You find the car of your dreams online and put a bid for it. Unfortunately, it is a great deal and somebody outbids you. You are bitter about missing it but the next day, you get an email from the seller telling you the initial buyer changed his mind and you are the next highest bidder and get “the second chance offer”.

Happily, you agree and confirm that you want to buy the car. He will then ask you for a deposit and, once received, he will send you the paperwork. “As soon as you get the pink slip from us you can pay the rest”.

How to avoid: don’t do it. Victims never get the pink slips, losing the deposit and the car (which wasn’t there anyway). More about “second chance” offers in the Second chance scam, in the Internet/ Online auctions category.