Is this a scam ???

[crockers]

I was looking on auto trader and came across this car


http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ww...category=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200725290275665

Seems too good to be true so I emailed the seller and got this back....

Hi,

I must apologize for the delay in response, but I'm literally overwhelmed by the number of offers. I have recently relocated to Slovenia for business. The BMW is here as well. I can and will arrange transportation to UK.

As you probably noticed, the price is rather low. But since it's a right hand drive car, not even a dealer will offer me a better price here. The fact that it's still UK registered did not help either. Genuine reason for sale: my business didn't work out the way I planned. Due to amount involved, I only accept bank transfers or third party transaction mediator.

I am the registered keeper and there is no outstanding finance on the vehicle. The car is in excellent condition, the bodywork is immaculate, no scratches, dents or hidden defects as well as the interior in excellent non-smoking condition. I am willing to let the 2005 BMW 530D SPORT TOURING go for £ 11,460 GBP.

Please get back to me and let me know if you wish to proceed on this basis.
Cheers!
Andrew



Now if I am getting this right - he wants someone to transfer money to a bank in Slovenia for a UK registered car over there and then he will transport it to UK

LMAO

:bannana:

 

[R2e]

Hmmm. He is willing to use a "third party transaction mediator" ie escrow, so it may possibly be genuine. I wouldn't take the risk though.

 

[grober]

Dodgy Motor!

Stolen car or eastern block criminal syndicate? Who knows?? I would use protective gloves and goggles just to read the advert!

 

[GRAV888]

Two words spring to mind.

1) Barge
2) Pole

 

[crockers]

Stolen car or eastern block criminal syndicate? Who knows?? I would use protective gloves and goggles just to read the advert!

Has anyone else come across this type of advert? I am sure I saw one before for a BMW Z4 - but can't find it now.

He also replied from a yahoo account.....

OH and his name is Andrew smith --- must be John's brother

 

[glojo]

must be John's brother

Nope..

Never heard of him

Regards
John

 

[Rory]

I've seen this kind of scam reported several times, although it's a bit difficult to pick up in a search. For general info (cars abroad, fake escrow etc) see:
http://www.safefromscams.co.uk/EBayAutoScams.html

That car has to be worth something like twice what he's asking. Even if he just shipped it back and sold it back to a BMW dealer is would surely be worth 50% more? So you have to ask yourself why he wouldn't do that.

 

[glojo]

I wonder why the pictures are taken in this country, but the car is allegedly abroad.

We must all except this is a perfectly Innocent transaction as it would be so wrong to assume someone might be guilty of an attempted fraud!

John

 

[Sp!ke]

My brother in law could view the car for you if you are really interested.

Might be worth asking where and when you can view the car in Slovenia, just to see where the conversation goes.

 

[gina2201]

my mum asked the seller of a voyager advertised on ebay if she could view, he replied he had to rush back to norway and had taken the car with him, had we wanted to buy it he would ship it back to us, my mum asked him if we could view the car over there......never heard from him again.

 

[Will]

Talking of autotrader and scams, I noticed something the other day that made me suspicious. It was an advert for a ford KA that seemed slightly too cheap (ie, not like the 2005 BMW 530D for £11K) - the contact number was listed as a £1.50/min '0906' or something.

Sounded very dodgy to me

Will

 

[recycled]

Autotrader do a number which traders register with, so as to deter people calling after the car has been sold which just tells any prospective buyer that the deal is done.
it also filters out those scam companies who tell you that they have 1000,s of buyers waiting for your car ,if you pay them a small fee e.t.c
It is not 0906 though , it is called telesafe



Key benefits of Telesafe:

• Telesafe means Auto Trader can block calls from known canvassers - Our customers tell us this is their greatest frustration when advertising
• Sellers can 'turn off' their number so buyers will be given a message telling them the vehicle is sold. If the advert also appears in Auto Trader magazine, this is particularly useful as potential buyers can continue to view the magazine advert long after the vehicle is sold. Turning off their numbers will stop calls straight away.
• It allows sellers to remove adverts from the website simply by dialing their own number and following the options, reducing the amount of adverts for vehicles which have already been sold

Auto Trader is regularly contacted by customers who have paid money to canvassers on the promise of a number of buyers interested in their car. On many occasions, these buyers fail to materialise. We have introduced this service to prevent unsolicited contact.

These calls, as well as being an annoyance, also prevent genuine buyers from getting in touch. By blocking calls from known canvassers, the customers' number remains free for genuine enquiries.
[Top]

What will it cost me?

Telesafe is a not-for-profit service, and we pay for the cost of forwarding calls to sellers. Auto Trader is looking at ways to reduce these costs further.

 

[Will]

This was definately not that though, it was a £1.50 per minute number, IMO it was a bait tactic for a scam - loads of people ring up to buy the 'cheap' car, and they all contribute a few £s to the advertiser

Probably more profitable than actually dealing in the cars themselves, you wouldn't even need to own one - just tell the first caller 'It's sold!'

Will

 

[neilrr]

Two words spring to mind.

1) Barge
2) Pole

How about "run"? That's a good word too.

 

[crockers]

My brother in law could view the car for you if you are really interested.

Might be worth asking where and when you can view the car in Slovenia, just to see where the conversation goes.

I will ASK him now and let you know his reply...


If I get one


This is what I have sent.............


Hi

I didn't mean to upset you - I am very interested in this car - I have a friend whose brother lives out in Slovenia

Can you give me some contact details so that he can arrange to see the car for me..

Thanks

 

[glojo]

I will ASK him now and let you know his reply...


If I get one


This is what I have sent.............


Hi

I didn't mean to upset you - I am very interested in this car - I have a friend whose brother lives out in Slovenia

Can you give me some contact details so that he can arrange to see the car for me..

Thanks

I know you will be very conscious of what information you give out, but just remember by just communicating they will then perhaps have your e-mail address?

Good luck with the reply
John

 

[crockers]

I know you will be very conscious of what information you give out, but just remember by just communicating they will then perhaps have your e-mail address?

Good luck with the reply
John

OOeer....Time to move house....Mafia knocking on the door -

But thanks for that - didnt think about that...:bannana:

 

[crockers]

He has replied with a name and address - I don't think its right to publish it on here -so perhaps I am wrong - if anyone wants it PM me

:bannana:

 

[petef]

Has anyone else come across this type of advert? I am sure I saw one before for a BMW Z4 - but can't find it now.

He also replied from a yahoo account.....

OH and his name is Andrew smith --- must be John's brother

I have just sold my wifes Clio on Auto Trader to a private buyer however have had several e mails from people such as John Jackson and Philip Jones etc ...all giving addresses in England and all wanting to buy my car...the e mails are in broken English and are gramatically poor.. eg.."I like your car it fits what I wahnt ,that is goode for me pleasse give good greettings to your familee from myne...I hope we trust each other" ...

Autotrader really should be on to this. It is obviously a scam, what the scam is I dont know however I presume they must want you to hand over your car before getting the money.....

I sent an e mail back ( just for a grin ) also in poor english, and in the same tone , asking for "payment up front at good price... "....I havent heard anything since....