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rockhillmanor's avatar
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2013

New Scam RV's 4 Sale using US Military

This is a head's up to anyone looking to buy an RV.
This is a new one! They use info that they are US military
they use perfect English and one could surmise that by tugging
on the heart strings of an American regarding our troops they
are most likely pulling this new scam off often.:(

I found a TT I liked for sale on line and emailed the seller.
His response was that he was a Col of the US Army and was being deployed to Afghanistan and that the US Logistics Dept would take care of the payment of the shipment of the RV, use Amazon as third party to hold money upon 5 day inspection of buyer.

Personally, right off the bat I didn't buy the whole 'in your face' about who he was over and over again in the email, this was flag #1

Paid shipment? Don't care if you claim its the US Army, flag #2

Googled his name and 6 links show up regarding his career as a Col. in the Army. At first looks real, second look they are all blogs with different style heading to look authentic and all created on the 'same day', exact 'same wording' on all of them. 20 years of service and all of a sudden on one day blogs are created? Flag #3

Selling price was very low. Flag #4

I was SO mad he was impersonating a US Officer. I decided to play into it to find out more info so I could warn others. He has answered 'every' email I have sent EXCEPT this last one:

"Hi
Thank you for explaining the shipping and payment arrangements.

I have contacted the Department of Defense for
verification of your status,
to ensure I am dealing
with a real person here in the US.

Upon receipt of verification I would like to continue with the
purchase of the camper.



Haven't heard from his since, go figure!

So beware of this new type of scammer impersonating a US Officer in the US Army selling RV's, and most likely other items too!. IMHO this is an American doing the scamming not a third world scammer. Boy we sure have sunk to a new low in this country.


I intentionally did not disclose the full name he used in the emails on this post in case he stole that name from a real person in the US Army. He uses the title Col. Xxx Xxxx US Army.

Just a FYI, Heads Up.

19 Replies

  • Sometimes it's fun to play with them. Ask them for tire dates, VIN, what BTU the ACs are..... Ran into these adds a lot when looking for a Wrangler toad. It appears that on a lot of them, they copy a legitamate add, pictures and all, so that it looks real. One time, I asked a bunch of questions and the guy came up will all sorts of wrong answers, but I didn't tell him, then we negotiated a cost that would have been great if it was real, then I told him I lived a half mile away from where he said it was stored and I would meet him to buy it instead of having it shipped. Never heard from him again.

    Bill
  • I'll post 2 of his emails I received so everyone can see what to look for. I am going to block out the type of TT, name he used, links, etc. so people don't go googling the info and tipping him off and send this guy under ground, taking down the sites and covering his tracks in case I do decide to turn him in.



    Thank you for your interest in my xxxx. Clear US title, sleeping capacity:xx, xxx lbs dry weight. It is in perfect condition never smoked in, no pets, no damages, no leaks, tows like a dream. I have all the documents and papers.

    At the moment I'm stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, making final preparations before deploying to Afghanistan. The camper will be delivered from here. The Logistic Department will deliver the camper to your home.

    It is available for immediate delivery free of charge at your door, the shipping process takes 3 days. I'm looking for a quick sale, that's why the price has been reduced($xxxx) to avoid wasting time with negotiations and find a buyer before I will be deployed to Afghanistan replacing the troops scheduled to come home.

    =============================
    Hi again,

    Like I said in my first email, I'm making final preparations before deploying to Afghanistan. Shipping will be my part, The Logistic Department will deliver the camper to your home and it will take no more than 4 days. All documents you need for ownership, manuals, title and bill of sale will be provided along with the camper.

    For the payment I would like to use Amazon Payments as a third party. They will keep your money into a protection account until you get the camper and will release it to me after inspection period is over and you agree to keep it. So, this is not a blind transaction, you can see the camper before committing to buy and to eliminate any concerns you will have 5 days to inspect it. If you decide not to keep it, Amazon Payments will refund you the money, no questions asked, and shipping back will be my concern. But I assure you won't be the case. I think this is more than fair for both of us.

    Now, if you are serious about this and want to move forward, just email me back with:
    - Your Full Name - Required by Amazon Payments (You'll receive important guidelines + payment instructions from them).
    - Your Shipping Address and Phone Number - Required by the Logistic Department (They will call you with delivery instructions 1 day ahead so you can communicate what time schedule work best for your to receive the camper)

    If the camper is not how I've described it, you have the unequivocal right to refuse acceptance of the camper (return postage on my expense) and you are entitled to a full and complete refund.

    Sorry for the long email, I have tried to explain the entire process.
    P.S I asked them to allow viewers to go there and inspect the camper but their reply was "We are not a showroom!"



  • there are actually web sites and facebook pages dedicated to catching and Humiliating these folks. They deserve all the atttention they bring to themselves.
  • So despicable. The new Stolen Valor act was widely reported here near Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point etc.

    There was a phony old creep going around speaking at special events with full uniform and medals ...VFW, service clubs, dedication of memorials, you name it. Right here in the center of Marine universe. He finally got caught a year or two ago and I believe is currently living rent free in a small space courtesy of our tax dollars. Hope they never let him out.
  • This is not a New Scam, I have run acrossed it a few times. I make it a point to report it to the FBI Cyber Crimes Division, And then let them know i did. I am Im the Military and think it is discusting that they would do this sort of thing. I wish the New updated stolen Vallor billed passed would also cover that, but it doesnt. Ive Played them back and forth a few times and actually gotten them to slip up and reply from a different Email, Or use a different name. Good Job Catching it.
  • GoPackGo wrote:
    I've worked for DOD for 30 years. One more tipoff - There is no such thing as "the US Logistics Dept ".

    I was hoping some one here on the forum would know if that Dept even existed.
    Thank You! :C

    I have not contacted anyone about this. With the overseas scams no one ever can catch those guys. But, you know with this one I think they might be able to. This guy took a lot of time an effort to create blogs and links that would show up on google so when a potential buyer searched him it looked legit 'at a glance'.

    Well at least the info is here hopefully for thousands of RV'ers to read and tell others, so no one gets caught up in this moron's scheme of using America's soft spot for the military especially during these times.

    I'll post 2 of his emails I received so everyone can see what to look for. I am going to block out the type of TT, name he used, links, etc. so people don't go googling the info and tipping him off and send this guy under ground, taking down the sites and covering his tracks in case I do decide to turn him in.
  • I've worked for DOD for 30 years. One more tipoff - There is no such thing as "the US Logistics Dept ".
  • Politics aside, Obama has signed the Stolen Valor Act. This is good because it is another way that scammers can be charged for their crimes.

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