Beware of VIN check scam if you are selling a bike

[Slvrvalk1]

I am selling a Kawasaki Concours 14 that is listed in the classifieds here and on several MC boards as well as several Craigslists.  I got contacted through email by someone who sounded like they were interested in the bike.  He wanted me to do a VIN check on the bike which I would not do.  I have never sold a bike where I had to do a VIN check before someone even looked at the bike.  He wanted me to do the VIN check on a specific site and gave me a link to the site.  I told him that I would do a VIN check after he came and looked at the bike and we discussed price.  I never heard from him again.

It turns out that there is a scam going on where someone poses as a serious buyer and they want to look at the bike, but they want you to do the VIN check.  They are not interested in the bike, but they get a commission on the VIN check that you have done.

I have decided that the best way to sell a bike is to have an actual conversation with someone early in the game.  I don't think scammers want to talk to you.

Dave

[solo1]

i would imagine that if he wanted a vin check he could do it himself.  Maybe Auto Check or Car Fax. (if they do motorcycles) Sure sounds like a a scam of some kind.

[sutterhome]

COULD BE VIN CLONING ALSO

[hukmut]

There are sites that will plant a virus on your computer/device that will "lock" it until you pay them a fee to unlock it. Ransomeware. You then CANNOT remove it without taking your device to a professional without losing most, if not all of your data/apps etc. Happened to me through an "official" looking email. Opened it up, too late. Next bootup, crap!
Hope it doesn't happen to you.



Ride safe...

[Atl-Jerry]

I sold a car on CL last summer and had the exact same thing happen.  I never suspected a scam, just that they were a dumbass.  Told them the same thing, come see it first and we can discuss it, never heard back from them.