mooney search / scam?

[rturbett]

While looking for a Mooney, I had to investigate this.

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/Single+Engine+Piston/1966/Mooney/M20C/1293410.html

I have seen similar scams on craigslists- I assume this is the same, but am only 98 1/2% sure.  I am realy curious as the registration name is accurate according to landings.com

How do we spread the word on this to protect people?

Rob Turbett

this is the email response i got:

Hi there again, this Mooney M20C is in excellent condition, never been involved in any kind of accidents, clean and clear title, no mechanical problems, no rust, no leaks, power options all functional and it will need nothing in the near future. I'm the owner of the plane but i don't really know the technical details, i'm not a pilot and i never used it, I inherited it from my father who took great care of this plane. 
  
 All the details that i have from the aircraft you can find here: http://simsrandall-blog.comze.com/MooneyM20C
 
  I want to sell it because I don't have use for it and I could use some quick cash right now, rather than waiting for a better offer (selling takes a lot of time too... and time is money). So I'm willing to let it go for $24,000 , First come, First served.
  
  We are in a mission in Red Sea until 25th of July but if you're not able to pick this up I have some great news for you.The shipping will take 7-10 days thru uShip and it will be free anywhere in USA, my previous buyer already paid for it and uShip didn't want to refund him so I have the plane sealed at a local shipping company that work with uShip, ready to be shipped out. If we cannot meet face2face I would like to use Google Checkout purchase protection to take care of this deal, smooth and safe. 
 
   Let me know if you have any other questions, hope i didn't miss anything, if we use Google Checkout  program this is not a sight unseen deal anymore.
  
  
 Thank you,
 Randall E. Sims,
 PO3, NAVY ,U.S. 6th Fleet Det.
 DSN 251-7831

[scottfromiowa]

Looks like a scam...walks like a scam...It's a scam.  My daughter thought she "sublet" her apartment.  Contact said "hey, my dad has a car getting shipped he is paying me extra.  We will send a check..."  There are scammers EVERYWHERE...be careful.

[FlyDave]

Let me know if you don't contact Trade-a-plane to report this because I will. I would hope that Trade-a-plane would contact whatever authorities would pursue it.

Scumbags need to be dealt with accordingly!!

Oh, and by the way, Welcome to Mooneyspace and best of luck findng a solid plane!!

[rturbett]

Just looked up sims on landings.com.  

in the email he claims "I'm the owner of the plane but i don't really know the technical details, i'm not a pilot and i never used it, I inherited it from my father who took great care of this plane. "

yet Randall Sims has a private and instrument ticket. SCAN SCAM SCAM

 

I emailed the info to trade a plane.

Rob

 

[rturbett]

How long should I play this  out??  Just replied to his latest email- here is the series, read from bottom to top. Quite the deal if reassembly is included!  I wonder how good of a job USHIP did when they took it apart??? I'd like to see that log book entry!

 

 

Thanks. The link works now.   I am glad the wings are off as this will be an excellent chance to treat any corrosion. Do you have an estimate of  the cost to reassemble or is it included in the price?

 

 

Rob Turbett

 

Hi Rob,
The plane is sealed in a container and ready to be shipped,the wings was removed and will be mounted at the destination.
 I have some tehnical problems with my blog,but try this link : http://simsrandall-blog.comze.com/MooneyM20C/Aircraft_Description.htm  it is working,i just tested.
 
 Thank you,
 Randall E. Sims,
 PO3, NAVY ,U.S. 6th Fleet Det.
 DSN 251-7831 

---

From: PenTurbett@aol.com
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2011 18:25:11 -0400
Subject: Re: [barnstormers.com] Re: 1966 Mooney M20C
To: sims.randall@msn.com

I have cash on hand. Is the plane dismantled for shipping or can we fly it home? The links to the log books

/ aircraft info do not work, only to the pictures.

Who has the logbooks?

Rob Turbett

585-329-5871 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            585-329-5871      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

[Skywarrior]

Just spoke with THE REAL Mrs. Sims. She was VERY intrigued by all this. She said that Trade-a-Plane had already called the house and left a message for her husband to call them. She told them that he will call WHEN HE RETURNS HOME FROM WORK.

So, he's not "in Red Sea".

My guess is that Sims had this plane's pictures available somewhere and the scammer just put them to good use. Everything else is public record.

 

Chuck M.

[rturbett]

Rob, the shipping is included in the price.

Thank you,
 Randall E. Sims,
 PO3, NAVY ,U.S. 6th Fleet Det.
 DSN 251-7831

Randall

Thank you-

I understand that the shipping is included in the price. My question is will they put the wing back on for free, or do I have to hire someone here to do that? I know how to fly the plane, but I am not very good at working on them, and putting a wing on is beyond my skill. Could you please check with them?

24,000 is a good price for the plane, but it doesn't do me any good if it is in parts. Would you consider lowering the price for me to hire a mechanic to do the work?

 

Rob Turbett

585-329-5871 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            585-329-5871      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

[Kevin]

The big thing I see here is that the writer/responder is making a lot of errors in English, which would indicate to me that he is not a native English speaker. He writes things like "the wings was removed" as opposed to "were removed," or "We are in a mission in Red Sea" rather than "We are ON a mission in THE Red Sea," etc. That's always a big scam tip-off for me. I can understand a typo or two, but multiple errors in sentence structure tells me this is a SCAM.

[jelswick]

I had this happen with two of the planes we had listed for customers.  The worst was someone that had taken the exact wording and photos from the ad we had on Trade A Plane, or Controller or one of those, was smart enough to learn a little about the registration on the aircraft and then listed it on eBay.  A few people had Googled the tail number, saw we had it listed and emailed me to ask me if the ad was legit.  It was a very sharp C150 that was at about $25K and they were putting it on eBay for $8K with shipping anywhere in the US included in the price.  They said the owner (had his name correct) had passed away and they inherited the plane and needed to sell it because they didn't fly.

I contacted the advertising company as well as FBI and they said there were so many of these scams that they were not worth pursuing.  It usually led to someone out of the country where they couldn't pursue it and their government wouldn't.  They take peoples deposit or full payment and the scam ends with no airplane (or boat, car or whatever they're scamming) being produced for multiple buyers.  Sickening people would do that to other people, but if your gut tells you it's a scam, it probably is and better to err on the side of caution. 

[rturbett]

This mornings email...... If you would like to add to the scathing response I am going to send, please feel free to  email me.

Rob

Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:24:15 -0400
Subject: Re: [barnstormers.com] Re: 1966 Mooney M20C
To: sims.randall@msn.com

Randall,

I wanted to show my wife the airplane I am buying but I couldn't find the ad on trade-a plane this evening. Did you sell this out from under me? I told you I wanted to buy your Mooney. I have the cash, so you don't need to worry about a loan going through like your last buyer.

 

Rob

 

Rob,i remove the add because i received many email from potentials buyers.If you want t show the aircraft to your wife, you have all the pictures on my website: http://simsrandall-blog.comze.com/MooneyM20C

 

[Magnum]

Check this link to know how to deal with these guys :-)

http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/

[rturbett]

That was great!

I think I'll tell him I called   his wife and since I had cash it was simplest if I just mailed it to her bank. Please confirm with her that it is in the bank account, and send me the plane.....

[jax88]

Now this is getting good.

[rturbett]

I just sent this- cant wait to see his reaction. Now on to something productive.

Rob

Randall,

Thank you for helping me with this. I do appreciate it, and even more, I appreciate the honor you bring to the United States by serving in the Navy.

 

I am looking forward to flying the Mooney. I know these aircraft well, and can tell by the pictures it is in good shape.At that price, even if there is some work to be done on it- such as new radios, I would still come out ok.

 Since I have cash in hand, it would be extra work and fees for me to convert it for electronic delivery. In appreciation for the good work you do defending our country, I wanted to make this transaction simple for us.

I spoke to your bank -Valley Bank in Bixby OK, and explained the situation to them.  They were happy to provide me with a  deposit number and would accept the cash for deposit into your account. (They also asked me to tell you they appreciate your service to our country!) It has been sent next day delivery and should be in your account tomorrow.

 

You will be able to confirm receipt with the bank tomorrow after 2pm. When you confirm the deposit, please make arrangements to have Uship deliver the aircraft to:

Niagara Falls International Airport
2035 Niagara Falls Blvd.
Niagara Falls, NY 14304

Please let me know the delivery time that Uship quotes you.

I will take pictures of the aircraft so you can see it in its new home.

 

[mooneygirl]

I am on pins and needles!

[rturbett]

his response- his English is breaking down as he panics.....

Rob,i didn't understand you email.I don't understand what the thing with Valley Bank,i have an account open here,but i didn't use it from many time,i think also that is closed for inactivity.Also ,how can you make a payment directly to my account, if didn't provide you any bank account? A bank don't release any customers details to nobodyelse. Also i have request you to do the deal using google checkout so i didn't ask you to send me directly any amount.So i will not start any shipping before i have the google confirmation for start it.

So,please make me understand your last email,for i can know what are your intentions.

Thank you,
Randall E. Sims,
PO3, NAVY ,U.S. 6th Fleet Det.
DSN 251-7831

[rturbett]

Randall,

I was able to look up your home on Google and your bank from the town records on your mortgage. I called the bank manager  and he understood the challenges our servicemen face.( His father was injured on the fire on the Oriskany  during Viet-Nam.)  He said as long as I send a notarized letter stating that this was to go in to your account, that it would be no problem. The notary at my bank was able  to certify it.

 

You said that you needed quick cash. This will give you access to the money tomorrow instead of having to wait. if you have access to a phone, their number is 918-394-1700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            918-394-1700      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. you can also contact them through their website.

 

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the sacrifices you have made for our country. I have never served in the military. Consider this my small way of saying thank you.  I can only imagine the stress that a petty officer goes through. You have my highest regard for holding up the trust and honor of the position. I do hope the money helps you in your situation. Your father must have been very proud of you. If he were alive today, I am sure he would have nothing but the highest respect for the hard work you do each day.

 

Please forward my contact information to uship. I completely understand that you need to verify the amount in your bank account first. if your work schedule does not allow that tomorrow, I have no problem waiting an extra day.  

 

sincerely,

Rob Turbett

[FlyDave]

Quote: rturbett

his response- his English is breaking down as he panics.....

Rob,i didn't understand you email.I don't understand what the thing with Valley Bank,i have an account open here,but i didn't use it from many time,i think also that is closed for inactivity.Also ,how can you make a payment directly to my account, if didn't provide you any bank account? A bank don't release any customers details to nobodyelse. Also i have request you to do the deal using google checkout so i didn't ask you to send me directly any amount.So i will not start any shipping before i have the google confirmation for start it.

So,please make me understand your last email,for i can know what are your intentions.

Thank you,

Randall E. Sims,

PO3, NAVY ,U.S. 6th Fleet Det.

DSN 251-7831

[takair]

A lot of scammers out there!!  If you watch Barnstormers you will often see Garmin 430s and 530s pop up real cheap.  Be cautious with these.  The Baroness is really good about pulling them off if you point it out to her.   She pointed out that they do something similar to the above.  They pull a previous ad, use a real name, but the money ends up with a scammer.  Hard to believe they try it with planes too, but now I've seen the proof.

[jezzie]

Quote: FlyDave

US Navy? NOT!! But I think we should Keel-Haul him for attempting to impersonate someone that serves in the US Navy.

This is almost more FREAKING OFFENSIVE than the scam this Shit-Bag is perpetrating!

[rbridges]

I don't see what the problem is.  I'd run straight to Western Union and wire my non-refundable money right now.  (sarcasm)

[rturbett]

 I truly have the utmost respect for our military personell. I wish there was a way to bring him to justice. I will have to be satisfied that the time I caused him to spend on me is time he wasn't scamming someone else that was unsuspecting.

If it causes him stress that he thinks I sent money to the real person, then all the better. 

skywarrior, have you spoke to the real randall sims? I am sure he is aware but it would be good to be sure. I know trade a plane was contacting him as well. If you have his number, please feel free to pm me.

thanks,

Rob

[richardheitzman]

This is better than any soap opera. Keep up the thread I can't wait to hear how it ends.

[THASE]

Unfortunately, it will end with the crook moving on to another product and another victim. In his/her country, one successful scam and they're rich. 

[mooneygirl]

I wonder if there is a way to contact the FBI or other authorities.  Seems like a shame that someone else might be victimized. There are real jerks out there. Luckily most folks get what they deserve in the end.  Karma.