Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

Not long ago I posted an ad on the internet to sell a Ghezzi-Brian. I recently received an e-mail from a Stuart Claire telling me he wanted the bike; the asking price was fine (19K) and that he would cover the shipping. He didn’t ask anything about the bike. The motorbike was to be shipped to the Benin Republic, which is in southwestern Africa.

I got onto the roadracingworld.com website; hit “search” and typed in “scam.” I have to say thanks for everyone who ever wrote into Roadracing World with their personal experiences on attempts to scam American motorcyclist out of their bikes or cash.

I did some additional research on the Benin Republic and e-mailed Mr. Claire saying that I would accept a bank draft only from the National Bank of West Africa, which has an office in San Francisco; that I would deposit that draft directly in that bank and only when that bank paid me in dollars US would I ship the Ghezzi-Brian. Naturally, I never heard back from the guy.

Again, thanks to your readers who think it important to look out for each other.

Regards,

Allan Engel
Long Beach, California