A few words of warning about a scam that caught me. I was contacted via email by a person claiming to have a part I was asking help with, through the want-ad section. I was looking for a tailgate rubber for my 1965 Ford. This person knew what I was looking for, referring to the part by name. In the insuing emails, he seemed to understand my plight. Normally, I'd never respond to any one trying to sell me something in this manner. However, he was very knowledgable about what I was looking for. When I asked him how he knew about me, he said he read my posting here on this site. He even called my home, after I gave him my phone number. Unfortunately, the line was very poor, so I wasn't able to speak for more than a couple of minutes. Now, here is were it gets really weird. His name is Allan Smith, from Blackpool England. He claimed he bought the part in the U.S., but he sold the car before it arrived. So, after a lot of thought, I decided to go for it. Sent a Western Union moneygram, for 100 British Pounds ($160.00 Can.). Of course, the part never arrived. After repeated calls, I finally got an answer and was told there was no one by that name there. OUCH!! Burned!! So, in closing, if any member sees his name, or is contacted by someone using the name, Allan Smith, delete him!! He is a crook!! Thak you for allowing me to post this message. Russ Baxter (1965 Ford Country Sedan 6 Pass. wagon)
I had a guy in New Zealand try the same crap with me about a year ago....and it came thru the board too....i never bothered tho...and never gave it much thought till now..:confused:
Requesting payment by Western Union money gram is a huge clue of a scam.....they use that because there's no way to get a refund once the $$ is sent. Sorry to hear you were taken in by it.
Correct, steve v. If you use pay pal you can get your money back with ease. Personally...I don't deal with over seas people. Just too much bother and too much risk.
That is real p*** off. Thanks for the warning, just goes to show weather they contact you from here, or you contact them...via here....you have to be careful of scammers when it comes to sales.
Yes, he emailed me many times. Told me his PayPal account was down. That should have been the tipoff, but I was and am still desperate for the part. I let my guard down and paid the price. Here is the complete info he gave me: Allan Smith 25 Church St. Black Pool, Lancanshire FY1-1HT UK. Phone - 447024067342
He is pretty infamous for attempting to scam others on many other car enthusiast forums. Ask or Bing this goon (I do NOT use Google) and you will see the number of people that have issues with this toad Smith.
wow...that's really interesting, Patrick. I wonder if, since he is so infamous, there could be some way to catch the guy? If you add up all his international scams it could be quite a number and quite a case. I really have a hate for people like this guy and if I KNEW who he was....really KNEW....I would travel with friends to visit him before wheeling him over to the local gendarmes. By the way, Patrick...what's your beef with Google? Just curious.
Wow. Sorry to hear you got scammed, Baxter. I never cease to be amazed at the number of scams out there and the many methods that are employed. I think avoiding Google would be an interesting challenge. They're so thoroughly tied into everything these days. Heck, it wasn't that long ago that it was discovered the even Bing was using Google. http://searchengineland.com/google-bing-is-cheating-copying-our-search-results-62914
Thank you to everyone for your kind words. I guess what really bothers me, is I'm not one for being scammed. I'm the ultimate sceptic. However, I allowed my better judgement be clouded by my desire to make my car right. It bothers me to no end the way society has slipped into this level of deceit. In my 67 years on this planet, I've watch it deterioate to a state of placing all others below that of the individual. I just returned from a 12 day trip in the U.S.A., and am happy to report the average American in NOT like that, Thank God!! Yes, there are those who feel this is the only way to survive, but I feel sorrry for them, as they are missing out on the true value of life!! Here's to life!! Happy Canada Day (July 1st) & Happy Independence Day (July 4th)
