Follow Ups/Extra Information. Most recent is listed first.

I got the exact same scam, word for word (Coast Guard/gift for son/Semper Paratus...etc) on September 3, 2014 in Portland, OR. Thanks guys for posting the fraud warning. I will send to AutoTrader fraudwatch, too.

Got the exact text and email, glad I researched this before i sent her anything. I think I'm just gonna send her a pic of my butt instead.

I first received a text from from 215-385-3625 stating it was from "Sherry" and that she was interested in my vehicle listed on AutoTrader. She asked me to "kindly email me at sherryc247@gmail.com if you still have it" I received this text less than 8 hours after listing my car on AutoTrader. I sent an email to her saying only "Yes, I still have the car."
She immediately sent the following email back: "Thanks for writing back. One quick question, have you ever had any transmission repairs? I'm ready to pay your asking price but not cash in person because am a widow serving with the US Coast Guard around the North Persian Gulf. Personal calls are also restricted at the moment so email is my only mean of communication. I will be making the payment using PayPal, its safe, fast and secure and i will be responsible for the PayPal transaction charges so you can get your expected amount. If you don't have an account with PayPal, its easy to open one kindly log onto PayPal website to sign up. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? I'm buying it for my son as a gift. I will be contacting a shipping agent that will handle the pickup once payment clears in your account and he will handle the title for me also. I look forward to hearing from you with your paypal ID and exact price you are letting it go; PayPal email: Firm price: Semper Paratus, Sherry Croft."
So, after finding out this is a scam, I sent the following email to which I doubt that I will get a reply: "Sherry: Thank you for your service. I am retired military. Never any transmission or any other work on the car. Only regular scheduled maintenance. The firm price is the price listed in the AutoTrader ad.bI'm OK with using PayPal and have a PayPal account as long as you send to me from your PayPal account or your bank account inside the U.S. so there will be no fee to me. Sending money to a PayPal account inside the U.S. is free as long as you send it from either your PayPal account or from your U.S. bank account that's registered with PayPal. No offense, but before I furnish my PayPal information, I will need to make sure you're legitimate. I'll need your son's contact information here in the U.S. or other verification of you and your status. What Coast Guard vessel are you on? What is your stateside Coast Guard station? Please provide the name and telephone number of someone in your unit here stateside who I can contact to verify you. Hope you don't mind providing this information, but with all the scammers out there I'm sure you understand that I don't want to get scammed. Thanks!"