WARNING - Selling your car scam !!!

[Deleted User]

Advertised a cheap car of mine which I'm trying to sell on Autotrader. I've know had three emails from different people offering to buy the car.

However, they all want to send me a cheque for approx £2K over the price, get their 'agents' to collect the car, and then once the cheque has cleared, for me to pay them back the 'change'.

The tone of the person sending the emails does sound like a typical Nigerian scammer. I'm assuming its a scam where you think the cheque has cleared, give them £2000 change before finding out the chequwe hasnt cleared or something?

Anyway, heres copy of the email conversation. Might blag it along for a bit for a laugh....

Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 20:50:35 -0700
From: mikelewis100@yahoo.com
Subject: Regarding payment & pick up
To: 
 
Goodday,
How is everything today and all the memebrs of your family including your health which is the most fundamental aspect of use,hope all is fine?the remaining balance will be send to the Shipper via money gram money transfer for immediatecollection and shipping arrangment of the ROVER and am man of GOD
 
i will kindly want you to provide me with the following information to issue the payment today..
 
Full Name:
Mailing Address:
Phone Number:
 
I will be looking forward to hearing from you asap.Thank you for your kind gesture.
My Regards.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
--- On Tue, 9/2/08, Paul Williams  wrote:

[INDENT]From: Paul Williams [/INDENT]

[INDENT]Subject: RE: Regarding payment & pick up[/INDENT]

[INDENT]To: mikelewis100@yahoo.com[/INDENT]

[INDENT]Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 5:27 AM[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT].ExternalClass #EC_yiv1561655336 .EC_hmmessage P{padding:0px;}.ExternalClass #EC_yiv1561655336{font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;}Mike,[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]So how do send the £2250 to your shipping company?[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]Paul.[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]'Every day when I wake up, I thank the Lord I'm Welsh' - Catatonia [/INDENT]
 
 
 

[INDENT]Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 01:01:19 -0700[/INDENT]

[INDENT]From: mikelewis100@yahoo.com[/INDENT]

[INDENT]Subject: Regarding payment & pick up [/INDENT]

[INDENT]To: [/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]I got a confirmation from my client and he told me that he has agreed to pay you on my behalf the full amount he owned me which is £2800.i will urge you to have it in mind that the amount on the cheque you will be receiving is £2800 and as soon as you receive the cheque, all you have to do is to deduct the cost of your ROVER which is £550 while the remaining balance of £2250 will be send down to my shipping company who will be coming to your location for the pick-up of the ROVER when the cheque has cleared.[/INDENT]

[INDENT]i will kindly want you to provide me with the following information to issue the payment:[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]Full Name:[/INDENT]

[INDENT]Mailing Address:[/INDENT]

[INDENT]Phone Number:[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]My regards to your Family [/INDENT]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[INDENT]--- On Mon, 9/1/08, Paul Williams  wrote:[/INDENT]

[INDENT][INDENT]From: Paul Williams [/INDENT]

[INDENT]Subject: RE: Regarding payment & pick up[/INDENT]

[INDENT]To: mikelewis100@yahoo.com[/INDENT]

[INDENT]Date: Monday, September 1, 2008, 6:45 PM[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT].ExternalClass #EC_yiv1561655336 .EC_ExternalClass #EC_EC_yiv1729461891 .EC_EC_hmmessage P{padding:0px;}.ExternalClass #EC_yiv1561655336 .EC_ExternalClass #EC_EC_yiv1729461891{font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;}[LEFT]Mike,[/LEFT]
[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]So why exactly are you writing me a cheque for £2800?[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]Paul.[/INDENT]
 
 

[INDENT]'Every day when I wake up, I thank the Lord I'm Welsh' - Catatonia [/INDENT]
 
 
 

[INDENT]Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 01:11:13 -0700[/INDENT]

[INDENT]From: mikelewis100@yahoo.com[/INDENT]

[INDENT]Subject: Regarding payment & pick up[/INDENT]

[INDENT]To: [/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]Thanks for the swift response,i really understand the content of your email and i just need to know that the engine is in a good condition"Moreover,the interior and exterior being in a perfect, i will make the offer of £550 as per your asking price and am located in manchester i will have every defects of the automobile repaired if necessarily replaced before it is finally ready for use,i  will not be unable to come for the inspection my self as i am presently out of state on a business obligation i just came accross the advert while surfing the internet.Anyway concerning the payment & pick up i will have to consult my shipper who will be responsible for the pick up and i will mail you the cheque of £2800 okay"You will have the cost of the ROVER £550 deducted and transfer the excess funds on the cheque to the shipper who will be come for the pick up at your location & i will wait for the cheque to cleared before the pick up.i will kindly want you to provide me with the following information to issue the payment:[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]Full Name:[/INDENT]

[INDENT]Mailing Address:[/INDENT]

[INDENT]Phone Number:[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]I will be looking forward to hearing from you asap.Thank you for your kind gesture.[/INDENT]

[INDENT]My Regards. [/INDENT]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[INDENT]--- On Sat, 8/30/08, Paul Williams wrote:[/INDENT]

[INDENT][INDENT]From: Paul Williams <paulfoel&#64;hotmail.com>[/INDENT]

[INDENT]Subject: RE: Enquiry[/INDENT]

[INDENT]To: mikelewis100&#64;yahoo.com[/INDENT]

[INDENT]Date: Saturday, August 30, 2008, 2:45 PM[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT].ExternalClass #EC_yiv1561655336 .EC_ExternalClass #EC_EC_yiv1729461891 .EC_EC_ExternalClass #EC_EC_EC_yiv835822935 .EC_EC_EC_hmmessage P{padding:0px;}.ExternalClass #EC_yiv1561655336 .EC_ExternalClass #EC_EC_yiv1729461891 .EC_EC_ExternalClass #EC_EC_EC_yiv835822935{font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;}[LEFT]Mike,[/LEFT]
[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]Please feel free to view. give me a ring on [/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]I can let you have it for £550.[/INDENT]
 

[INDENT]Paul.[/INDENT]
 
 

[INDENT]'Every day when I wake up, I thank the Lord I'm Welsh' - Catatonia [/INDENT]
 
 
 

[INDENT]> Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:46:15 +0100[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> From: mikelewis100&#64;yahoo.com[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> To: [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> Subject: Enquiry[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> Please note this e-mail is from an interested customer not from Auto Trader. [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> Never reply to an e-mail that asks for personal information or copies of your vehicle documentation including the V5C. Keep vehicle documentation and details regarding your vehicle including your VIN number secure at all times.[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> If you are in doubt regarding an e-mail you have received, report it immediately to enquiries&#64;autotrader.co.uk or call us on 0845 345 3450.[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> The following customer is interested in the vehicle you are advertising on [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> http://www.autotrader.co.uk[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> Received: 29 August 2008 11:46[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> Customer Details:[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> NAME: MR Mike Lewis[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> TELEPHONE: 07024097253[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> EMAIL: mikelewis100&#64;yahoo.com[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> Vehicle Details:[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> MAKE: ROVER[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> MODEL: METRO[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> PRICE: £600[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> Message:[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> Good day,[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> Having read through the details of your advert in the listing,i will be much enthusiastic in saying that i will be eager to purchase your auto-mobile and i will kindly want you to get back to with more pics and your asking price,including the present condition and hope to read from you as soon as possible.....[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> 07024097253[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> My Regards [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]

[INDENT]> This e-mail is sent on behalf of Trader Media Group Limited, registered office: Unit 6, Thatcham Business Village, Colthrop Lane, Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 4LW (Registered in England No. 4768840). This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.[/INDENT]

[INDENT]> [/INDENT]
 

[/INDENT][/INDENT]

omen666

This is a known 619 scam they have been doing it for ages as well as Gumtree, their moving now to other popular sites as well as ebay etc

Mark7799

I thought it was called a 419??

[Deleted User]

Mark7799 wrote: »

I thought it was called a 419??

So how do they do it then? Can they stop a cheque after its cleared then?

WestonDave

No - its either a forged foreign draft or a foreign cheque which is outside the 2-4-6 clearing regime. In other words the bank have an indefinite period to find out its forged and bounce it. The scam works because people assume after a week that as it hasn't bounced it must have cleared, they then send on the £2250 (in this case) only to find weeks later that the original cheque has been bounced and they are now £2250+car down on the deal.

WestonDave

As for stringing them along - try telling them that in line with modernisation your bank no longer accepts cheques so would they mind arranging an electronic funds transfer! That'll see them running faster than Mr Bolt!

swaninn

Can you then say youre car has technically been 'stolen' or bought with forged funds? Do you think there would be any chance of catching them?!

[Deleted User]

WestonDave wrote: »

No - its either a forged foreign draft or a foreign cheque which is outside the 2-4-6 clearing regime. In other words the bank have an indefinite period to find out its forged and bounce it. The scam works because people assume after a week that as it hasn't bounced it must have cleared, they then send on the £2250 (in this case) only to find weeks later that the original cheque has been bounced and they are now £2250+car down on the deal.

Yeh. I've since read some info on this. Apparently, the balance can appear in your bank in a few days but it can take a week or two before the bank discover its forged. When they do they just yank the money out again.

Dont think they ever bother to collect the car though !!!!

dealer_wins

WestonDave wrote: »

As for stringing them along - try telling them that in line with modernisation your bank no longer accepts cheques so would they mind arranging an electronic funds transfer! That'll see them running faster than Mr Bolt!

Yep!!
Or tell them you only accept Western Union, works a treat!!!

nomoneytoday

419 scams are based on advance payments. i.e. King Jaffe Joffer has left you £1million, please send me £500 to release the money.

The Autotrader scam is an overpayment trap. i.e. Jaffe Joffer pays you £500 for your £100 car. You then send £400 back minus £10 for your time (and possibly give him the car too)

BillTrac

And it was written in such good english as well.not

Does anyone know of any fool that has fallen for this old,old scam? Aren't these scams getting a bit tiring now? Do the perpetrators actually ever catch anyone out?

As is always said, if it sounds too good to be true.... it is