Autotrader conman be carefull !!!

allyli

I'm from N.Ireland too and plan to head off to a bmw dealer in england to buy a car.

Think the ppl from N.Ireland have copped on that there's more choice in the mainland and cheaper too.

The bmw I was looking at was priced 3k cheaper at a Mainland dealer.
So it's not a big surprise more and more of us are flying over and bring the cars back via ferry.

bclark

I have got my Car in Autotrader at the moment and this week I have received two identical e-mails like this:

HELLO,
I SAW THE ADVERT OF YOUR CAR WHICH IS FOR SALE.I AM OKAY WITH THE CONDITIONS OF THE CAR AND I AM READY TO BUY.I LIVE IN FRANCE . AM OKAY WITH YOUR PRICE OF £12,499.

.

I CAN'T COME VIEW THE CAR AS I AM ALWAYS BUSY AT WORK BUT WITH WHAT I SAW ON THE ADVERT I AM SATISFIED .I WILL LIKE YOU TO SEND ME SOME PICTURES OF THE PRESENT LOOK OF THE CAR.I LOVE THIS PARTICULARMODEL.I WILL BE VERY HAPPY IF THE CAR IS MINE.I WILL ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW I WILL BE PAYINGWITH A BANKER'S DRAFT.

THE AMOUNT ON THIS DRAFT WILL BE MORE THAN THE PRICE OF YOUR CAR. IN WHICH THE EXCESS ON THE DRAFT WILL BE FOR MY AGENT FOR PICKUP.ONCE YOU HAVE FUNDS CLEARED IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT YOU WILL DEDUCT YOU MONEY FROM THE FUNDS AND WIRE THE EXCESS TO MY AGENT FOR PICKUP SO THAT HE CAN PROCEED WITH THE NECESSARY PAPER WORK AND ARRANGE WITH YOU A CONVINIENT DATE AND TIME HE CAN COME FOR PICKUP. IF YOU OKAY WITH THESE,YOU WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO ME WITH SOME NECESSARY INFORMATION WHICH WILL BE NEEDED FOR THIS TRANSACTION TO PROCEED.THEYARE;

YOUR FULL NAME....
YOUR FULL ADDRESS WITH POSTCODE......
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER...

NB....
THE NAME YOU GIVE WILL BE THE NAME YOU WILL SEE ON THE CHEQUE
AND IT WILL BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS YOU MAIL TO ME.YOUR PHONE NUMBER
IS FOR TIME TO TIME CONTACT.I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A HAPPY
TRANSACTION.HOPING TO READ FROM YOU SOON.
REGARDS.

Now obviously this is a scam of some kind but I can't figure out what it is? Money Laundering or ID fraud of some kind?

DealDrivers_company_representative

To the first poster regarding the overseas buyer: think about this - he's asking for your name, address, phone number, bank account no', sort code.....ever heard of identity theft? Think hard about this one.. for two nanoseconds... which should be sufficient time to make your mind up!

To the poster regarding the guy taking your car back to Ireland (not Northern Ireland...if he was doing that he'd be travelling Stranraer-Belfast) - never, ever let someone have your car while you remain the registered owner. Firstly, it is a legal requirement that the legal doc' (V5) changes hands with the car (at the time of sale) and that the new owner is shown.
Secondly..think of the fun the new driver can have in that car with all the fines and summons coming to you...the possibilities range from a minor set of speeding and parking tickets... to a fully fledged get-away car....still want to sell it to him?

What sort of car buyer doesn't want to be identified as the owner of a car he's paid cash for, and how will he get insurance....?!

There's only one type of buyer wants to pay cash, no trace on him, no ownership ties...whilst you remain fully liable for that car being on the roads.

david29dpo

Update. Didn't sell the car. Rang and told him. He hung up and heard nothing since. It now rest in the garage awaiting the summer.

piggeh

With regards OP, if anyone gets a scam email the best way to deal with it for all concerned is to tie the perosn up with strange requests, and generally waste their time, as it stops them moving on to anyone else.

ie http://www.419eater.com

geo555

bclark wrote: »

.

Now obviously this is a scam of some kind but I can't figure out what it is? Money Laundering or ID fraud of some kind?

You will get a cheque for a few thousand pounds more, to pay the "shipping company".
Because of the banking system, the cheque will show as being cleared and you willbe asked to send the balance to the "shipping company", usually by Western Union.
The cheque will then be found to be a fake/stolen cheque and your bank will claim back the funds that you have withdrawn, leaving you out of pocket.

More info here
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/CARS/buying/vehicle_export_scam.jsp

Inactive

bclark wrote: »

I have got my Car in Autotrader at the moment and this week I have received two identical e-mails like this:

Now obviously this is a scam of some kind but I can't figure out what it is? Money Laundering or ID fraud of some kind?

It has been going the rounds for years, where have you been?;)