The old airplane in a barn scam ala P-63 #51

[Versatile]

A man called me this morning and said the P-63 everyone was looking for is in his uncles barn. I started asking questions.
1. What color? "It was blue but now it is faded grey"
2. How many wheels does it have? "three:.
3. How do you get into it? :I don't know i never climbed up there"
4. How many blades on the prop? I don't know. Good question
5. What numbers are on the airplane? "I don't know"

The scam starts: Go get a picture with you cell phone . "i don't have a camera phone."
"Another guy has already said he wants it. I have to have $500.00 by tomorrow to pay a bill.
I said don't worry about that i will be there at 8;00 AM Friday 11/9/12.
He was supposed to call me back in an hour. No call. I call him. He says i sold it already i am sorry.
I said "No problem; give me the name of the guy and i will buy it from him and give you a $1K for your trouble".
He says i will call you back in one hour i have the number at home.

That was three hours ago.

[TROJANII]

Post it and we can all call HIM asking about P-63!

[P51Mstg]

Any particular reason he contacted you??? Not like your number is on here?

Mark H

[Versatile]

Any particular reason he contacted you??? Not like your number is on here?

Mark H

I usually don't reveal my methods. thanks anyway. Been looking around for years.

[Wildchild]

P-63 for 500$?!?!?!! I bought a rusty '65 MG Midget for 500$, so..... hmmm....

call him back? or give us his number?

[GARY HILTON]

It wasn't me....

[Dan Jones]

Apparently Frank Tallman used to go for a drive in the country, pull into someone's yard, knock on the door, and say "I'm looking for the guy with the old airplane in the barn..." Apparently he found a lot of stuff that way. I tried it a couple of years ago and I was led to an old Anson. There wasn't an awful lot left of it, but it was an Anson.

[SaxMan]

It turned out the P-63 was really a TBD and when we went further into the barn, I found a Martin Baltimore, too. Both are in perfect shape mechanically and only need gas to fly away. I offered him another $100 for the Baltimore, and he agreed. I bought both for $600.

Then I woke up. darn.

Sounds like a new spin on the Nigerian government scam. Still waiting for my 50% share of the 5.6 million overfunding from the Nigerian Petrolux Corporation.

[p51]

Any particular reason he contacted you??? Not like your number is on here?

I usually don't reveal my methods. thanks anyway. Been looking around for years.

Sounds to me like the 'story' wasn't coming from a caller after all but maybe from the storyteller instead? None of the original post makes any sense as I don't see why anyone would waste their time calling someone looking for money then balking at the chance to obtain said money...

[Versatile]

Any particular reason he contacted you??? Not like your number is on here?

I usually don't reveal my methods. thanks anyway. Been looking around for years.

Sounds to me like the 'story' wasn't coming from a caller after all but maybe from the storyteller instead? None of the original post makes any sense as I don't see why anyone would waste their time calling someone looking for money then balking at the chance to obtain said money...

I guess you are entitled to your own opinion.
The scammer was surely not a person connected to aviation. I know how he got my number but i won't divulge that. I think it was just a poorly and quickly planned scam. One thing that screwed him up from the start was i has trouble understanding his southern accent. I am hard hearing. He wasn't ready for me asking specific questions about the AC.

[SaxMan]

While I've never heard this particular variation, scammers, particularly those with certain illicit habits to support, tend to come up with scams that make sense on the surface (at least to them), but do not hold up under any kind of scrutiny. You'd be amazed at some of things people will come up with just to get a hit.

The scammer doesn't exactly sound like his IQ is anywhere close to triple digits. The guy probably figured Versatile would jump at the chance to buy a plane in the barn, no questions asked. I think Versatile threw him a curve ball that he didn't expect, and the scammer had to figure out a way to get at the more lucrative offer. I'll be he calls again tomorrow, with one of his "buddies" in on the scam. Unless the scammer is too high on crystal meth, of course.

[p51]

While I've never heard this particular variation, scammers, particularly those with certain illicit habits to support, tend to come up with scams that make sense on the surface (at least to them), but do not hold up under any kind of scrutiny. You'd be amazed at some of things people will come up with just to get a hit.

No, I wouldn't be surprised at all. But still, most scammers want the opportunity to get the money. My take on this is the call was made, a offer to go look and pay said money, then an immediate claim that it was sold after all. So, why make the call at all then?

[k5083]

He wanted Versatile to send him the $500 sight unseen before meeting up. Then he would disappear. From the moment Versatile offered to meet up with him, see the plane and pay the money the jig was up.

August

[Versatile]

I have posted that i doubt this AC stills exists in this area. Since the thread started and i had not heard of it then i thought i should look a bit. The location would most likely be about 15 miles as the crow flies to Lazrovs salvage yard. Airplanes and choppers out the yahoo at this yard for many years. You could see complete Jet AC on top of the pile for years. Harry Doan got his choppers there and a Corsair also. Thus just another old military airplane wouldn't mean much to anyone in the area. imo You just never know. Keep looking and you may even find something else in pieces or parts.

[groundpounder]

Whatever.