So, long story short {yeah right}. Matt left for Super Summer yesterday in the Jeep {Cherokee} pulling a trailer with a Rhino on it. He called me a little while later to tell me he was on the side of the road with, yet again, radiator trouble. After pulling over several times, filling it with water, etc he ended up having to call a buddy to come pick him up and take him {and the rhino} to camp.

Yep, still taking pics of everything with my new camera!

We've been talking about the need to 'trade in' the Jeep for a more gas efficent car some time soon {basically before the Jeep kicks the bucket}. Ooops. We waited too long I guess. So, I jump on the net being half way silly and search Craig's List for cars. I narrow it down to the nearest big town and searched "Honda Accord". Second listing!

2004 HONDA ACCORD EX SEDAN, BLACK, AUTOMATIC - $1700

What the crap!?! Click. Click. Click. WOW! This is for real a 2004 Honda for 1,700! I text Matt. He writes back, "for real". I email the link. CRAZY. I email the seller {no phone # or I so would have rang'm up}. Waiting. Waiting. Bed time routine. Waiting. RESPONSE!

Hello,

I'm SSgt Monica Dixon. This Accord EXL is in perfect working condition. This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth. No electrical problems on this beauty. This detailed vehicle makes the exterior looks like it just came off the assembly line. The car has 81,200 miles. VIN Number: 1HGCM56744A118864
CD player Anti-lock brakes Driver Airbag Leather Sunroof
Passenger airbag Side airbags Air conditioning Cruise control
Power locks Power windows

Here are the pics of the car:
http://s847.photobucket.com/home/myacc4

As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay's Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it(for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you won`t be satisfied about the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back.
I am located in London, UK, and I was sent here with my department of peace maintenance. One month ago my husband moved here with me and brought the car with him but now we have to sell it back in the United States because we can't register it here; it has US specs and everything and registering it here in Europe will take for ever.
My final price on it is $ 1700.00. If you will take it for this price I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 3 days. Please get back to me ASAP if you decide to buy and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.

Best Regards,
Monica Dixon, SSgt, USAF1 SOMOS/MXOOA Maintenance Analysis 362-1594 Comm 884-1594

{PAUSE}

Okay, having heard that much, what camp are you in?

1. Holy molly! Did you buy it?
2. You're retarded. That's 'too good to be true'
3. I'm confused. Where is the Jeep now?

{BACK TO THE STORY}

I call Matt. No answer. "End Call" dial again! 3 times. I hit reply...then thought, "better not buy a car with the hubs 'go ahead'" Call my dad. No answer. Sit. Stair at the email... Emotions going back and forth: This is crap. Maybe God is doing some craziness here? I want this car! I want to believe it's a God thing. Sold. It's a God thing!!!

My dad calls back. I start telling him I might be buying a car. Matt 'beeps' in. "Dad, it's Matt. I'll call you right back."
Matt, "You rang?" Me, "I'm buying the car. Did you get the email I forwarded you?" Matt, "No." Me, "I'm buying the car. Here's the cool story {insert me reading him the email}"

No cheering on the other end. ... {cherp cherp} ... "I think it might be a scam..." Me, "WHAT!?! She gave us her title. the car's ven # and...stuff" Matt, "____ just told me about trying to buy a car and mentioned eBay. It ended up being a scam. Twice." Me, "Poo-E! Go read the email. Let me know what you think." Matt, "K. I'll call ya back."

I reread the email. "I don't want it to be a scam...{pouty face}" I thought to myself in my miraculously quiet house with 3 sleeping babies by 8 o'clock.

I googled her. Yep. I copy and pasted "Monica Dixon, SSgt, USAF1 SOMOS/MXOOA Maintenance Analysis 362-1594 Comm 884-1594". This is the 1st article I found:

Used car buying scam from “military” personnel

This post is about a person who tried to also shopping Craig's List for a car. They too found an unbelievable deal. They too emailed the seller. They too relieved a response- almost Identical to the email response I received:

Hello and sorry for my delay,

I’m Sgt. Robert Parra. This Honda is in perfect working condition. This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth. No electrical problems on this beauty. This detailed vehicle makes the exterior looks like it just came off the assembly line. The car has 118k highway miles. VIN Number: 1hgcg1655ya068349

It was never involved in any accident, not even minor ones. The body and paint are great. The interior is super clean, mechanically, it runs like a cat on carpet.

Here are the pics of the car :

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee106/accpix/

As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay’s Buyer Protection Program in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it(for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected. Anyway i am sure that if you will don`t be satisfied about the car i will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back.

I am located in London, United Kingdom and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between USA and UK. One month ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her, but now we have to sell it back in US because we can’t register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever. My final price on it is US 2,960 $. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 3 days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.

Best Regards,
Robert Parra

POOOOOOOO!"" --->SCAM!

This happened to her more than once.

One member of the forum responded with this advice:

1. eBay does not “hold the money” until you are satisfied with the car. Once you pay them, that is it. And I suspect they will ask you to pay by Western Union.

2. The military does ship cars overseas for servicemen (why does this guy talk in pidgon english if he’s American, anyway?). But thet SHIP them, by SHIP, not by air. Total LIE.

3. American servicemen can drive their cars overseas without registering them there. Again total LIE. Why would a serviceman have a car shipped overseas if he could not register it?

The pattern is the same: a coveted item (BMW, Kobota Tractor, Honda motorcycle, etc.) worth $10,000 to $20,000 is offered for a pitiful amount – $2500 to $5000 with a long-winded “backstory” behind it. You wire them the money, thinking you scored big and that’s the last you hear of them.

They hijack eBay identifications by using those phishing scams. Typically if you look at their feedback, you’ll see it is some little old lady in Arkansas selling dolls. Suddenly, the person is a Seargent in the Army in England selling a car. What gives?

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is….

I really wanted it to be a God thing. Some times He really does cool stuff like that but other times He gave us brains to not fall for scams.

I text Matt, "Scam". Forgot to call my dad back who {way} later returned my call out of curiosity. So, lesson learned- just let'n you know- don't fall for this scam. Oh yeah...and I emailed them back:

I really wish you weren't trying to scam me. This would have been a huge blessing for my family. I wish you all the luck in finding a legit job soon!
{http://www.katylee.com/blog/2008/01/13/used-car-buying-scam-from-military-personnel/ - you might try switching it up a little}

Okay, not my most mature moment. Made me feel like I'd served some kind of justice, DORK! Now, I have to go back to mourning my fake car loss.

How about you? Did you know my car was a scam? Have you ever fallen for one?

~~~

For the record. I KNOW this has nothing to really do with the US Military. I appreciate ALL they do for our country. I have friends and family who have are serving. And Do NOT really associate them with this scam. Sorry these turds are misusing your titles.

To show my appreciation for our military I'd like to share some info brought to you by your friends at http://www.militaryvaloan.com/: military streamline loan and VA loans explained.