question. What website did you advertise on? You have the car in Ebay motors too? Where?

On Mar 20, 2015, at 11:05 AM, ottilie vidakovic wrote:

As I've previously told you my medical team will deploy back to Ukraine. Right now I'm in a military base of Nevada National Guard to complete the pre-deployment training program and I am not allowed to get out of the unit or call whenever I want. We have to stick to email for now. The vehicle is here with me at the base and the delivery process will be managed by me. I think I can have it there at your home address in 2-3 days. It will come with a clear title and reg. I am a member of the eBay Motors protection program and using this service you will get a 5 days testing period after delivery. During that 5 days testing period I will not be getting any money. If interested just email with your legal name (for the bill of sale) address where you want the vehicle delivered. They will let you know what you have to do for the payment. Like this you'll be able to talk directly with them and ask all you want to know.

On Fri, Mar 20, 2015 at 8:51 AM, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
Interesting. I'm sorry but what website is this advertisement affiliated with? My apologies as I do not recall.

On Mar 20, 2015, at 10:45 AM, ottilie vidakovic wrote:

My 1970 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 280 SL with 76,942 miles, automatic transmission and Cylinder V6 Naturally Aspirated Engine is in excellent condition, never abused, no accident, no loans, it has been very well maintained. I am selling it at this price ($1,850) because I'm leaving with my platoon to Ukraine on 06th of next month for 12 months contract. Was my husband car, he loved it very much, but didn't enjoy it. He died in a bike accident 2 months ago.... it brings me bad memories and now I decided to sell it. I want to sell it asap and a fast sale can be done only at a low price. The delivery process will be paid by me and DAS Auto will handle the delivery process including title transfer. I look forward to hearing from you, 1st Class Ottilie Vidakovic, Senior Medic
For more pics click on the link below Postimage.org / gallery - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, pag

Thank you

 

[rowdie]

Moved to general forum for discussion.

 

[tdoriot]

I had a similar situation when looking for a Ford escape for my wife a couple of years ago. A price that was almost too good to be true with similar instructions. I agree that executing this deal will result in no car and a lighter checking account balance. To bad this guy can't be located and worked over by real soldiers using a sock full of pennies !

 

[halman2228]

A W113 with a V-6

Novel.

 

[Olaf_J]

Confirmed. I had a similar story of someone trying to "sell" me an SL that was in Madrid with him temporarily/somewhere, he supposedly was a commissionar for the EU inBrussels. He could get the car back in Belgium, i only had to pay for shipping ... :eek Similar guarantees of returning the vehicle when not satisfied ...:angel

I reported them, but they probably won't be found. The technique they use is "waterholing": find a place where people with a common intrest go, and try to entice them with an offer that is just too good ... You only need a couple of them to get a return on time invested.

 

[dugald]

These and similar scams prey on greedy stupid people who hope to get an unbelievably good deal.
Serves you right if you get sucked in.

 

[abiby]

These and similar scams prey on greedy stupid people who hope to get an unbelievably good deal.
Serves you right if you get sucked in.

You definitely hit the nail on the head! :thumbsup:

 

[unavita]

These and similar scams prey on greedy stupid people who hope to get an unbelievably good deal.
Serves you right if you get sucked in.

Right. So if you leave your car doors or front door unlocked you wanted to get robbed?

Serves your right? Wow.

I posted to inform those that may not be experienced enough are just to trusting or young to know.

NO ONE DESERVES TO BE VICTIMIZED.

 

[CavallinoRed]

I've seen more than a few scams with the "seller" claiming to be military. Guess they figure it will hit some sort of patriotic button. Sadly they often use the name/rank of a legit solder.

But if you expect to pick up a 70 280SL for $1850...you deserve to be taken.

The second flag is the old eBay Motors protection program. One.. applies only to vehicles sold via eBay and two is very limited on when it would apply.

It's a sad..sad..world.

 

[dugald]

Right. So if you leave your car doors or front door unlocked you wanted to get robbed?

Serves your right? Wow.

I posted to inform those that may not be experienced enough are just to trusting or young to know.

NO ONE DESERVES TO BE VICTIMIZED.

i know you mean well, but that's not the point.
These scams are not aimed at inexperienced or too-trusting victims. Rather, they take advantage of peoples' greed and dishonesty to defraud them. The sucker is all too ready to exploit the apparent ignorance or desperation of the seller and is blind to the fact that he is being exploited himself. A $1800 280SL? Really?
And those dupes that fall for the Nigerian money-for-nothing scams are victims of their own dishonesty. I am amazed they are willing to admit their greedy stupidity and actually expect sympathy.

 

[Ears]

I don't know... $1800 sounds about right for an ole 6-banger...

 

[ChiefRider]

i know you mean well, but that's not the point.
These scams are not aimed at inexperienced or too-trusting victims. Rather, they take advantage of peoples' greed and dishonesty to defraud them. The sucker is all too ready to exploit the apparent ignorance or desperation of the seller and is blind to the fact that he is being exploited himself. A $1800 280SL? Really?
And those dupes that fall for the Nigerian money-for-nothing scams are victims of their own dishonesty. I am amazed they are willing to admit their greedy stupidity and actually expect sympathy.

I think your analysis is unnecessarily harsh. We all see things from slightly different perspectives and experiences. My stepdaughter and her husband had been trying to sell their Porsche 944 for a long time, and for a very reasonable price. A scammer made them an offer, and although she was enthusiastic, she brought it to my attention first. It was clear to me, but not to her.

Scammers are successful for a variety of reasons- Inexperience, gullibility and yes, greed. Someone wants to share a warning, I'm not gonna piss on their shoes.

 

[dugald]

No intention to piss on anyone's shoes.
Just offering an opinion on a subject that was presented for discussion.

 

[tusabes]

To those who have not seen this scam before , even very intelligent people get taken . I have a friend who was a university professor looking for a Prius almost get taken . He is very sharp but hadn't seen this scam the number of times I have as its common in the car community and many of us have seen it

The prices were not so ridiculous that greed was the motivator , it was just $1-2000 under Market price - enough to attract interest and not so cheap that makes it an obvious red flag like a $80k Benz for $1800