Recently I have been shopping for a new tractor because the one that I have now is slowly falling apart. Like many others I turn to eBay or craigslist hoping to find a good deal. Well today I thought that I had indeed found that deal on craigslist. I contacted Mr. Flaherty via email to see if I could set up a time to come and take a look at the tractor in person since we live close to one another. Very quickly I received this email from him about why I couldn’t come to his residence and view the tractor in person.
Seller response (michael68flaherty@gmail.com)
Hello my name is Michael.
I want to tell you that the New Holland TC-33D Compact tractor, Woods 72 mower is still for sale, like new, seldom used, never damaged, fully loaded, first owner, and comes with a clear title. I sell because in the past few moths we’ve tried to develop a family business but unfortunately the things didn’t work the way we’ve expected and now I am at one step from losing my market, so I’ve decided to sell my tractor. Currently I work on a drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico but this has no negative effect for you because the shipping is included in the buy it now price. The tractor is at the shipping company www.e-liveshipping.tk ready to be sending at your place. We will use safe payment method because I am affiliated at this company and I have a purchase protection account for $ 10.000.The last price is $ 4,600 including shipping.
Please reply me only if you are interested. I welcome you buying this nice tractor as it will make you very happy.
What you have just read is the email that I received from him. In the next email he states how the payment process will work and how there is a third party involved to protect the buyer/seller in this transaction. Also when I asked him if a family member or a friend could show me the tractor he stated that it was already in NY at the shipping yard run by Live Shipping www.e-liveshipping.tk. This is what made me suspicious. Please read below for his response I received from the seller.
Seller response (michael68flaherty@gmail.com)
Hi again,
The tractor is already at the shipping company www.e-liveshipping.tk in New York, NY, was put into a container and now is ready to be shipped (the shipping taxes will be paid by me); the title is clear and comes into your name and address. Let me tell you how we will make this deal:
- You will have to give me your full name, address, city/state/zip and phone number
- I will open a transaction record with Live Shipping Vehicle Purchase Protection Inc and you will be contacted by Live Shipping Agent with payment instructions and shipping information.
- You will have to make down payment of $ 2,000 and $ 2.000 cash on delivery.
- You must send the money on one of Live Shipping Agent for a better security,
- I will start the shipping process after you’ve completed the Live Shipping instructions,
- You will have seven days to inspect and test drive the tractor.
After you get the tractor and if you decide to keep it they will release money to me if NOT I will refund your money and the shipping company will take the tractor back and keep it until I find a new buyer. The shipping will take maximum 1-3 working days. The payment that you make will be keep by Live Shipping Agent until you will receive and inspect the tractor. If this is agreeable with this please e-mail me with your full name and shipping address to make this deal ASAP.
As you can see this guy is pretty good and I was almost a victim also. I had gone as far as getting the loan ready and approved. But I just couldn’t get passed how cheap that tractor was. I am just lucky I did my research and found this web-site. When I read the response listed on July 8th 2008 by Anonymous I lost my breath. I hope this helps educate online buyers to be careful and do your research with who you are dealing with. I hope this helps in stopping this guy from getting someone else in the future.
NOTE FROM ADMIN: The website e-liveshipping.tk is a fake escrow service website. If you were to send the money to this website and speak to the agent, the person who you would be talking to would be that same guy or one of his partners in crime. Normally a real escrow service is one of the safest ways to deal online and this is why this seller proposed such a service, to gain thrust from you. However, if the escrow service is fake, then everything is in the scammers control and you can be sure you will lose your money.
** Disclaimer: This post was written by a guest author. The information contained in this article should not be taken as a fact, but only as an indicator. The story represents the authors individual experience with the subject in question. As such it can be true or misrepresented and in some cases even purely fictional in an attempt to harm the company or individual in question. You are advised to use your own judgment to realize the truth behind the story.
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:21 am
The trctor scam and fake website is still alive. I almost got scammed. They are still waiting for my money until I read the situation about the tractor which is identical to the scam experienced by another potential victim on your website. The site: http://www.liveshippinglines.tk is definately a fake. They emailed me today on how to pay them for the tractor, a 1999 TC-33D Compact Tractor. I am reporting this website to our Texas Attorney General.
R. Uherek
February 25th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Apparently this flaherty is still up to his nasty tricks. Found a pair of jet skis that looked “too good to be true”. Queried about them and received the same kind of email as above. Did the research and found the scam. If you see a “too good to be true” price on anything and the seller uses the “purchase protection program” be very leary.
March 5th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Flaherty is still trying to sell the same tractor on craigslist as of March 5
March 17th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I am working on a deal right now for a Kubota BX24 with a low, low price. The responding e-mail has kinda the same wording. I am sceptical. I have not sent any money. She wants to do it through E-BAY, she says she has a contract with them and must use them. She also says she has a contract with the shipping company. She hasnt aked for any money yet. She said that ebay will provide invoices with all the info. I am looking for feed back. I origanly found the listing on craigslist and responded. any thoughts.
June 27th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Hi,
This guy is still out their! I found this tractor on craigslist. 6-26-09 Saying he needs to sell it asap to make a house note. Well i asked to come see it and buy it. He said he is in NY. And the tractor is in NY. and his brother inlaw works for a shipping company so the shipping is free.Today 6-27-09 he sent He sent a ebay link to “But it now” I looked up this item thru ebay this item doesnt exit!
He sent many emails thru John & Debra Melenhorst at debra0002@gmail.com address. His name is “John”.The ebay “pay to” name was “Davie Lake” ebay seller ID John.M0002 Here is a link to photos that was sent.
What can be done?
http://picasaweb.google.com/Debra0002/NewHolland#
June 28th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Hello! This has almost every sign of an internet scam. Wake up people! The messages are in poor english, the deal is too good to be true, the website for the shipping company isn’t .com but .tk, you can’t see the tractor ahead of time, blah blah blah. And I assume the seller has a low (or no) ebay rating.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Count us among John and Debra’s scamees. We e-mailed them after our son found the tractor on Craigslist.com. John “assured” us the tractor was in Denver, so we asked to pick it up and pay him then. Then, John wrote back saying the tractor was already at the shipper-(his brother-in-law)-and that he was listing it on E-Bay Motors as a buy-it-now item and we could buy it through Western Union and PPV on E-Bay. We sent the money through WU and awaited shipment. That same day, another son thought we had fallen for a scam and checked on this website. Sure enough! We had been scammed. We hurriedly got in contact with WU, explained the situation and got our money back. Whew! Buyer Beware!!
June 30th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
We e-mailed “John” & “Debra” after seeing the New Holland tractor ad on Craigslist.com. We contacted them via their website and asked to pick-up the tractor at Denver and pay then. They replied the tractor was already at the shipper (his brother-in-law), DAS Shipping. He was going to offer it on E-Bay Motors on the buy-it-now site and we could pay for it throught Western Union and their agent in NY. We bought the tractor and made payment through WU. The next day, our son thought we had been scammed and checked this website. Sure enough, we had been scammed. We hurriedly got in contact with WU, explained the situation and rec’d our money back. Whew! Buyers Beware.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:00 am
This scam was posted on my local craigslist (orange county, ca) on 6/30/09 as well. There was no sob story, the English was just fine. But the photos and description are exactly the same. The post was flagged soon after it appeared.
What a shame. It’s evidently working to make money, else they wouldn’t be doing it.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Thank goodness I found this website. I to tried to buy the tractor he also had it on e-bay. I tried to get let him to let me pay thru paypal he never would contact me again. They need to put people like that away.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 am
Bastard is still going strong,hit me up this a.m. 7/2/09,same line of crap but now says its in Nev. Called e-bay and user name does’nt even exist.Hope this clown gets nailed before he actually gets anyones cash,better yet bring him to me and I guarantee no one will ever get scammed by this S.O.B.
July 7th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Yep – they’re making money all right. Horse Trailers, tractors, skid loaders, Jet Ski’s, and God only knows what else. Anyone else notice the “random” text inserted at the end of several of their postings – seems to be snippets from Google Books actually.
PLEASE FOLKS DON’T JUST COMPLAIN – CONTACT AUTHORITIES WITH EVERY PIECE OF INFO ON THESE ASSHATS THAT YOU HAVE – AT A MINIMUM, FILE A COMPLAINT WITH IC3.ORG.
I WANT THESE FOLKS MAKING NAMELESS HEADLINES FOR THE LONGEST SENTENCE IN FEDERAL “POUND-ME-IN-THE-ASS” PRISON EVER GIVEN FOR AN INTERNET FRAUD! Oh, yeah, and hopefully the guards will spread rumors to other inmates that they’re child molesters so our taxes don’t have to pay for any extended stay – just a few days while the Guito and friends cook up body parts to feed to the pigeons in the courtyard. Geez – I sound bitter, huh? Serious though, PLEASE REPORT THEM!!! THE MORE COMPLAINTS THE BETTER!
July 14th, 2009 at 10:28 am
I got taken on the 1999 Ford Dx33d by John & Debra Melenhorst scam. Out $3700 plus WU charges. I feel really stupid to fall for this scam but this guy is a real professional. The EBAY website looked perfect. I didn’t see the red flags, just the outstanding buy. I hope someone get him!
July 29th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
yea i got scamed by this sob too everythimg looked to be on the up and up but of course when u send him the money thats the last time you hear from him. they scamed me out of 4000.00 plus wu fees and when i figured it out it was too late he is getting smarter he is picking up the money with in an hour after making the transaction. i have file complaits with ebay and craigslist and i still see him posting stuff on the websites and report it as soon as i see it. someone needs to nail this bastard.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Here’s a quick way to see if its a scam. Seems these guys or this jerk is using a form email. Reply to him twice with the same email. Or reply to his reply. You will notice that you will get an automated reply, an exact copy of the first response.
Bottom line, no one gets my money for a tractor until I sit on it, drive it, see it and shake his hand. I will also run a background check thru our state’s court cases online to see if the person I’m buying from has a criminal record.
Scott
October 12th, 2009 at 4:04 am
This seeems identical to the other scams mentioned. He is claiming to be “Chris Moulton” and his emial address is Chris.Moulton@gmx.com
“Hi I’m Chris;
The 1999 New Holland TC-33D Compact tractor is still for sale. The tractor has 3 cylinders engine hp 33, 890 hours, hydrostatic transmission, and 4WD. The title is clear and on my name. My final price is $3,600 including woods mower. I am forced to sell quickly because I need money to pay the mortgage on my house, so let me to know if you are still interested. Here are some pictures with my tractor that I have for sale: http://picasaweb.google.com/sstanchels/Newholland# Also I will put the tractor on eBay at $3,600 buy it now! That way you will receive assistance for the purchase, paperwork, title transfer, because I’m member from 2002 and I have 100% positive feedback.
Thank you.”
His second reply (after I asked him his schedule for tomorrom as I wanted to see the tractor) was as follows:
“Hi again,
The tractor is already at a shipping company. I took the tractor to them to be able to ship it to a potential buyer whilst I’m out of town. My brother in law works there, and he promised me that it will cost me nothing to ship it in the US. I also have the tractor listed on eBay and that lets me use their secured system. I’m very busy with my job and I’m sorry I can’t meet you in person. According to eBay you have 5 days from the time you receive the tractor to inspect it and decide if you want to keep it or not.
So if you really want it I will give you directions/link to the auction on eBay motors because this is the only way that I’m going to sell this tractor.
Mail me ASAP if you are still very interested in my tractor because now I have more buyers still interested.”
October 14th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Here is what I got from this Scammer!
Hi I’m Chris;
The 2007 John Deere 3320 4WD tractor is still for sale. The tractor has 3 cylinders engine 32 HP, 172 hours, hydrostatic transmission, and 4WD. The title is clear and on my name. My final price is $5,700. I am forced to sell quickly because I need money to pay the mortgage on my house, so let me to know if you are still interested. Here are some pictures with my tractor that I have for sale: http://picasaweb.google.com/kidharkab/JohnDeere# also I will put the tractor on eBay at $5,700 buy it now! That way you will receive assistance for the purchase, paperwork, title transfer, because I’m member from 2002 and I have 100% positive feedback.
Thank you.
I was immediately suspicious and googled his name.
Sounded too good to be true. I just can’t believe someone can’t catch these RATS!
October 15th, 2009 at 5:43 am
He’s moved to WV. I say we spam the hell out of his account. Here’s his response to me from yesterday inquiring about the tractor:
Re: New Holland TC-33D Compact tractor Woods 72 mower – $3600 (eastern WV)
Chris Moulton [Chris.Moulton@gmx.com]
Hi I’m Chris;
The 1999 New Holland TC-33D Compact tractor is still for sale. The tractor has 3 cylinders engine hp 33, 890 hours, hydrostatic transmission, and 4WD. The title is clear and on my name. My final price is $3,600 including woods mower. I know it’s really cheap but we need cash money to pay the mortgage on my house and during this financial crisis you can’t sell anything for its real value, so let me to know if you are still interested. Here are some pictures with my tractor that I have for sale: http://picasaweb.google.com/sstanchels/Newholland#
I will put the tractor on eBay at $3,600 buy it now! That way you will receive assistance for the purchase, paperwork, title transfer, because I’m member from 2002 and I have 100% positive feedback.
Thank you.
October 15th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Hey Mississippi – same deal in Dallas today:
Hi I’m Chris;
The 1999 New Holland TC-33D Compact tractor is still for sale. The tractor has 3 cylinders engine hp 33, 890 hours, hydrostatic transmission, and 4WD. The title is clear and on my name. My final price is $3,600 including woods mower. I know it’s really cheap but we need cash money to pay the mortgage on my house and during this financial crisis you can’t sell anything for its real value, so let me to know if you are still interested. Here are some pictures with my tractor that I have for sale: http://picasaweb.google.com/sstanchels/Newholland#
I will put the tractor on eBay at $3,600 buy it now! That way you will receive assistance for the purchase, paperwork, title transfer, because I’m member from 2002 and I have 100% positive feedback.
Thank you.
chris.moulton@gmx.com
October 15th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Message # 2 from Chris after I told him cash only after inspection:
Hi again,
The tractor is already at a shipping company. I took the tractor to them to be able to ship it to a potential buyer whilst I’m out of town, working on a drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. My brother in law works at this small shipping company, and he promised me that it will cost me or you nothing to ship it in the ground us. Like I told you in first e-mail the tractor is listed on eBay and that lets me use their secured system. I’m very busy with my job and I’m sorry I can’t meet you in person. According to eBay you have 5 days from the time you receive the tractor to inspect it and decide if you want to keep it or not.
So if you really want it I will give you directions/link to the auction on eBay motors because this is the only way that I’m going to sell this tractor.
Mail me ASAP if you are still very interested in my tractor because now I have more buyers still interested.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Found following ad below this morning on Craigslist in Grand Rapids, Michigan, ad looked very nice with pictures shown of it also. Contacted through email before I found this website and got back the exact same 2 emails replies as the above “Dallas Tractor Wanter” posted 4 days ago. I’m glad I found this website. Praying for whom ever is doing this that they stop and get right with the lord and also for the innocent involved.
New Holland TC-33D Compact tractor, Woods 72 mower – $3600 (Grand Rapids)
——-
Date: 2009-10-19, 6:23AM EDT
Reply to: sale-bqhmq-1427741828@craigslist.org
——
excellent condition. Options include R4 industrial tires. Used almost exclusively to mow grass. suitcase weights on the front and rear wheel weights. Compact Tractor w/ Super Steer & 3 spd.
all manuals. rear work light asst. 2 sets remote hydraulic valves. Stored in a garage. Fuel: Diesel.
Make: New Holland. NH 7308 Front End Loader w/ tooth bar & 2 year old Woods RD7200 72 Rear discharge finish mower w/ chain guard. Hydrostatic transmission. folding ROPS w/ white sun shade. Model: TC 33D.
Engine Cylinders: 3. arm rests. only 890 hrs. step, engine block heater. 1999 New Holland TC33D 33 H.P., 4WD.
Location: Grand Rapids
October 20th, 2009 at 9:48 am
1999 New Holland TC33D 33 H.P., 4WD, Compact Tractor w/ Super Steer & 3 spd. Hydrostatic transmission. NH 7308 Front End Loader w/ tooth bar & 2 year old Woods RD7200 72? Rear discharge finish mower w/ chain guard. Options include R4 industrial tires, 2 sets remote hydraulic valves, folding ROPS w/ white sun shade, arm rests, rear work light, asst. step, engine block heater, suitcase weights on the front and rear wheel weights, all manuals, only 890 hrs., excellent condition. Used almost exclusively to mow grass. Stored in a garage.
this was hidden at he end of the add
Pentacle speicailises in content and a teaching approach which make innovative use of virtual technologiesA supporting cable snapped and the mechanism’s anti-rollback devices failed to stop the car from plummeting to the bottom of the tower Contrary to public belief and rumour it did not crash down on top of another car and no one was killed in the accident Four teens were treated at a local hospital and released To prevent this type of accident from recurring Intamin doubled the number of anti-rollbacks on the tower and the ride programming was changed so that a car did not enter the elevat
October 26th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Its on craigslist right now, i e-mailed him asking about it? Then decided to look up some info on this tractor and found this web site, that was close.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:56 am
Still trying in Louisville now. Same scam, second email just like all the others. Trying to sell on Ebay rather than direct. Thanks to all who have written.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Just found this one. I sure am glad I found this site!
http://bham.craigslist.org/tls/1439588283.html
Date: 2009-10-27, 9:39AM EDT
Reply to: sale-hurwh-1439588283@craigslist.org
1999 New Holland 4WD Compact Tractor, Woods 72 mower – $3600 (Birmingham)
suitcase weights on the front and rear wheel weights. 4WD NH 7308 Front End Loader w/ tooth bar & 2 year old Woods RD7200 72? Rear discharge finish mower w/ chain guard. Options include R4 industrial tires. 2 sets remote hydraulic valves.
excellent condition. only 890 hrs. engine block heater. Stored in a garage. Compact Tractor w/ Super Steer & 3 spd.
arm rests. Used almost exclusively to mow grass. Hydrostatic transmission. rear work light asst. 33 H.P.
1999 New Holland TC33D folding ROPS w/ white sun shade. all manuals.
October 29th, 2009 at 8:57 am
new scam is 2003 John Deere Compact Tractor Mower Loader Backhoe Hydro – $3800 (Hernando County)
emailed and the add was removed within an hour.
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hdo/tls/1442511902.html
haven’t heard back-
emailed Craigslist and eBay twice requsting information and to date have not gotten any response from either
makes you wonder how much they might be involved.
really makes you wonder when you report a scam and they don’t seem to care.
October 31st, 2009 at 10:04 am
I just stumbled on to the tractor scam guy, He just posted an add for a new holland that is priced too good to be true. What catches my eye is that the landscape in the back is nothing like any I know of in Miami. How do you report this to someone that matters. This is his reply address.
sale-vptgs-1445466702@craigslist.org
October 31st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Well, count me amoung the almost scammed. Found his add in Craigslist San Diego, identical tractor, New Holland. This guy used the name Tony and guess where he works, would you believe on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Can’t see the tractor, it’s already at the shipping yard. Same story, needs money to make mortgage, yeah sure! Sent me the link to ebay motors and buy now and my common sense left me but I researched the tractor and low and behold bustathief came up and too my breath away. I cut and pasted the information and sent it to “Tony”, gee, I haven’t heard back yet, what gives???? Thanks everyone for your input and saving me $3600.00 and hopefully others will catch on to, I will report this to Ebay too.
God Bless.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Same thing here in NY – same emails, etc. Now his name is John Stolin (has to be a pun, right?). I got suspicious when the link to “ebay” had a .as website…. Infact, here’s the link itself: http://cort.as/9KL I couldn’t find the tractor doing an item# search, etc., and so did a bit more research. Thank God I came across this site.
I googled the ad and found it’s been flagged on craigslist Nashville and Chicago. I’m forwarding all of my correspondence with the full headers (ISP’s) to both craigslist and ebay – maybe that will help them shut this guy down.
November 5th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Well he has set up shop again,
same ad in the Jackson Tn craigslist advertising the 1999 New holland 33D 4WD Tractor with loader and woods finishing mower for 3600.00. He sent a reply back to me stating he was Tony and that he had to sell the tractor to pay his mortgage and he can’t show me the tractor due to he is on a Oil Rig in the gulf of Mexico. I may have got scamed if i had not seen this website and the posts on here when I looked up the tractor model to find some information. Thanks to google and this website