One of the best parts of CtWatchdog is the ability to share the latest and not-so-greatest scams with you.
Kudos to Kristina Logan, not only for not falling for some nitwit’s scam attempt, but also sharing what she learned with the rest of us. On behalf of Watchdog Nation, thank you to Kristina, a 7th grade language arts teacher at T.A.Howard Middle School in Arlington, TX, Mansfield Independent School District.
Kristina heard me talk about Watchdog Nation at a teachers’ conference; she heard me encourage everyone to check things out carefully. Teach, I’m glad you were listening.
She tells me:
“I wanted to thank you for encouraging us all to put up our guard when something seems too good to be true,” she says. “My husband and I are shopping for a car. On AutoTrader we found a great deal! $8,000 for a 2006 Acura MDX. Can you believe that?
“Well, I took your advice and checked into it. Turns out this guy, AKA Christopher Miller, was trying to pull a fast one. When I ‘googled’ his name and where he said that he was from, I see that this joker got the name  and city (Glasgow, Scotland) from a headline. Even more shocking … Christopher Miller is doing jail time of 18 years because he stabbed a soon-to-be-father.
“Long story short, I bet this clown didn’t think that I could actually do anything about it. (Perhaps sending back a couple of jolly emails as a retort will be enough, just to show I’m not falling for his scam.)
“Do you have any other suggestions that I could do to warn others?”
And my answer, of course, is here (with permission to identify her.)
# # #
From: Christopher Miller [mailto:cmiller7.6@hotmail.com]
Sent: Mon 2/15/2010 6:20 PM
To: Logan
Subject: 2006 Acura MDXâ€
Hello,
Thank you for your interest about my car. Sorry for the delayed response, but I’m in Glasgow (Scotland) right now and I have been very busy. The total price of the 2006 Acura MDX†is $8,000.00USD . THIS IS MY LAST PRICE. I’ll not negotiate the price. The car is registered and located in United States. I want to keep the car for me, but I cannot register it here, as it is made for the USA market, according to US standards. So, I decided to sell it.
A few words about the car:
- 2006 Acura MDXâ€
- Warranty: Existing
- Vehicle title: Clear
- Mileage: 102,800
- Body type: SUV
- Transmission: Automatic
- Engine: 3.5L V6 PFI SOHC
- Fuel type: Gasoline
- Exterior color: Silver
- Interior color: Black
- Drive train: All Wheel Drive
- VIN#: 2HNYD18636H546991
- You can see more photos right here: <a href=”http://pict.com/expo/3987579/446af7c46e”>http://pict.com/expo/3987579/446af7c46e</a>
The car is like new, in perfect conditions, accident free, no scratches, no special marks, no need for additional repairs what so ever. A genuine road runner ready to be yours, but only if you shall understand and you won’t make me loose time as it has already happened to me.
If you have any question please don’t hesitate to reply.
Thank you again for your interest.
Christopher Miller
Phone: 817-914 —- (redacted by DL in case it’s someone’s real number)
Sender IP: 76.185.147.220
# # #
Subject: RE: 2006 Acura MDX?
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:29:03 -0600
From: Logan
To: cmiller7.6@hotmail.com
Thanks for the reply. I am very interested in seeing the car. I am in South Arlington. What would be the best time to meet someone? Evenings are best for me. Is the car in Grapevine?
# # #
Hello,
As I told you in my first e-mail, I am in Scotland, UK with my work. Before leaving US I had prearranged the deal with eBay VPP ( Vehicle Purchase Protection ) so my presence in US isn’t necessary. The car is in their warehouse ready for delivery.You have 10 days to test and inspect the car. So if you want to make this deal I need the following details from you:
*Full name and address
*Shipping address
*Phone #
After I will have all this details I will forward them to eBay VPP and I will proceed the order. eBay VPP will contact you with all the details that you need to complete this deal and also to see that i am covered by them and that I am legit seller.
Waiting your email with the requested details.
Regards!
Christopher Miller
# # #
CtWatchdog says: Check it out on the Internet before buying. She learned that a man named Christopher Miller was involved in something awful (see it here) and that gave her pause about the whole overseas operation.
Remember that U.S. laws and regulations don’t apply overseas. When you’re dealing with scammers in Canada or across the ocean, remember they are among the best in the world. It’s almost impossible to get your money back.
Dave Lieber, The Watchdog columnist for The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, is the founder of Watchdog Nation. The new 2010 edition of his book, Dave Lieber’s Watchdog Nation: Bite Back When Businesses and Scammers Do You Wrong, is out. Revised and expanded, the book won two national book awards in 2009 for social change. Twitter @DaveLieber
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I had a similar situation a few months back when shopping online for a Lexus. The seller claimed to be in Phoenix, but was a pilot for an airline, so not going to be available to show the car, which was registered in MA, by the way. He had an arrangement with some company who would ship it to me; I could check it over. The price was low and the car sounded great, so I figured it was a scam of some sort. Never heard back from him after I told him I could fly out to see it.
Good for you, John. Good research on stuff like this can save you EVERY time.