A friend of mine was looking to buy a used car through Lebanese classifieds websites like Al Waseet and Bey3. Among several cars he was interested in, two were selling for a very attractive price, so he eventually started messaging their owners until he learned that they live outside Lebanon and were asking for the whole money or a down payment to be transferred through Western Union!
These people were claiming to have bought their cars while they were working in Lebanon and now that they’re back to their home countries, the cars are now up for sale.
Needless to say, their stories sounded fishy especially that once you make a Western Union transfer you can never guarantee that you will get anything in return.
So be careful if you ever came across one of these ads that sound too good to be true. For example, the $6000 car that was being discussed in the second message was actually supposed to be a 1966 Ford Mustang.
Hello
I am a private seller and i am located in Preston, UK. I bought this car while I was working in Lebanon, now I`m back to UK and I want to sell it. The car it is registered in Lebanon. The car is in perfect condition and it has never been involved in an accident.The paint on this car is in excellent condition and it is original from front to back there is no collision damage present on this car. This car’s transmission shifts like it just left the factory. If you decide to buy my vehicle I can arrange the delivery to your country and a 5 days inspection period. I would like to inform you that we will use an International Shipping Company for insurance. In United Kingdom this shipping company is very popular and trust worthy.
Let me know if you agree and I will provide you all details regarding shipment and payment.
Waiting for your answer!
Best regards!
The last price for the car is 6000 USD!!
The car is now in a garage! If you agree with the price I could come to make the sale next days, but I need to be sure that you have the money for the car! I have already fly to Lebanon for not serious people like i said you and I really don’t want to do it again!To prove me that you have the money please go to a Western Union and make a transfer of 6.000 to your wife, father or any person that you want and at the receiver country put Greece! After you make the transfer please send me the scanned paper and I will check if everything is real! You do not have to worry, nobody can take the money! I just want to check if you are real and have the money! I do not want to lose another money for planes and also leave from work for nothing!!
If is all ok I will buy a plane ticket and come to Lebanon, make the papers and the car is yours! When I arrive you take the money back from Western Union and give them cash to me! Or you can send the receiver on my name and I collect them from Greece when I return!
Please ask me if you have any misunderstandings!
Please e-mail me as soon as possible! If you want give me your address and I will find on internet a close Western Union office!
It happened to me before, I was asking about a car about 5-6 months ago that had very low mileage and was in an excellent condition that was too cheap to believe.
The seller claimed that he lived in Russia, and that the car belonged to his 19 year old son who died, and he claimed that his wife didn’t bare keeping the car for emotional reasons.
When I asked for his phone number to call. I never got a reply back.
The same approach they use in Russia and Ukraine, but they tried translators there and failed. This is just new form of Nigerian scam i believe.
Golden rule – never do any payments over WU for business if you don’t have legal guarantees (ask lawyer/notary).