Scam attempt

[thejumpsuitman]

Thought I would pass this along, because this guy was SMOOTH.  I have listed our Bluebird Wanderlodge on Craigslist.  I received a call earlier today from a man who called himself William Wellons.  The phone number was eastern Tennessee.  He claimed to own a company called Air America that specializes in selling high-end motor coaches and airplanes.  He said he and his brother are partners and are starting an in-house financing program to sell less expensive units to under-qualified buyers.  He wanted to offer our Bluebird as part of his online inventory to sell through his program.  He said he requires between 20%-33% down from the buyer and carries the paper for the rest.   He said he would advertise our bus in over 20 states and for that, would need $275 up front from me which is fully refundable after the sale of our bus.  When he sells our bus, we will be paid for the full asking price.  He also said we could keep our coach at the house and continue to attempt to sell it ourselves.  He also said he felt sure he could have it sold within 6-8 weeks.

I googled the name he gave me, his phone number and his company name and almost nothing showed up.  Just one single ad on Craigslist offering to finance a golf cart.  He was so smooth because he seemed to have good knowledge of buses.  

Anyone else been approached by this guy?  

[ruthi]

Never heard of him, but sure wouldnt give him any money. If you cant verify a company, what else could it be but a scam?

[thejumpsuitman]

Yeah, I doubt there are many multi-million dollar companies out there that don't show up on a web search.

[fe2_o3]

   Did you Google the phone #?...Cable

[Seayfam]

Yeah, I doubt there are many multi-million dollar companies out there that don't show up on a web search.

Amman to that.
There are so many scams going on right now, It's hard to trust anybody. It's just too bad this kinda thing has to happen. I'm the kind of guy that likes to give everybody the benefit of the doubt. Not so sure anymore.

Gary

[thejumpsuitman]

   Did you Google the phone #?...Cable

Yes I did.  That's how I found his C-List ad for a golf cart. 

So how do you suppose this works?  Get upfront money to list ads he never lists?

Broker the bus to a buyer, sell it then give the owner a fake check for payoff? 

Or present a legitimate bus to a potential customer, get a down payment then split without actually delivering the bus? 

It doesn't strike me as a great business plan to tote the note on motorhomes unless they stay on the lot or if it's just short term.  And I would not be very comfortable taking any kind of check from someone like that without it being verified at the bank it is drawn on.

When I asked him the name of his company, I detected a momentary pause as if he had to think one up.  Air america?  Isn't that a defunct left-wing radio network?

[rwc]

Air America was a movie about an airline(Air America)run by CIA operatives in Viet Nam

[luvrbus]

Air America should work in Tenn that is the home of Al Gore and his defunct Air America green cable station lol,fwiw I don't know if he still does it or not but a onetime Phil Cooper had a upfront charge also to list a bus on his site and I often wondered how he found out you had a bus for sale ? 

good luck

[Len Silva]

I've had a motorhome for sale online for a while now.  Every once in a while I get a call from some RV sales company saying they have a serious buyer for my coach, they get pretty convincing that this is the deal, then tell me I need to put up $250.00 or so to do the paperwork.

My standard answer to them now is "I'll tell you what; you put up the $250.00 and I'll pay you $5000.00 when the deal is done."  The usually leave at that point.