Scam or no?
Hi. Have a coworker who is looking to buy a 2007 BMW Z4 3.0i and had this conversation with the seller. To sum it up, coworker is in Cali, seller is in Montana. Seller wants to use Amazon Payments to finalize the transaction. Here is the copy/pasta of what the seller said.
"Hi again,
As I earlier told you, the car has been parked at home for months and no one to use it ever since my baby passed away, If you don't have a good car at the moment which is very needed, I only think I will be pleasing my late Baby to let you have the car since it is not of any use parked here. I have very little time at hand as i work a lot and spend most of my time at the office and am now here close to you. I am presently in Hamilton, Montana. The car is already at the shipping company in the container, sealed and ready for delivery. The car is there already because someone agreed to buy it, but in the end he never got the loan. For this reason, the shipping is already paid.
I will use Amazon Payments in this transaction for our protection. You send me your full name and your full shipping address and phone number so I can initiate the transaction. Amazon Payments contacts you with further details regarding the payment and shipping process. You submit the payment to Amazon Payments, Amazon Payments confirms the payment and asks me to release the shipment. I ship the car which should be at your door within 3 business days with all the necessary papers (clear title, bill of sale signed by me, user’s manual, insurance etc). You have a 5 days inspection period before you confirm the deal and Amazon Payments forwards the payment to me or you cancel the deal and get your money back.
Basically Amazon Payments holds your money safe until you confirm that this car is what you have been expected and you want to buy it. It is not a sight unseen deal.
On the other hand I can ship my car knowing Amazon Payments has your money and you won't "disappear" with my car. We are both covered. Sorry for the long emails I have tried to touch all bases.
P.S. If you want to continue the purchase, please reply with your full name, delivery address and phone number so I can start the transaction with Amazon Payments and ask them to send you the terms of this transaction. ( with no further obligation or fees).
God bless you,
Elsa Wydra"
I automatically assume this is a scam however I've never seen Amazon used as a medium for a car purchase. Coworker is not going to purchase this vehicle but would like to know how someone would scam someone using Amazon. Thanks!
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