Need Opinions and Guidance>>

[ZR1Vette]

Sorry about this being a long read, but need to know what you guys think... I have deleted last names and complete email & location addresses just in case this proves legitimate and not a scam. Trying not to insult but being cautious ....

I placed the following in the Parts Wanted section of the Registry:

DESCRIPTION: For a 1990 ZR... left side halo interior trim piece in red (color #733). Must be in mint condition.

About a week passed and I received an email from a fellow in England>>>

----- Original Message -----
From: Brian
To: mrierson
Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 5:20:19 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: DESCRIPTION: For a 1990 ZR... left side halo interior trim piece in red (color #733). Must be in mint condition.
Hi Mate,

Am Brian from the England.You placed a wanted ads and i still have for sale in a good shape and condition.Please get back to me on brian.morgan96@ or call me on +447024077954.

Cheers!!!!

Brian
XX Leicester Street London UK.


I responded>>>

From: mrierson@
Subject: Re: DESCRIPTION: For a 1990 ZR... left side halo interior trim piece in red (color #733). Must be in mint condition.
To: Brian
Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 2:34 PM
Hello Brian,
Good afternoon to you...and thanks for emailing me.

Yes, I would be interested...just want to make sure this is a OEM 1990 red interior halo trim piece. If yes, what is your price and what do you think shipping would cost to Reston, Virginia20194?

About 2 years ago I was over in London and then to Hethel where a group of us Lotus track drivers met up with Lotus Team...had a absolute blast on the track...only initial problem was learning to race a right hand drive car...having the shifter in my left hand took a bit getting used to.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Regards
Michael

He responded:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian
To: mrierson
Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 20109:44:14 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: DESCRIPTION: For a 1990 ZR... left side halo interior trim piece in red (color #733). Must be in mint condition.
Hi Micheal,

I still have left side halo interior trim piece in red for sale.Am currently having technical difficulties in uploading images but its in good and perfect condition.I would be asking a 140USD for it including shipping as i would be shipping via Ups or FedEx which ever you prefer and would accept payment via Western union or Moneygram.Whats your shipping address?

Thanks

Brian


I then responded:

From: mrierson
Subject: Re: DESCRIPTION: For a 1990 ZR... left side halo interior trim piece in red (color #733). Must be in mint condition.
To: "Brian
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 12:13 AM
I hope you understand about international shipments and payments..will consider purchasing but your requirement of Western Union or Moneygram will not work. I will be glad to use PayPal and please confirm that the price of $140 USD includes shipping
Michael



He then responded:


Hello,

I do not have a PayPal account.Yes the price includes shipping via Ups or FedEx.Whats your shipping address?I only use western union.

Brian




Then a couple days ago I received this email>>

From: "Roy W
To: mrierson
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 4:23:53 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: DESCRIPTION: For a 1990 ZR... left side halo interior trim piece in red (color #733). Must be in mint condition.
Hello,

Please let me know if you still need item as I have to offer. Let me know what you need. What's your cell?

Thanks,

+447024024594
Roy W
United Kingdom

[tccrab]

If it's a scam, he's certainly polite and writes well.
Not like the Nigerian scams at all.
Suggest using a bank wire transfer of funds directly from your account to his.
Much more secure way to pay the guy.

Another way to ferret out a scammer is to offer to have a friend over there in the UK to pick up and pay for the item.
I'm sure there are members here from the UK (Cliff comes to mind) who would be gracious enough to offer to help out.

Google his address. Leicester Street is between Trafalger Square and Picadilly Circus.
Prime real estate in London. Seems a little suspicious.

Good luck.

TomC
'Crabs

Scam, he makes no acknowledgment on the Lotus event or learning to drive a RHD vehicle.

[TAMMRICH]

Agreed, a scam. I'm from London and people don't punctuate like that and I've never seen a London address written like that, generally you would write London WC2 which gives you an idea of the location. Plus Leicester St or Leicester Sq is like saying you live on Park Lane in NYC.

Richard

[A26B]

Not to mention he becomes "Roy W" with his last msg.

[DaveK]

Agree with all the above. I also googled his phone number...

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/g...gan-mails.html

Hope you find your part soon!

Dave

[QB93Z]

Awesome job guys!! There are some great people helping each other out on this Forum.

Jim

[secondchance]

Unreal!
I had a similar experience when looking for a puppy. Found an ad in puppyfind.com and at the end she thought we would provide such a nice home she would give us the dog but wanted me to pay for her flight from Rhode Island to DC. When I asked for a phone number she wrote back saying that she is deaf!

[ZR1Vette]

GREATLY appreciate the work you guys did... as much as I want the part I was a bit suspicious...but you all iced the cake to change from 'suspicious' to 'run away'...
Sent this Brian a little love note..
Michael

[Z51JEFF]

When I was looking for a wheel this guy responded.When I asked for a picture he sent a generic picture of the wheel he got off Fleabay.Most of the scams for parts came from the parts wanted ad on the site.I never once considered these guys as on the level so I strung them alone for awhile until they got tired of it and just left me alone.