Seen Loads of these cheap car auctions. Whats the catch?

ArsenalFC

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-MERCEDES-SLK-230-KOMPRESSOR-BLACK_W0QQitemZ160036183308QQi

I have been wanting to know if there is any catch in these cheap car auctions for some time, with the advertiser wanting low money . Seen loads of these adverts but dont know whats the deal. Does anyone know or have any experience of these types of ads? Ok this one is from US, there are many others supposely from the uk, or im wrong?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-BMW-330-CI-SE-BLUE_W0QQitemZ150040776578QQihZ005QQcategoryZ9837QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

mrbadexample

Try bidding a tenner and hope you win? :rotfl:

slowen

Most of these auctions start at a low price to attract interest and it turn the sellers hope people will start bidding rather than start the car at a high price

In the likely event that the car does not meet the sellers price they are after they will probably pull the auction

MyUserNamesTaken

The accounts are hijacked accounts. Chances are you arrange to meet up with the "seller" to pick up the car. You have the cash on you. Him and his mates beat the crap out of you and take the cash. There is no car. This happened recently to a bloke in London in exactly the same way (cheap merc on Ebay on a hijacked account). The seller asking to be contacted on a web-based email account outside of ebay is a dead giveaway.

motorguy

slowen wrote:

Most of these auctions start at a low price to attract interest and it turn the sellers hope people will start bidding rather than start the car at a high price

In the likely event that the car does not meet the sellers price they are after they will probably pull the auction

did you read the auction details?? just to save you the time, the seller is talking about a buy it now price of way way below what these cars are worth. the dodgy things are....

(1) the first seller is registered in america but the car is in the uk
(2) the two listing formats have the same email address to contact rather than to use the 'ask seller a question' link
(3) the bidders id's are kept hidden
(4) you must contact the seller at an email address to get more details as to how to buy the car for the low buy it now price.

Personally, it smells like hijacked accounts to me...

motorguy

MyUserNamesTaken wrote:

The accounts are hijacked accounts. Chances are you arrange to meet up with the "seller" to pick up the car. You have the cash on you. Him and his mates beat the crap out of you and take the cash. There is no car. This happened recently to a bloke in London in exactly the same way (cheap merc on Ebay on a hijacked account). The seller asking to be contacted on a web-based email account outside of ebay is a dead giveaway.

looks like we were both typing up the same conclusion at the same time!

geo555

These are scam auctions on hijacked accounts - both registered in US. They say you can buy the car now for a very low amount.
They will tell you that they are "out of the country and need a quick sale" You will have to send the money "Western Union" and be promised that the car will be delivered to you. You never see the car or you money again.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=BMW&model=3+SERIES&variant=330ci&keywords=84%2C000&min_pr=75&max_pr=&mileage=8&agerange=2&postcode=tw18+1rs&miles=1500&max_records=200&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

Click this link from autotrader to find the BMW on sale for £9995. Its the first one.
People fall for this scam because "everyone knows you can get a bargain on ebay"
Save your money, you will lose it.

manhattan

yes it certainly is a hijacked acount.

i have also noticed that when they do these scam auctions its always a 4200 buy it now price lol.

ArsenalFC

Thanks guys for pointing out they are hijacked accounts. I thought these ads are fishy as bargains as such on cars are so rare, yet so many ads of them about.

motorguy

I emailed them to see what they said and got this back....

"Hello there,

I know that you have many choices on eBay and I appreciate that you
contacted me.Although I am registered in the UK, but I recently moved in
Athens,Greece (where my family is from) and the car is being shipped from
here. I made the auction for UK due to the fact it's UK version (right
handed), meet all the UK standards, and its better to ship it where it
belongs, that means UK, because here in Greece is very difficult to drive
this type of vehicle, so i am trying to sell it as low as i can to complete
the sale fast (my loss will be your gain). It still has UK registration, cos
I didn't paid for Greece import taxes.The car meets United Kindom DOT and
EPA guidelines so there will be no problems regarding UK Customs policy on
receiving the car.The car is in a perfect cosmetic and engine conditions,
and meticulously maintained. No damage, no scratches or dents, no hidden
defects, the engine doesn't smoke, runs and sounds awesome, the engine has
never been repaired or something like that, never been into accidents and it
is as advertised .The car comes with log book, HPI cleared, it is free of
encumbrances and liens. You will get from me the keys and all documents to
register the item in UK, and also a bill of sale in your name and signed by
me.If the car is not how i described it, i will offer a full refund, upon
the return of the item in original condition (return postage at my expense).
It will be insured during transportation and will be delivered at your front
door in maximum one week. Final price is £4,200.00 (this price includes the
shipping and insurance). I will have ebay to contact you with the
transaction details in order to buy under their PURCHASE PROTECTION & REFUND
PLAN.

I will wait your email

Respectfully"

So it looks like they are expecting some poor sod to pay up front in some capacity - probably paypal or western union - based on some bogus email they will send from 'ebay'...

I guess, unfortunately, there will be someone caught by this somewhere along the line - whilst it does look suspicious to most, they only need one victim...

motorguy

ArsenalFC wrote:

Thanks guys for pointing out they are hijacked accounts. I thought these ads are fishy as bargains as such on cars are so rare, yet so many ads of them about.

... and ebay do so little about it....