Another scam, by phone this time

[9842]

Hi
I"m presently running an ad in the "wanted section" for a used replacement seat for my 1973 lwb R75/5.

Guy calls me on the phone and says " my dad died and I'm in S California cleaning out his house. He was a Bmw owner and replaced his seat 50 years ago and it has been sitting on the shelf all these years".
I say "oh wow that sounds just like the answer to my add".
I tell him my name is Brian and he says "Mine name is Brian too".
CLICK - I instantly think this guy is full of beans so I play along.
How did you get my info, " from a friend" he said
Oh nice I say, "could you sent a few pictures of the seat"
Ahhhhh! "ok I'll send them and call you back"
Calls back "I'm having a hard time because I have an old G3 phone".
I ask where he lives "I live in Hawaii and only in California to help clean out dads house".
At this point I'm still playing along but set a firm response, " no photos no deal"
I texted him back after a few days, no response, and I haven't heard from him since.

So now the scammers are on the phone so look out.


We never talked price.
He was not a member, a friend told him about me wanting seat. Don't know how he really got my number.
I think anyone can access the ads. I thought only members had access, so watch out for these scammers.

Being aware of scammers is so important these days. I hope this post reminds you all to be careful out there.

Thanks for reading
Brian

 

[20774]

Sorry to hear of the hassle. But you are right, you don't have to be a member to access the ads. So you need to be aware of what you release in your ad.

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

Block the number. Often you can report the number as fraudulent and then block the contact. Same for text msg… Remember that all you need to do is hang up.

 

[9842]

Hi
Yes block and hang up and all that. I guess I was more surprised that non members have access to info from "my club". I am the member, not him. I have always felt that us BMW MOA members were a special cast of characters. Kind off an honest, engineering type of riders. Not to put anyone down but come on, we are not rough riders or barroom bikers. I was disappointed that a lying person called on the phone and was messing with me. And I really wanted to believe him and buy that seat. So I go from excitement to thinking this guy is just another scumbag. Not a feeling I enjoy, I do not like people who take advantage of others.

As they used to say"you learn something new everyday"

So now I have to worry about Scammers on the Bmw Marketplace. I never worried before, and have bought many items on this marketplace, but now I have learned to be more careful.

I miss the old days of, cash, handshake, and face to face transactions.

Thanks for reading and as everyone says "be careful"

Thanks
Brian

 

[collingsbob]

Trying to sell anything on-line these days is a great way to find low-lifes, scammers, deceitful liars and time wasters. It took me 9 months and a half - dozen or more tries to sell my Vincent.