Harry Harphant, 44, listed his 2001 Honda Prelude for $2,800 on Craigslist, an online classified ad service, in December.
He was contacted via text message by a man who said he was Bruce Michael and he lived in South Carolina. He asked Harphant if the car was still for sale.
“Sure is,” Harphant told the potential buyer.
The man said he’d purchase the car if Harphant would have it shipped to South Carolina. The man sent Harphant a check for $5,350, enough to buy the car and cover the cost of shipping. Harphant deposited the check into his bank and was told there would be a 10-day hold. On Dec. 30, 12 days after he deposited the check, Harphant sent $2,500 in two $1,250 money grams to two people Michael said would assist in shipping the car.
“I thought everything was good,” Harphant said.
The next day, his bank called and said there were insufficient funds to cover the $5,350 check. He had been scammed out $2,500.
“That was a year’s worth of me saving pennies here and there,” Harphant said.
He contacted the Hamilton Police Department and was told it was a civil matter, he said. He also plans to call the FBI and the Attorney General’s office. His bank, GE Credit Union, agreed to refund $130 in overdrafts fees, he said.
He also has relisted the car on Craigslist, this time for $3,500.
What lesson did he learn?
“Don’t trust anybody,” he said.
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