**N**F**B**: Scam, Scam, and more Scam!

[pete]

I just recieved and interesting phone call from an AT&T assistance operator, its 12:30 am here.

It seems AT&T has a service where the hearing impared or anyone else can e-mail them, and they will act as a verbal go between you on your phone and someone on their computer.....that guy pays.

I've got this VW Corrado for sale, and all my internet postings are expired, but it was listed on AutoTrader's website and magazine. Over the past 2 months I've collected 3 cashier checks at about $47,500 us dollars. Not too bad for a $5,000 car. Usually the e-mails ask about the car's condition, photo's, and what has been the best price to date. I've told them the car is excellent, no photo would do it justice, and my best price is $15,000. So they send a check to my p o box for $19,000, and another guy did $20,000 (I got one guy to send additional $8,500 because I didn't like his attitude). The scam comes in when they want you to send the excess $5,000 to their shipper in Germany or the UK, who happens to be on the recieving end of Western Union. I doubt if these guys ever come to get the car, but they sure are after that 5k. Then after a few days the cashier check bounces, and your out what you sent Western Union.

So this AT&T operator starts reading the instant messaging e-mail, and its just like what I have recieved as direct e-mails, but since the AutoTrader Ads didn't have my e-mail, they had to call me! After a few exchanges, I broke it off, since I didn't want to involve this operator in a worthless adventure.

When will it all end?

[Injuneer]

This is probably one of the most confusing posts I have ever read. Appears you are bragging about collectin $47,000 in checks on a $5,000 car. Is that your point?

Can you suggest any reason why I shouldn't delete it?

[raroZ28]

Fred, he's talking about a scam. Happened to a friend of mine on another forum. He had his car for sale. The guy wanted to give him like 5 grand for a car that costs 2k. He said cash it and send the money to this guy, to pay for shipping, and keep the rest for your troubles. So 3 grand for a 2 grand car, and 2 grand goes to the shipper (probably the guys po box or something). So you cash it, send him 2 grand, it bounces, and you're out 2 grand. Pretty good scam, whoever thought of it. I bet it worked for a while. I bet 9/10 people who sell cars over the net have this happen to them. Some idiots out there.

He's not bragging. Basically he has 50 grand in checks that are going to bounce.

[pete]

"He's not bragging. Basically he has 50 grand in checks that are going to bounce."

Yep, that's it in much better English. so now I've got some colorful wall paper. Luckily, I called the check numbers in to my bank instead of cashing them, so they are not grabbing bounced check fees.

My rant is actually about these Scammers using the phone, instead of the usual e-mails.

[Injuneer]

Amazing... one sentence clarifies several paragraphs of pointless rant..... and its still sort of pointless to me.

So let me move to MY rant.....

When you post an "off topic" subject.... as a common courtesy to fellow board members, PLEASE use the "NFB" prefix. I'm to the point where, rather than waste my time editing the topic to include NFB, I'm going to start deleting the threads, the same way the "all caps" threads get deleted.

The forum really needs a "Lounge" for all this crap.

End of rant.

[TODD 2000 V6 CAMARO]

Amazing... one sentence clarifies several paragraphs of pointless rant..... and its still sort of pointless to me.

So let me move to MY rant.....

When you post an "off topic" subject.... as a common courtesy to fellow board members, PLEASE use the "NFB" prefix. I'm to the point where, rather than waste my time editing the topic to include NFB, I'm going to start deleting the threads, the same way the "all caps" threads get deleted.

The forum really needs a "Lounge" for all this crap.

End of rant.

Ouch....man....this forum just had a cold, unwelcoming breeze blow through. Bad day, Fred??

[Injuneer]

Ouch....man....this forum just had a cold, unwelcoming breeze blow through. Bad day, Fred??

I'm not sure why everyone requires that I have a totally positive attitude toward every single thing that gets posted here.... I have the same right to agree with, disagree with, like, or dislike anything that's posted here, same as anyone else. Not sure why I have to live up to some different standard and be all warm and huggy with everything.

That's as a "regular" member. With regard the the "moderator" role, all I ask is that people identify "NFB" items.... and, I spend the time required to "edit" the threads as required. I'd much rather be helping people with tech problems than editing posts for people who refuse to follow a simple request. The other moderators have a thing for the "all caps" posts, and they simply delete the posts, rather than edit them. I try to work with people.... and simply ask a little bit of cooperation in return.

Check the other thread that I "edited" earlier today (Topic: Supercharger).... he had his posts deleted twice earlier in the day for posting the topic in all caps.... I took the time to "edit" his third "all caps" topic, so it wouldn't be deleted, and explained to him why his earlier posts had been deleted. Same day, so no I wasn't "having a bad day", and I'm not sure why the minute I express a slightly negative opinion about anything, that's what you feel it is.

[TODD 2000 V6 CAMARO]

Didn't mean any offense, Fred. Just seemed like a little more negative response than I am used to seeing from you. Lots of other off-topic stuff gets posted on here and isn't referred to as "pointless" or "crap." Granted, alot of it can tend to be pointless in the grand scheme of things, but in my opinion, the fact that there is no "lounge" area makes this board as much of a family as it is. It's more like just a bunch of guys sitting around talking about cars, but also about other stuff that interests them. My knowlege of the inner workings of cars extends pretty much to general maintenance, so I am not really able to post much of anything of use for anybody technically. But I do enjoy posting just to talk to my f-buds and help out on the off chance that I am able to, and I like the fact that I don't feel like I am out of the loop if I don't check out two or three different forums within one forum. I hate that about some of the other ones I post on.
Anyway, enough rambling. Just wanted to explain my position. I am just a little too cautious of people's feelings sometimes I guess. I didn't want Pete to feel unwelcome on the board is all. Sorry for any offense.

[97LT1Z28]

For one thing, I had no idea that a scam like that existed. Now I'm informed thanks to this post. Isn't that what this forum is all about? Fred, be nice.

[Injuneer]

For one thing, I had no idea that a scam like that existed. Now I'm informed thanks to this post. Isn't that what this forum is all about? Fred, be nice.

Not in my opinion.

All I am asking is that people follow polite conventions, and identity correctly all "off topic" items..... what part of this do you not understand?

[Noggin]

what part of this do you not understand?

hahahaha is that part of your "polite convention"?

[LoudLT1]

just wasted 2 minutes reading this crap...
good info on the scam tho....