We have been informed by one of our advertisers that they have been scammed by some people from Nigeria who stated that they wanted to buy their collector car and sent them a fake cashiers check. The crooks send more money than the price of the car stating that the extra money is to be sent to someone in the US to ship the car to Africa. The amount of money to be used for shipping is even close to what the actual cost for shipping would be. Once the American seller sends the money to the person who is supposed to ship the car they find out that the cashiers check is a fake. These individuals lost $8,000 of their own money in this scam. Apparently it has been tried on other collector car advertisers on this site and on other internet sites. When dealing with people from other countries it is better to be safe than sorry. According to the people who lost their money it can take over three weeks for a bank to realize that a check is a fake. They also suggest that you contact the issuing bank and get any verification in writing. The money you save may be your own.

If you have been approached by anyone wanting to buy your car with a plan that fits the description above, the folks who were scammed would like to hear from you. They have started a Yahoo group about this matter to discuss it with others who may have encountered these crooks. The more leads they have the better the chances of catching them. You can sign up for their Yahoo group by clicking on the following link:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ScamSupportGroup/

We have also joined the group so we can keep up with the latest on this scam. If you have any information you would like to directly send to the victims you can email me below and I will put you in touch with them. Please forward this information to any collector car classifieds and club web sites and newsgroups you know about. We need to all work together to keep these kind of people out of the hobby.

You can read the CBS News Report on this story at

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/01/eveningnews/main527883.shtml

By Nancy Kramer: Webmaster American Dream Car

nekramer@mindtheater.net

I would like permission to either post or link this page to www.timebomb2000.com, an "open intelligence" website that gets 20 MILLION hits per month. I'm certain you'd her responses!

I have been approached by Johanny auto sales of S.Africa about 5 months ago and currently I am in contact right now with mummy autos of S. Africa. The first one was just like you explained it, the second one agrees to send a cashiers check and wait till it clears and for the exact amount only. But I did not know it takes 3 weeks. How do I know its legitamit when i try and contact the bank to see if funds are correct and true.

Here is an email i received today...

##############################

FROM THE DESK OF:
MR. ABDUL-KADIRI RASHEED,
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER,
UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC(U.B.N)
234-1-7599073


Permit me to introduce myself. I am ABDUL-KADIRI RASHEED,The ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC(U.B.N) one of the largest banks in Nigeria. The Board of our Bank mandated me to contact you over a business that will be of mutual benefit you at no risk whatsoever to both yourself and your organisation.

Sometime in 1996, one of our highly esteemed customers,Engr.johnson creek a citizen of U.S.A. died in an aeroplane crash off the coast of Lagos.Before his sudden death, he was the Managing Director of Cross Atlantic Oil Company and he maintained both current and savings accounts with our bank.As at the time of his death, he has about US$28.5 Million in both accounts.After his death, our bank made several efforts to contact his next of kin to claim his money without success. We even contacted his country?s embassy here in Nigeria to assist us contact his relations,but the embassy wrote us back after three (3) months saying that they too could not locate Engr.johnson creek's relatives. It was on that we have a meeting and decided to place Engr.johnson creek's money in a special account.

Recent event have led us to write you this letter. And another emergency meeting of the Board of Directors of the (U.B.N) was held where it was decided that we should remove the money from our computer.It was decided that I should contact you for
possible assistance on this very important matter.

We want to present you as the next of kin or relation to the Late Engr.johnson creek,your present country does not matter as you could be his uncle from his mother?s side which automatically qualifies you to claim his property (money). Should you accept this proposal, you will be giving additional information (bio data) on Engr.johnson creek and tell you what to do. Please note that you have the backing of the Board of the Bank behind you, which will ensure that every thing will go smoothly at no risk to yourself or your company. When you have received the money, it will be shared in a manner that will be satisfactory to all of us. Our share will be invested for us for two (2) years under your direct control until we give you instructions on what next to do with it.

should you be interested, kindly get back to us through the above email address clearly stating your phone and fax number(s) for us to provide you with additional information before we start the remittance of the fund. We assure you of your maximum protection while we urge you to get back to us without much delay.

Best regards,

ABDUL-KADIRI RASHEED.

I also received a email from the same person from Nigeria I was selling a 1997 Monte Carlo and by the time they had emailed me I had already sold it but I informed them I had a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am for sale and they still wanted to purchase this I thought this odd because it had double the miles on it! So I informed them that I would sell them the car but it would be as is and I would have to let the cashers check clear through the bank after 14 working days I would then sell them the car but after I told them it would have to clear I never heard from them again!! I was also wanting $7,500 for the monte carlo and they said someone in America owed them $10,000 they would send me the cashers check in full and I would have to send the rest back to them that also tipped me off that something wasn't right!!!

A LADY EMAILED US WITH IDENTICAL INFORMATION REQUESTING US TO ACCEPT A CASHIERS CHECK AND CASH IT. I FELT VERY IFY ABOUT IT AND SAID NO. tHEN, I LOGGED ON TO CAR SEARCH & SAW THIS PAGE. I FEEL SO GRATEFUL THE INFO WAS AVAILABLE. THE PERSON WHO CONTACTED ME USED THE EMAIL LADI_AUTO@YAHOO.COM. tHEY ALSO LEFT A PHONE # 234-8033037298. HOPE IT HELPS.
MELANIE

I've been emailed 3 times with this scam (9/14, 17 & 19) from 3 different individuals (or at least 3 different names), each time from some "African country." Since I smelled something fishy right away, I asked each time who and where was their shipping company, as well as what "African country" were they from... Of course I never got a reply, and they haven't sent me any other "offer" either. I should mention that one of them provided both ph. & fax #s, that I've kept so far (if anybody needs them...).

I received an e-mail from a Peesmith2000@yahoo.co.uk the day after I put my ad on line. He offered me $500 more for my car than I was asking.....This was the first thing I thought was odd. Then after several e-mails he said, I will instruct a client of mine in the U.S. who is owing me $12,000 to issue a cashiers check in your name and then you can send the balance to me via western union.

I told him that I didn't feel comfortable handling any additional money that I was not entitled to and that he should send only what he was buying the car for. I never heard from him again.

Posted by Brenda Finn on December 14, 2002 9:46AM

<< How do I know its legitamit when i try and contact the bank to see if funds are correct and true. >>

The only way to know that the check is good is to call the bank that it says it is issued by and give them the account number and the amount of the check. Tell them that you have reason to believe that the check is counterfeit.



Posted by Selina on December 14, 2002 8:51PM

<<I informed them that I would sell them the car but it would be as is and I would have to let the cashers check clear through the bank after 14 working days I would then sell them the car but after I told them it would have to clear I never heard from them again!! >>

That is because they knew that if you waited 14 days the check would have enought time to go through the system and be found counterfeit. The reason that this scam works is that banks tell their customers that a cashier's check is good and clear in 24 hours, even if it has not been verified or gone through the check system.

Also, I do have a page on my website where I am listing the info on these scammers (name, address, email, and phone numbers) so if anyone would like to have the info from their scammer added please email me.

Shawn Mosch
jmosch0410@aol.com
There is strength in numbers. Scam Victims United
http://www.geocities.com/scamvictimsunited/

These guys are so silly! Check this one out: I got this one not too long ago.

Dear friend/partner.


I am Dr (Mrs)Mariam Abacha, wife to the late Nigeria Head of state,
General Sani Abacha who died on the 8th of june 1998 while still on
active duty . I am contacting you in view of the fact we will be of
great assistance to each other, likewise developing acordial business
relationship. I currently have within my reach the sum of Thirty
Million
United States Dollars ($30,000,000.00) cash, which I intend to use for
investment purposes specifically in your country. This money came as a
result of a pay-back contract deal between my late husband and a
Russian
firm in our country's Multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta Steel plant. The
Russian firm in our country's Multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta Steel
Plant.
The Russian partners returned my Husband's share of US$30,000,000.00
U.S.D after his death, and lodged it in my late husband's Security
Company of which I am a Director Right now, the new Civilian Government
has intensified their probe on my late husband's financial resources
and
have frozen our accounts. In view of these facts, I acted fast to
withdraw the US$30,000,000.00 U.S.D from the company's vault and
deposited it in a privately owned security safe in my village. I have
since declared the security company bankrupt. No record whatsoever
exists concerning the money traceable by the Government because, there
is no documentation showing that we received the money from the
Russians. Due to the current situation in the country concerning the
Government's attitude towards my family, it has become quite impossible
for me to make use of this money within; thus upon your consent, I
shall
expect you to contact me urgently to enable us discuss indetail about
this transaction. Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed to
transfer this fund, I propose a commission of 25% (Twentfive percent)
of
the total sum to you for the expected services and assistance. Your
urgent response is highly needed so as to stop further contact. All
correspondence must be by e-mail. I must use this opportunity to
implore
you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary
confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt
response.

Best Regards,
MRS MARIAM ABACHA