To: webmaster@mafca.com
Date: Thursday, March 13, 2008
Subject: The "deduct and mail to shipper" scam

I have recently listed a tudor for sale online. Because of my membership in MAFCA I am very concerned about people who would put members in jeopardy or in danger of losing either their identity or money. It certainly is not the fault of MAFCA, or of the website in particular, but it reflects quite poorly on the safety of transactions there. Anyhow, one of the several inquiries on the car came from:
p_gary01@yahoo.com
In his first e-mail he asked for pictures, which I gladly sent. Here is the text of his second e-mail: 
HELLO BOB
 THANKS FOR THE MAIL AND THE PICS ATTACHED U SENT TO ME...I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT...
HOWEVER,I JUST CALLED RICHARD # U SENT TO ME BUT WAS ENGAGE SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT 
THE PRICE IS OKAY BY ME AND AS FOR THE SHIPPING THAT'LL NOT BE A PROBLEM FROM ITS CURRENT 
LOCATION OK ..I HAVE CONTACTED  A SHIPPING COMPANY THAT WILL HANDLE THE SHIPPING...
SO THAT'LL NOT BE A PROBLEM...
    AS FOR THE PAYMENT I'LL BE PAYING WITH A  CASHIERS CHECK WHICH'LL BE CASHED EASILY 
BY YOU...I WANT U TO KNOW THAT I'LL BE SENDING YOU A CHECK IN WHICH U'LL DEDUCT YOUR 
ASKING $10500 WHILE YOU  SEND THE REMAINING BALANCE TO THE SHIPPING COMPANY THAT 'LL BE 
COMING FOR THE NEXTDAY PICK UP AT YOUR PLACE AS MY SHIPPER WILL CHECK FOR ANY MALFUNCTION 
IN THE CAR BEFORE SHIPPING,PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY FAULT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ...
TO SEND IT OUT I'LL NEED UR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS WHERE THE PAYMENT' LL BE SENT TO AND 
PROBABLY UR PHONE #....DO SEND THE INFO TO ME ASAP...
     HOPING TO HEAR FROM U SOONEST..
           REGARDS.
           GARY
The "deduct and mail to shipper" scam is one of the oldest in the books. I also find it odd that even though my phone number and my friend's phone number (for evenings) is in the ad that he doesn't seem to know them. Also odd is that he asks NO questions about the car, as any normal buyer would do. I would really like to catch this guy, just to get one more rotten apple out of the bunch. If you are interested in helping, let me know. Meanwhile I will see if anyone else (Police, DA, Bank, etc.) might be as well.

Regards,
Bob Rigor