Scam Commando 850 Sale

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Jav

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Warning about scam sale of Norton Commando

VIN 850 332478

Seller: Jason Bongers Tooele Utah ( possibly changes with each sale ripoff )

Bike has been listed on about 4 different sites at prices from 2.4K to 24K.
A friend purchased it ( $10K )and 6 weeks later has no bike and has just found out the shipping company
used by Bongers is a scam run by a Nigerian scammer named Precious Osasumwen.
Registrant Country: NG Registrant Phone: +234.8188799269 Registrant Email: cheriotlawfirm@outlook.com
He is not sure if the seller is involved yet ( or if the seller ever had a bike to sell ), but the sellers highly
recommend the scam shipping company saying he had used them before, which is BS as they don't exist.
Fake shipping company www.autovehicleshipping.com
Domain registered to a Barbra Evans who does not exist at the provided address. Also a different company
exists at the shipping company address. Lastly the email for the registered domain is the email used by Precious Osasumwen being cheriotlawfirm@outlook.com
Buyers beware.

NOTE: Found the same bike for sale on Ride Classics by rbig24059
rideclassics.com

1975 Norton Commando Roadster Mk3 Electric Start.

Fully Restored 1975 Norton Commando Roadster Mk3 Electric Start. No Expense Spared, Fully Restored and Highly Modified. A Complete Nut & Bolt / Top-to-Bottom Restoration, using every mod...
rideclassics.com rideclassics.com
Scam Commando 850 Sale
 
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I don't understand how these scams work. Surely no one in their right mind would pay for a bike without seeing it in the flesh. That is unless it was from a known seller/dealer.

Martyn.
 
I have bought several M/C's online without seeing them in the flesh.
But, that was over 10 yrs. ago. A lot scarier these days...
 
I know 2 people that have been scammed
One was a gold star the other a fastback commando
I don't know details of the BSA scam but the Norton one went something like this
My mate saw a listing for the commando on eBay
It was in the auction but with a buy it now price
He's been around bikes for nearly 50 year's and every question he asked was answered correctly
So he pressed the buy it now button
As soon as he did so the listing disappeared
Then he had a message stating that eBay had removed it because it was from a deceased estate and subject to probate!!!
And if he still wanted the bike he should pay it privately
He did this and never saw his money again
Although he was contacted after he had paid with a bogus address of where the bike was plus delivery dates etc etc
So took a while to sink in
So buyer beware
If it looks to good to be true it probably is etc
Both these blokes are not silly, I think with motorcycles passion for the bike can take over?!!
Cheers
 
Matchless said:
I don't understand how these scams work. Surely no one in their right mind would pay for a bike without seeing it in the flesh. That is unless it was from a known seller/dealer.

Martyn.
Click to expand...
Even buying it unseen you can come unstuck, as I did when I brought a bike on flea bay.
I got the bike delivered to my home via a trans company but as it was unregistered, I found myself with a bike with a log book that had nothing to do with that bike as the chassis number was different in spite of what the seller said. He also lied about the engine capacity.
He was not a Nigerian prince but a Geordie.
Beware, there are scammers everywhere!
 
Matchless said:
I don't understand how these scams work. Surely no one in their right mind would pay for a bike without seeing it in the flesh. That is unless it was from a known seller/dealer.

Martyn.
Click to expand...
I've bought 14 unseen on eBay other than pictures - but I do my due diligence. I must see a picture of each serial number on the bike and the title. I don't love eBay but there are some protections buying there. I've bought some from Craigslist and Facebook, but always COD - I haven't seen any of those in advance but since they are COD, it's not a problem since I rely on a known shipper and tell them what to check before handing over the money. The closest I've come to a scam was a well-known motorcycle shop described a bike as much better than it was but the price was about right for what is was - a disaster. If you want some light reading: https://www.gregmarsh.com/MC/Triumph/rfh.pdf
 
marshg246 said:
I've bought 14 unseen on eBay other than pictures - but I do my due diligence. I must see a picture of each serial number on the bike and the title. I don't love eBay but there are some protections buying there. I've bought some from Craigslist and Facebook, but always COD - I haven't seen any of those in advance but since they are COD, it's not a problem since I rely on a known shipper and tell them what to check before handing over the money. The closest I've come to a scam was a well-known motorcycle shop described a bike as much better than it was but the price was about right for what is was - a disaster. If you want some light reading: https://www.gregmarsh.com/MC/Triumph/rfh.pdf
Click to expand...
When I think I am having a bad day I shall recall this story ,give myself a kick up the behind and get on with life. Thanks Greg .
 
That bike has been for sale on this site for quite a while, still is. I contacted the guy back in June and he sent me a video of the bike running and a copy of his drivers license which is Jay Lacap Cruz.
I saw this and contacted him the other other day for where the bike can be viewed. Here's what he sent

1600 Eastridge Dr Apt 304 , Anchorage AK 99501 tel 803-997-0018
 
dart6 said:
That bike has been for sale on this site for quite a while, still is. I contacted the guy back in June and he sent me a video of the bike running and a copy of his drivers license which is Jay Lacap Cruz.
I saw this and contacted him the other other day for where the bike can be viewed. Here's what he sent

1600 Eastridge Dr Apt 304 , Anchorage AK 99501 tel 803-997-0018
Click to expand...
So why does the listing say

CityLillian
StateAlabama
CountryUnited States
Zip/Postal Code36549
Phone205-730-5007
 
There is a bike on eBay right now listed as a fully restored, 1974 750 Interstate, serial 316258, matching numbers for $12,900. I wrote the seller asking why it is listed as a 750 when it is clearly an 850. He wrote back: "What makes you think it is a 850?". I told him the serial number, there were no 74 750s, and the side panels say 850. In the writeup he talks about it being the best Norton he has ever ridden. The bike looks good at a glance but when you zoom in on the pictures, you'll see that is not "fully restored" as he claims.

I would not consider buying it without seeing it and it's definitely not worth the asking price in it's condition. Whether it's a scam or he doesn't know Nortons and is over zealous in his marketing - there's too much wrong.
 
That one doesn't look like a scam Greg, and the write up seems like he knows at least a little about Nortons. Why he calls it a 750 though is certainly a mystery.

Gotta realize that a cNw e-start is about a $3K expense, so a $9K bike becomes a $12K bike if you're looking to recover your investment. Good luck with that though.

I put over $6K into my bike in the last 2 years, which would make it a $16K Norton, but only to me.
 
MichaelB said:
I have bought several M/C's online without seeing them in the flesh.
But, that was over 10 yrs. ago. A lot scarier these days...
Click to expand...
My advice, is to treat them all as scammers if buying online, the last thing you want is to get stung/ fingers burnt.
 
maylar said:
That one doesn't look like a scam Greg, and the write up seems like he knows at least a little about Nortons. Why he calls it a 750 though is certainly a mystery.

Gotta realize that a cNw e-start is about a $3K expense, so a $9K bike becomes a $12K bike if you're looking to recover your investment. Good luck with that though.

I put over $6K into my bike in the last 2 years, which would make it a $16K Norton, but only to me.
Click to expand...
Understood, but if you look at the pictures and do the closeup, you'll see that it is not "fully restored" or anything close to that. Yes, the starter is expensive. The the scraped muffler, Mikuni, stickers on the side panels, rusty cylinders, poor seat cover, etc. makes it a long way from fully restored.

I have no idea if it is a scam - probably not. But my main point was be careful - this is not one I would buy without seeing it. I've bought better bikes (without the estart) on eBay for $6,000.
 
I think the best way to avoid being caught by a scam sale of a bike that doesn't actually exist (i.e. the listed picture has been lifted from somewhere else) is to telephone the seller and ask for a FaceTime walk around the bike. If they come up with a reason they can't do so I would become very cautious indeed.
 
Jav said:
Warning about scam sale of Norton Commando

VIN 850 332478

Seller: Jason Bongers Tooele Utah ( possibly changes with each sale ripoff )

Bike has been listed on about 4 different sites at prices from 2.4K to 24K.
A friend purchased it ( $10K )and 6 weeks later has no bike and has just found out the shipping company
used by Bongers is a scam run by a Nigerian scammer named Precious Osasumwen.
Registrant Country: NG Registrant Phone: +234.8188799269 Registrant Email: cheriotlawfirm@outlook.com
He is not sure if the seller is involved yet ( or if the seller ever had a bike to sell ), but the sellers highly
recommend the scam shipping company saying he had used them before, which is BS as they don't exist.
Fake shipping company www.autovehicleshipping.com
Domain registered to a Barbra Evans who does not exist at the provided address. Also a different company
exists at the shipping company address. Lastly the email for the registered domain is the email used by Precious Osasumwen being cheriotlawfirm@outlook.com
Buyers beware.

NOTE: Found the same bike for sale on Ride Classics by rbig24059
Scam Commando 850 Sale
Click to expand...
Just found something useful to detect if the photo may be scam-related:
  1. Right-click on the photo you want to check the validity of.
  2. Select "Copy Image Address"
  3. Open Google then choose Images
  4. Click the camera icon (beside the magnifying glass)
  5. Paste the URL you copied in step 2.
  6. Click "Search by Image"
The result, apparently, shows where that image has been used on the web before.

They call this, unsurprisingly, Google Reverse Image Search

Cheers
Rob
 
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That works but quicker is right click on the picture and simply click on 'Search Goggle for Image from the drop down.

For images on the likes of FB you need to click on them to enlarge then use that same procedure.
 
Time Warp said:
That works but quicker is right click on the picture and simply click on 'Search Goggle for Image from the drop down.

For images on the likes of FB you need to click on them to enlarge then use that same procedure.
Click to expand...
When I right click I don't get that option - see test on photo in OP
Scam Commando 850 Sale
 
Ask seller for new photo of object with YOUR email /phone number/whatever on piece of paper showing in the photo. That will filter out 99% of scammers as step one.
 
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