A quick Google Image search showed that this bike had been on eBay many years ago, and the picture is now also on Pinterest.


My reaction:

Hi Mark,

Good to hear from you!

It’s a bit of a shame to break up that beautiful bike isn’t it… The fact is that my project is missing so many parts that I consider buying a complete bike. My father passed away a month ago, and he left me a considerable sum of money. So to make a long story short: how much did you have in mind for the complete motorcycle?

I live in a remote part of Canada (Alberta), and my next door neighbour buys and sells cars over the internet. He uses UPS. How much would it cost to send me this bike with UPS to Alberta, Canada please?

Regards,
John

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Mark’s reaction:

Great , the complete bike will cost you $2,100 . Then shipping to your door step in Canada (Alberta) will cost you $480 . As soon as you pay for it now , my agent will come get the bike and package it for shipping immediately .

Regarding payment , I`II accept bank to bank transfer , as soon as I get your interest now , I`II send you my daughter banking details for the funds transfer .

My address is , 460 s,old Blvd Apt 314 Fairless Hills ,Pa 19030 USA.

Very sorry for the lost of your dad . Let me also have the address where you want my agent to ship the bike to .

Thanks .

Mark.

My reaction:

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your reply! Well, that’s a suspiciously cheap bike, what’s wrong with it? Does it come with paperwork? Is the engine running? Is the bike in the USA?

Regards,
John

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Mark’s reaction:

The bike is in Pennsylvania , the bike is cheap because I need to sell the bike on time to be able to undergo my surgery.

The bike have papers , and before you pay for the bike , I'm going to send you copies of the paperwork.

Besides I'm 90 with grand sons and daughters and I have never stolen from any body before not even in my sick bed now.

Hope you understand better now ?

Mark.

My reaction:

Hello Mark,

Sorry to hear about your surgery. And sorry, I really didn’t want to accuse you… It’s just that the price of the bike is suspiciously low. I’d like to believe you, as I’m very interested in this bike, so please convince me!

Regards,
John

Mark’s reaction:

Hi ,

Thanks for your concern over my health problem. I understand your email quite alright, I really need to sell the bike on time because my surgery is due for operation.

I can't steal your money upon my failing health , I'm going to send you the scan copy of the clear title before you transfer the funds into my daughter bank account.

I'm also going to order my lawyer to prepare a bill of sale , where you are going to sign your signatures and I will also sign mine.

So do not doubt me on this , even when the bike is cheap and I know the bike worth more than that , at first I wanted to sell it at $4,500 but it seems slow with the price , so I have to reduce it to $2,100 , because my surgery operation is due .

Except you want to help me by adding any amount to it as a kind gesture , because from the way you sound I already know that you are a honest man like me.

As soon as I hear from you now, I will send you the scan copy of the title, bill of sale along with my daughter banking details for the funds transfer.

God bless.

Mark.

My reaction:

Hi Mark,

OK, think I can trust you… I’ll buy the bike, if you show me the paperwork
and some detailed pictures (I hope you understand that I don’t want to buy a
pup…)

Regards,
John

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Mark’s reaction:

As I have told you before , the bike is exactly as it appears in the
pictures , do not doubt me on that , If not for the fact that , I`m
already in the intensive care unit , I would have send more pictures
other than the first pictures I send to you .
I have attached the scan copy of the clear title , As soon as I
received the funds now , I`II send you a copy of the bill of sale .
Regarding payment , below is my agent banking details , transfer the
funds now and send me the scan copy of the payment details .

Name: Carol Meehan

Routing number: 231380104

ACH acct numb: 10700000968846

Account number: 9688460070

Bank name: Citadel Credit Union

Swift code: CITGUS44XXX

Bank address: 75 W Germantown Pike, East Norriton, PA 19401, USA.

Hope to received the scan copy of the payment details .

Mark.

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Easy enough to find a template on Google Images:



For the VIN number no doubt he found inspiration here .

My reaction:

Hello Mark,

You say that “The bike is exactly as it appears in the pictures”… but you’ve only sent me one picture so far! Please send me more, as I really don’t want to buy a pup! I want to see the details, what is wrong and what is missing. Send me these and I’ll pay!

Regards,
John

Mark’s reaction:

Yes , I can`t not get more pictures now because I`m already in the pre surgery center .

My reaction:

Then please ask your daughter to take some pictures! I’m not paying anything before I can see more details, hope you understand…

John

Mark’s reaction:

Okay , have just done that now .

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

And a bit later he sends me this:

Here are more pictures .






Images from an auction in Australia , 10 years ago. Please note that he sent the first picture twice: once as in the above website, once with blurred reg nr.

My reaction:

Thank you very much Mark. But sorry, these are not the pictures that I
wanted to see. Could you please ask your daughter to take pictures of the
frame number, the engine number and the speedometer? I should have told this
before, sorry for that. I promise you that I’ll buy the bike as soon as I’ve
seen these pictures. I’ve already spoken with my bank manager, I just have
to give him a call and he will transfer $ 2.500 to your account. This is
more than you were asking for, but I really feel sorry for you, so I think
this is the least that I can do!

Regards,
John

Mark’s reaction:

Sorry my daughter has gone to work till next weekend , I have attached
the picture of the speedometer . Please if you want to transfer the
money but if you don`t want transfer the money without the picture of
the engine number , no problem but this is the height I can go on this
deal .

God Bless .

Mark.



My reaction:

That’s not the speedometer Mark, it’s the ammeter.

Sorry, your money is only one mouse click away from you, but I really need
pictures of the frame and engine numbers. I really can’t wait to ride this
bike. But if these numbers aren’t clear I will have problems importing the
bike in Canada. Canadian customs are very difficult to deal with. I hope you
will understand that this is an important matter.

As I told you, my bank manager has prepared the deal, I only have to give him
a phone call and he’ll press the button. You can almost smell the money
Mark!

Regards,
John

Mark’s reply:

May be you will keep your money in your pocket because I have already
sent you the title .

My reply:

Hello Mark,

What do you mean? I still hope to buy this motorcycle! To own such a bike has been my dream for many years! Please let me know how to proceed!

Regards,
John

No answer…

Hello Mark,

Hope all is well with you? Are you still in hospital?

Regards,
John

No answer…

Dear spammer,

Just want to let you know that I’m going to send all our correspondence to the cyber crime police, and that I’m going to publish all this on the internet.

Have a nice day,
John

Just wanted to share this with the forum… 😂

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Wonderful stuff, Jan. The lady of the house wanted to know what I was sniggering at ! :laughing:

I suppose some people must fall for it or they wouldn't bother?

Rob

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk

Different version of an old tune. I’ve encountered this a couple of times although never with so much back and forth. At least the scammer had to work a bit. Common denominator in these scams is low price and urgency in closing transaction. My latest version was dire need for funds hence the cheap price and leaving to work on offshore oil rig and need to close before leaving. A friend of mine was also nearly scammed by a very realistic looking eBay listing.

I noticed that he couldn't spell Pennsylvania on the title. Hehe.

I used to get this response every time I advertised for a spare part......so gave up advertising for spare parts, except on closed Facebook or niche sites.