Avoid This RV Purchase Scam

Selling an RV Through an Online Ad? Watch Out for Phony Buyers.

Jun 28, 2009 Thomas Alan Gray

RV owners who try to sell through an online classified ad service such as Craigslist or eBay may be hit with a common buying scam, often under the name Nathan Seer.

"It looks like a sweet deal for someone trying to sell their recreational vehicle through an online ad," said reporter Dan Ferguson in the Surrey North Delta Leader, February 10, 2009.

"An e-mail arrives from someone claiming to represent a prospective buyer....the agent offers offers a flat cash payment without haggling. There's just one thing. He wants to use a bank draft from an earlier deal...The draft is for a bigger amount than the RV's selling price, the agent explains, but all the seller has to do is send him a cheque for the difference."

And therein is the scam. This is a version of the classic 419 Scam or Nigerian Scam (so named after the section of the Nigerian criminal code that deals with it) which asks a victim to part with money up front in return for a promised larger amount. In this case, the bait is the large bank draft (or a cashier's cheque) and the quick sale of the RV.

How the Nathan Seer Vehicle Purchase Scam Works

The thrilled seller receives the draft, deposits it, and sends off a check (or a wire transfer) for the difference. The "shipping agent" may then show up, receive title to the RV, and drive off into the sunset. More often, though, it's the seller's money that floats away into nowhere.

It takes a few days for the bank draft to work its way through the banking system. When it proves to be counterfeit, the bank charges the buyer for the full amount of the draft. The buyer is now out

• The RV (if the scam went that far)
• The cheque for the balance (which was cashed promptly, so there's no chance of a stop payment)
• The entire amount of the draft

Ouch!

The Nathan Seer Scam Email

Here is the full text of an actual scam email sent in 2007. The name Rich Edmund or other name may be used in place of Nathan Seer or Seers, but the scam is the same.

Hello,

Thanks for the information provided on the purchase of your vehicle,i am willing to purchase it at the price of $22000 [stated price asked by seller], i will be going on a long vacation as i have just recovered from a partial stroke,i will assign a shipper who will work with you,considering the purpose of the purchase and my situation,i crave your indulgence in assisting me in seeing this purchase through,you will be receiving payment in a cashier check of $28,999,this is a payment from an earlier cancelled order as the goods did not match the stipulated quality hence was cancelled,therefore you will be receiving the payment issued in your name from the debtor in the same amount.

You are only required to deduct the cost of the vehicle which is $22,000,upon receiving the payment and send balance of $6,999 to the shipper who is not stationed at a place for him to be able to offset shipping /tax charges and any other expences that might accrue in the cause of this transaction.Upon sending the balance to the shipper,the shipper will then proceed for pick-up,he will be responsible for signing of neccessary paper work and shipping,please comfirm this arrangement and forward your particulars;YOUR NAME,ADDRESS,PHONE NUMBER,on receiving this information i will forward it immediately to my debtor and will let you know when to receive payment,all other information needed in completion of this transaction will be communicated to you in due time.

Thank you in anticipation of your understanding and co-opearation.Looking forward to your swift response,thank you once again and please consider it sold.

Regards

nathanseers@yahoo.com

Characteristics of the Scam

This and similar scams generally have the following characteristics. Any contact that has these properties is to be treated with suspicion.

• The offer of a bank draft or cashier's check in excess of the asking price
• A willingness to meet the asking price without haggling
• Time pressure, requiring a quick response for one reason or another
• A request to provide personal information very early in the purchase process
• An email address to a free account such as Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc. (reported contacts are nathanseersinc@googlemail.com, nathanseers@yahoo.com and nathanseerssinc@yahoo.com)
• Correspondence by email only (though recent versions of the scam in British Columbia, Canada apparently used 1-888-206-6095)
• A request to have the difference transferred by Western Union or Moneygram
• Phishing (having the deal appear to be authorized by a reputable organization such as RV Care, GoRVing, or the RVIA)

Tips to Protect Against RV Buying Scams

How can an RV seller get protection against scams such as the Nathan Seer scam? Here are some tips

1. Sellers shouldn't be too eager. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Make the "buyer" wait. "I'll be pleased to deal with you as soon as I have your draft/cheque confirmed by the bank. Once that's done, I'll pay your shipper and release the vehicle."
3. Be very suspicious of any deal that requires the seller to pay money. Who's selling the RV, anyway? The money should flow to the seller.

Don't Fall for an RV Purchase Scam

Here is one more post from a victim of the scam:

"Received an e-mail from Nathan Seer to buy our RV. Would send a cashier check for $10,400 over asking price which we were to refund to the clients shipper. His e-mail addresses are nathanseersinc@googlemail.com and nathanseerssinc@yahoo.com and the e-mail had "RV care" on it. Looks like we are not his only victim."

Anyone selling an RV should be aware of these scams, and refuse to bite.

The copyright of the article Avoid This RV Purchase Scam in RV Recreation is owned by Thomas Alan Gray. Permission to republish Avoid This RV Purchase Scam in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

RV Purchase Scam

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