I am selling my Van (Canada) and i got this email today about the van

"Thanks for the mail,am ok with your price and all i want you to know is that i will want you to know that i will instruct my associate to issue a check of $9,000 and you are to diduct your $6,500 for the 2000 Dodge Caravan and the remaining money will be send to the shipper who will come for pick up of the 2000 Dodge Caravan to my location so i want you to get back to me with your full name and mailling address so that i can send it to my bussines associate to send the check fast to you ok.hope to read you back today...."

So i responded with a reply asking this person to phone me because i wasn't quite certain what this was all about, and that i wanted to talk to him about the transaction here is his reply

"Thanks for the mail, am haven some problem with my phone so i will give you a call as soon as it work ok. so i want you to know that the check my associate is sending to you will cover your own money and the shipper funds which is $9,000 so you are deduct your own money from it and the remaining balance will be send to the shipper for the shipping upfront payment ok. so kindly get back to me with your full name and full contact address also with your phone number i will be waiting to read you back today....

Does something smell fishy here or what, why would a perfect stranger send me $9000.00

Thanks for your help

"Does something smell fishy here or what, why would a perfect stranger send me $9000.00"

He isn't sending you $9000. He, or his associate, is sending you a check for $9000, which may or may not be good. Tell him you can do as he ask as soon as the check clears. In my opinion, the use of an "associate" and the lack of phone number is a dead giveaway that he doesn't want you to know who he is. Why would that be?

You are wise to be suspicious as this is a known scam. Read the details here: Auto Purchase Scam

Dwight

Thanks for the info, i figured there was something wrong, as a matter a fact i replied to his email stating i wasn't going to fall for his scam and i sent him a copy of the Auto Purchase Scam article. I can't believe people actually fall for something like this.

Thanks again

You might also forward the e-mails to your local precinct's Fraud Investigation Unit... every scrap of information the authorities have about these scammers helps them to put a stop to this.