Another Used Car Salesman

I've been keeping my eye on a used BMW 540i at Ferman Chevrolet in Tampa. Here's a picture of the car as it was advertised on www.fermanchevy.com on July 21st.


This is a picture of the car as it was advertised on www.fermanchevy.com on August 22nd.


Using Ferman Chevrolet's web site, I submitted the following question:

This BMW 540i has been listed on your web site for awhile, but it used to have 5-spoke wheels. Why the change?

I received the following response:

From: Ferman Automotive Group Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 10:27 AM To: Dr. F Dear Dr. F, We always thought that customers will buy the car not the wheels. The one's on the picture are the original. Thank you. Eric Afonso Internet Manager

Naturally, I had to take issue with the poor logic:

From: Dr. F Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 10:34 AM To: Ferman Automotive Group Eric, If the wheels on the car (as depicted in the latest photos) are the originals, why would you have changed the wheels prior to photographing the vehicle (as depicted in pictures from a month ago), particularly if customers buy the car and not the wheels? Do you still have the 5-spoke wheels? - Dr. F

Midget Sighting!

The Half Pint Brawlers have been spotted! Some broad that I work with has a friend who saw these active midgets at a bar in New Jersey a few days ago. I think we can all learn a few things from these graphic photos (click to enlarge).

Midgets enjoy drinking and	Midgets enjoy stapling money
screaming into microphones.	to their faces.

Midgets bleed like the rest	You don't have to be a midget
of us.	to enjoy biting a woman's ass.

O.J., Jr.

Maurice Clarett is at it again! Clarett tried to elude police in a high-speed chase while wearing a bulletproof vest! He had four loaded guns in his car.

There are two sentences from a CBS Sportsline article that I find interesting. Given the first statement, the second stands out as ironic:

1. [Prosecutors] said they were concerned that Clarett was driving with the guns only a few blocks from the home of a woman who was set to testify against him next week in an alleged robbery outside a Columbus bar.

2. [Clarett] plans to play for the Mahoning Valley Hitmen, one of five teams in the Eastern Indoor Football League.

Gone Phishin'

For those of you who know the genesis and the history of "Dr. F", you are aware of the numerous Nigerian scam emails that I have responded to in the past. There was much humor to be found in responding to Nigerian scam emails by leading the scammers on, using their greed and their own spotty English to do it. Today there's a new scam in town.

Followers of the blog know that I've been shopping for a BMW 540i, primarily on eBay, and running into characters along the way. I was the highest bidder in an auction that ended last night, but my bid was not high enough to meet the reserve price set by the seller. This is the second time in a row that this has happened to me on this same vehicle.

Late last night, I received an email claiming that a "second chance" offer was being extended to me that would enable me to buy the vehicle for the price that I bid. The email was suspicious, given the fact that it wasn't coming through the eBay system, and the "reply to" email address was not the address identified in the auction listing on eBay. The activity of sending these types of emails is known as phishing. Given my experience with scam emails, I decided to play along. Here's the email chain, in chronological order:

The first phishing email...

From: eBay SquareTrade <ebay@auctions-squaretrade.com>
Date: Aug 4, 2006 12:18 AM
Subject: eBay Second Chance Offer for Item# 110013243741
To: "Dr. F"

eBay Second Chance Offer for Item# 110013243741

CONTACT: aaron.steph@gmail.com

You expressed interest in an item titled: BMW : 5-Series, Item number: 110013243741 by bidding; however the auction has ended with anothermember as the high bidder. In compliance with eBay's policy, the seller of that item is making this Second Chance Offer to you at your bidprice of US $19,300.00. The seller has issued this Second Chance Offer because either the winning bidder was unable to complete thetransaction or the seller has duplicate items for sale.

If you accept this offer, you will be able to exchange Feedback with the seller and will be eligible for eBay's services associated with atransaction, such as fraud protection.

To purchase this item contact the seller at: aaron.steph@gmail.com

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please do not respond to this email. Any email sent as a response to this Acknowledgement will not reach us. Should youhave questions or would like to receive additional information, please contact the seller.

Kind regards,
The eBay Team

Copyright © 1995-2006 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The second phishing email...

From: Aaron Stephenson <aaron.steph@gmail.com>
Date: Aug 4, 2006 8:54 AM
Subject: Re: eBay Second Chance Offer for Item# 110013243741
To: "Dr. F"

Hello,

You have the opportunity to purchase this BMW 5-Series, item # 110013243741, at your bid price($19,300.00). The ex winner had some problems and couldn't handle the situation , so following eBay's suggestion, I've contacted you this way. The deal will go strictly according to eBay's rules and policy regarding to this second chance offer- to start the official transaction, I need to know your details:
-full name and address

As soon as I have them I'll start the official procedure, and eBay will notify you about this. You'll also receive important guidelines + payment instructions from them (please go through them exactly). I'll handle the shipping, so this will be free of charge for you + I am willin g to deduct you with the fee for handling the payment procedure. We will use eBay's SquareTrade Insurer to manage the payment(s). It is the safest way for both of us and also you will have 10 days to inspect the car before I receive the money. The car is in perfect condition with no technical or aesthetical flaws or imperfections. It has never been involved in any accident. The car was bought from the US and respects all US standards(DOT,EPA). Also, a refund policy will be included.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

The response...

From: "Dr. F"
Date: Aug 4, 2006 4:23 PM
Subject: Re: eBay Second Chance Offer for Item# 110013243741
To: Aaron Stephenson <aaron.steph@gmail.com>

Hello,

You have the opportunity to meet me, as I am Dr. F. God has blessed us both with this good fortune to do business together. I am very excited to hear the ex winner had some problems and couldn't handle the situation. Was he mental? Or a midget? My wife, Mrs. F, often creates problems that I cannot handle. She asks if her ass is too big with her adult diapers, and I do not know what to say as her ass is too big without the diapers. Will the BMW seats secure her fat ass? If not, she may role out when I turn fast. This could be a blessing from above.

Tell me your bank account info so I can wire transfer the money soonest. Please send your address for inspection of the car which I will inspect for US standards(DOT,EPA). Let us do this partinership with all honesty and trustworthiness and keep the ex winner in our prayers for his shortness.

- Dr. F

Who Wants To See A Midget Bleed?!

What better way to kick off August than with midgets?

Check out the Half Pint Brawlers! They've got midgets, blood, midgets, wrestling, midgets and, oh yeah, girls!