Scams Reported to the Webmaster

We continue to receive e-mails from MAFCA web readers reporting possible scams involving posting in our classified ad section. To better inform you about these possibilities, we will note and post these reports on this page. If you think you've received a scam letter or phone call, please send the details to the webmaster and we'll post them on this page.

We all have probably heard the phrase "Let the Buyer Beware." In the 21st century, we must add "Let the Seller Beware." Check out offers you get closely, especially if the offer sounds too good to be true.

March 2024

From Don P. , Last month, I was contacted by an individual calling himself Graham Lander, he sent a check written on Cornerstone Consulting Engineers & Architectural Inc. a real firm, but the check he sent was on a closed or non existent account.

While the check was on hold at my bank, he requested that I send money to the movers for the parts delivery.
Be aware of this swindler!

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Jackie,
Are you available to assist?

This is a simple donation task, Model A Ford Club of America needs some gift cards for donation to Veterans at Hospice Palliative care units for preventive items and medication from Disease due to their vulnerability and for their sacrifice. I will be responsible for the reimbursement.

Very truly yours,

Robert Bullard,
President.

Don't get scammed! Keep a share eye out for scammers.

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From Sandy M.:

I had the same experience as Scott B. who posted about a scammer named John A Walter on May 4, 2023. This same John Walter has not changed his name, only his email. Now it’s p.comway91436@gmail.com.

He contacted me January 10, 2024 with interest in my vehicle. I proceeded to send him photos and answer a few questions. Ultimately, he agreed to pay the full asking price, plus a $100 to discontinue the ad until our dealings were through. I accepted the offer, but refused to take out the ad.

As with Scott’s experience, ultimately John Walter sent a fake certified check (that was $6,000 over the agreed on monies) and asked me to deposit the check. Instead, I called the police and they took the evidence. I also went on to the FTC and FBI sites and filed a report.

When John texted me from (423) 500-4082 to ask if I’d deposited the check, I told him I hadn’t and didn’t intend to, and that instead had reported him. No response from him after that, of course.

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From Ron B.:

I believe I just received a scam call related to my current add. The person Identified themselves as Bryan Pounds. He said he had a new In-Eazy-Out in the original box. We negotiated the price and then he pushed me to send the money via MoneyGram. When I asked him for pictures, he said his phone could not handle that when I offered to have my son-in-law pick up the product he stated he would have to call me back within the hour because he might be going to Crescent city. His phone number was 925-551-1095. I went to the Internet and did a reverse phone number look up. It came back with a different person‘s name and a totally different location from what I was told.

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From Bill:

FYI, there is a scammer in California who watches the MAFCA Parts Wanted section and contacts the person. He knows his Model As and says he has what the person needs. He has a burner phone, and has you send money via Western Union. Of course, you never see the parts, and the burner phone is disconnected when he gets the money. I got scammed last year, and the same guy contacted me yesterday about the parts needed for my car. I could tell it was the same scammer by his voice. Beware of anyone that wants you to send money via Western Union and of this scam ...

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From Scott B:
I received an offer from a John A Walter in Miami to purchase the car sight unseen for the full price plus $100 to keep it off the market and consider it sold. After initially agreeing, he sent the following :

On May 4, 2023, at 10:04 PM, John A Walter m.anderson91436@gmail.com wrote:

Will text you again with a tracking number for the pkg sent once I have it.Will need you to do me one little favor,the amount on the check also covers shipping and any other expenses that may arise so you dont need to worry about pickup,as soon as the check clears you I'll deduct your $42,000 plus $100 compensation and I'll direct you on how to send the extra funds included to shipper to enable them arrive your place for pickup that's all.

As soon as the check clears,you will deduct your $42,100 agreed price and I'll email you instructions on how to send the excess funds included on the check to the shipper to enable them come for pickup.

Do pls email me your cell phone number so I can text for quicker response and do please confirm you will await the payment to arrive soon.

John

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From Mike Gipson:
I am a MAFCA member who recently posted for a sport light to fit my 29 Tudor. Got several emails from Henry Criddle - henrycriddle2@gmail.com - who would send me the goods for a ridiculously low price. When I did not respond, he sent a photo I recognized as recently posted on our MAFCA site of another member's car he was parting out and the photo showed no sportlight.

He sited old age and poor health as the reason, insanity in my book to strip another members car so I googled his name and he has been very busy across the globe trying to scam car enthusiasts. Cited Wooosey club in England, several in South Africa and Canada and now working MAFCA site in USA

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August 2021

Bob B. reports this suspicious email from nelsonwilson1219@gmail.com:
Hello Seller, I saw your posting 1930 Flat Tail Sprint Car for sale hope still available ? My name is Nelson I'd like more information about your listing with picture attached to my E-mail...hope $$27,500 is your final asking price.. How long have you had it and your purpose of selling it. hope payment with certified check is acceptable.. I await your reply, Nelson

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July 2021

Cindy O reports: Watch out for full price offers without seeing the vehicle and a request to ask the seller to pay a shipping agent:
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On Sunday, July 11, 2021 5:21 AM, james edward <jamedjohn7@gmail.com> wrote;
Hello, Sorry for my tardy response.....I believe this is a good buy for me so I wouldn't want to waste time haggling over price.
I will be paying you using a Certified Bank Check which will be delivered to you asap , I will contact an agent who will handle the pick-up however I also want you to know that I'll be adding the payment for pick-up to the check in which you'll deduct your money and send the remaining balance to the agent who will be coming for the pick up,

Kindly get back to me with your : Full Name: Full Mailing Address: Cell Phone Number: Agreed price to sell: As soon as this is provided payment will be sent out to you
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On Sat, Jul 10, 2021 at 12:39 PM <forsalemodela@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi James, It is available and a link to the photos is in the ad. I will consider reasonable offers. Thanks
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On Sat, Jul 10, 2021 at 6:53 AM james edward <jamedjohn7@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello, I am interested in your ad. I would like to know if it's still available for sale? And the lowest price you'd consider for it? Please email me more info and photos ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

November 2020

Rick C reports: A probable scam was encountered while trying to sell my 1930 Sport Coupe on the MAFCA website. I received an email from John Williams (email address: j.albert001@hotmail.com) expressing an interest in purchasing the vehicle.

Although he had never seen the vehicle in person or had anyone come to inspect or test drive it, he wanted to send me a cashiers check for more than the purchase price. He would not provide me with his phone number or location. This raised an immediate concern that it may be a scam.

Read the scam here.

Reminder of potential scams:
1) my bank informed me that there are counterfeit cashier checks being used;
2) any check that is received from a buyer in excess of the purchase price should be immediately returned to the sender;
3) if a buyer offers you cash, have the currency checked by the bank to ensure there are no counterfeit bills;
4) scammers don't care about the vehicle title, they can simply forge a hand-written Bill of Sale and get a new title;
5) always verify the buyer's name address and phone number;
6) never let the potential buyer take the vehicle for a test drive by himself (you may never see either again).

There are many very honest Model A owners around the country and overseas. Just be careful if you don't know the individual and be very careful if you buy or sell a vehicle overseas.
Posted 11/20/20

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A twist on an old scam. Casey Ford wants to buy an advertised car without coming to see it (hmmm.) Pay the shipper the difference (hmmm 2). Read the scam here.
Posted 03/17/20

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A recent advertiser just received this "offer" and reply from Alan Dawson (alan.daws001@gmail.com). A quick google search showed that this email address has been reported as a scammer several other times. Read the scam here.
Posted 06/07/19

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Sam White posted an ad in PARTS FOR SALE for 1931 Wisconsin License Plates. He's already received two emails from different email addresses but with almost identical messages, The second sender was "Mary Water":

Thanks for your swift message, I'm really sorry for not responding back to your message earlier, it was due to some works I've been busy with in my Office, but it's fine now.Yes I'm ready to Purchase this (Ads) from you, Please Consider it SOLD already to me, Also keep off all buyers and i don't know if it is possible for you to delete the advert from the internet so that other buyers will not contact you for the item till the arrival of my Local Mover/ Shipper. I have gone through the content of the advert once again am very satisfy.Your contact information will be needed so that I can Instruct my Secretary to made the Payment out to you via a U.S. Post Money Order, Cashier's Bank Check or Banker Draft, which will be issue to you for the payment and pick up will be arrange after the Payment is Fully Cleared by your Bank.

So Sam wrote back: please send me your mailing address so I can calculate shipping.
The reply came back: My shipper will pick it up
At that point, Sam replied: Sorry, that won't work
He hasn't heard from Mary Water since.

The language in the emails is typical of scams that have been reported to the MAFCA website for years. The email address changes, but the content remains the same. The "English" used is not typical US English. It doesn't even sound like British English. So, be careful and Don't fall for this scam!
Posted 08/21/17

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Reported by two members today: Someone named Paul Young (paulyoung319@gmail.com) has inquired about parts for sale, and his emails read like someone who's not from the USA. The language very formal and stiff and uses expressions not heard in the US. Be wary of this person and don't ship any product until you are certain that payment is received and is negotiable. Posted 02/09/17

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Bud Calicutt, president of the Tyler Model A Ford Club, says: Please issue a warning to all members, that there are many scam artists working the Model A enthusiast. Several have been reported in the San Francisco Bay area using addresses of vacant houses and supposedly shipping via Fastenal store to stores across the US. Please take this from one who has recently gone through this. Posted 01/22/17

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Clarence Branch, in Hayward, Cal contacted one of our advertisers who was looking for window frames for his coupe. He said he had them. Our member wired him money and hasn't heard from him since.
Beware of any inquires from Clarence Branch, in Hayward, Cal. 01/19/17

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Scam Alert: I sent $350.00 to Johnny Oliveria in Marshville, NC for a Dave Wilton Bell Housing and he cashed the check... BUT sent nothing. Mickey Fruchter, Pasadena CA - Reported Friday, December 2, 2016

Scam - Dan Freeman Trying to Purchase Cabriolet - Reported Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Scam - Bronx NY Parts for Sale - Reported Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Scam - Ronald Hawk - questions in broken English Reported Thursday, May 15, 2014

Scam - New Zealand Oil Rig Worker using PayPal - Reported Saturday, November 2, 2013.

Scam - Natalia Makris 1931 Victoria - Reported Friday, January 25, 2013.

Oldies:

Scam - Ian Collector - SPAIN - Reported by member from Oregon November 27, 2011
Scam - Bob Wilson - Received by the Webmaster June 4, 2011
Scam - ROD HEWITT - Received by the Webmaster! June 3, 2011
Scam - Rino Blasky So Africa - Reported February 4, 2011
Scam - Dan Williams, Marines - Reported January 26, 2011

Scam - Wayne Watson - Reported December 14, 2010
Scam - Thomas Bosch - Reported December 1, 2010
Scam - Ken Walter - Reported Saturday, October 23, 2010
Scam - Debie Powell - Reported Friday, September 24, 2010
Scam - More on SUSAN THOMAS - Reported September 2010
Scam - Susan Thomas's Uncle - Reported August 2010
Scam - David Rogers (Europe) - Reported March 2010
Scam - Beware of Harry Thorne - Reported December 2009
Scam - Beware of Scott White (Ricardo) - Reported June 2009
Scam - Washington State scammer - Reported April 2009

Scam - Deduct the freight - Reported March 2008
Scam - I'm too busy to arrange shipping - Reported February 2007

Scam - Cash my check and send remainder via western union - Reported April 2006
Scam - Shipping fee included in check - Reported March 2006
Scam - Overpayment refund 2 - Reported October 2005
Scam - Overpayment refund - Reported July 2005
Scam - Refund Payment - Reported June 2005
Scam - Cheque from a Debtor - Reported March 2005
Scam - Person outside USA - Reported May 2005

The Internet is loaded with reports of scams involving cars. GOOGLE "car scams" for additional reading.