Craigslist interaction involoving ebay?

Question

I was looking through craigslist around my area and found a deal on a car that blew my mind. So i contacted this person through their email address. The item is a car and is a very low cost. I of coursed emailed them wondering why the asking price was so low and their responce was that they had just gone through a divorce and had won the car but had no use for it. I then told them my situation which involves me probably selling my car to a dealership and purchasing a car in full so that i could lower my insurance to the minimal and there by lower my monthly payments which already include my currant car's lease. So i sent her an email and in responce she sent an email thanking me for showing interest in her car. The think that threw me a bit off was this part

"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"

So i responded with a second email asking about the process and if it was at all possible to view the car (since it was posted in my area) or to talk with her about it and she responded with,

"The car is already at the shipping company in Orlando, Florida sealed and ready for shipping. I have a contract with eBay so this deal must go through them. I'm very busy with my job and I left out my town so I can't meet you in person, so this is the reason why I chose to sell my car over the Internet. According with eBay you have 5 days from the time you receive the car 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 car to you. After you receive the car you will have 5 days to test, verify and do whatever you want with the car. If you will buy it, 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 car, eBay will refund the money and I will have the shipping company to come and pick up my car. If you wish to make the transaction, please send me the necessary info so that we can proceed.

Please note that the car was listed on craigslist and not on eBay! I am just using the eBay Protection Program offered by eBay. I look forward to hear from you."

Does this seem really sketchy? should i continue on with the process?

Answer 1

This sounds just like so many times people have tried to scam me from my ads on craigs list- you should report this person

Answer 2

Go ask eBay about their payment protection program.  Go to cars.ebay.ca and click Live Help at the top of the page.  Tell them when you just told us.  They will tell you that eBay DOES NOT offer protection unless you buy the car on eBay.  

If you decide to go ahead and complete this "purchase" despite obvious red flags, here's what will happen: You will send your money by wire transfer, and no car will ever arrive.  Then you will try to get your money back, but the wire transfer company (MoneyGram or Western Union) made you sign a waiver so you can't.

Answer 3

THey really got you going.  THese people are so incredibly good at separating you from your money.  Every single line might actually be true.  But the whole story just fails to make sense.  It uses eBay rules but is on Craigslist.  Thank you for telling us.  They are criminals. /

Answer 4

it is a scam, they are trying to make you feel safe by mentioning ebay.  Any time you deal with someone who claims to be "out of town" and you can view it because its "already at a shipping company" ready to be shipped, know right away that its a scam.

http://www.LiveSimon.com - The Free Auction and Classified Community.

Answer 5

SCAM! Ebay doesn't offer any such thing. Just google the phrase "ebay protection program" and see how many people are complaining about scammers using this alleged program to cheat them out of money.