Ebay taking payment and acting as third party for car sale?

powerful_Rogue

Been looking at a car in ebay and they seller has sent me an email with this mentioned in it.

because we cannot use pay pal the deal will be made via ebay and will work like a third party in this deal...ebay will send you a payment invoice in your email address...you will make the payment to ebay(as a deposit) using Bank Transfer/Wire Transfer to a ebay representative (it's faster and safer)...ebay will check your payment...ill ship the car to you...you will get the car and test it..and after ebay will forward the money to me...

BWT,you will have 3-5 days to accept the car ...if you don't like it you can send it back and ebay will offer you full refund.

Attention: You will send the money to eBay,not to me.i don't have access to your money.

so,this is the best way because is safe for both...

Ive had a google but not been able to find anything about this service, has anyone on here heard of it?

dacouch

Scam, run for the hills

powerful_Rogue

Thought so. Had quite a few alarm bells ringing. Just talking to ebay now.

Thanks dacouch

No_Eye_Deer

Never heard of this, however I don't buy many cars. Sounds like a scam.

This was a couple of years ago, but the wording sounds so similar.

http://reviews.ebay.com/eBay-Motors-Payment-Invoice-SCAM-EBAY-DOES-NOT-ESCROW?ugid=10000000008457620

powerful_Rogue

Thanks NED.

Contacted Ebay, but they wasnt much help. Anyway, heres the ad incase anyone wanted a look. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320972640631?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648

Thought it was a very good price considering the age and amount of miles, leather seats and panaramic roof. Sent the seller a simple message asking where in the UK they were located and got the following reply back:

Hi,

Thank you for your interest , no px, the car is in perfect condition, MOT and Tax until March, never been involved in any accidents, no finance on it, hpi clear, full service history, very reliable engine, dry stored over winter months and covered in the summer. Runs like a dream. Tried to send you more pics before you come inspect but you haven't sent me your e mail, the car is located in Edinburgh. I am asking £4800 including free delivery to your location, just let me know to make inspection arrangements. The reason I'm selling is that my wife is pregnant so we'll need a bigger car, we just paid a deposit for a new one.

Best wishes!

I then replied with the following message:

Hi,

Many thanks for your reply. Certainly looks like a lovely car from the pics! Am I right in thinking it has Blue&Me with USB connection?

When you mention free delivery to location, we live quite far south in Dover,Kent, would that still be included if we was interested?

Was feeling a bit concered as its 400 miles away! Thats a long way to say you'll ship a motor for free! Got this reply back:

Yes it has Blue&me with USB connection. I am asking £4,800.00 including free delivery to your location Dover,Kent .. Cash deal only ! No exchange .. No fake Paypal.. or fake Checks ... and PLEASE... No people from Nigeria !

I am looking for a serious buyer with cash ready . I had it advertised before on ebay and autotrader ... each time the same problem... the buyer is not a serious person or just wasting my time as he doesn't have all the money ...

I work and live in Rome, Italy for a few months and the car is back home in my garage ...

I will come and show the car and do a cash deal as I have all documents in hand and all the service history . The car is in very good condition. No problems of any kind... but I need to be sure that I have a real and genuine buyer.
I can come on Wednesday to show you the car.

Thanks .

I replied saying that Wednesday was a bit soon as had to arrange to get the finances together and that I would contact him back if I wanted to proceed. I then got this email.

Hi,

The photos were taken 3 weeks ago. now the car has 14000 miles. the car will be shipped through DAS next day delivery from Edinburgh and will be for free

because we cannot use pay pal the deal will be made via ebay and will work like a third party in this deal...ebay will send you a payment invoice in your email address...you will make the payment to ebay(as a deposit) using Bank Transfer/Wire Transfer to a ebay representative (it's faster and safer)...ebay will check your payment...ill ship the car to you...you will get the car and test it..and after ebay will forward the money to me...

BWT,you will have 3-5 days to accept the car ...if you don't like it you can send it back and ebay will offer you full refund.

Attention: You will send the money to eBay,not to me.i don't have access to your money.

so,this is the best way because is safe for both...

now email me back fast if you agree and ready to have a deal

thx

I think what also got the alarm bells ringing was the fact he lives in Edinburgh, yet the photos were taken on a car dealers forecourt in London. Can see the telephone number of the dealer in one of the pics! A quick google brought up a car showroom which has the same style photos.

theonlywayisup

eBay aren't a financial institution and they don't act as a third party for payments.

soolin

very common scam with a slightly new twist. They used to pretend money was being held by an escrow service.

abbadabbado08

More of a reader than a poster, got into this as OH looking for new car.

Anyways, checked out the reg on DVLA vehicle enquiry, tax not up till 5/13. (Seller told Op that tax up in March). Another reason to run for the hills!

UnderPressure

That red London bus in the background of picture 2 has got seriously lost if it is in Scotland

Report it to Ebay it must be a hijacked account sadly not much else you can do really

It is an attempted fraud so you could try ringing your local Police station, how much interest they will show though is another thing.........

NeverEnough

Really well known scam, also seen a lot on Gumtree and often involves a camper van. Quite a few people have lost serious money with this scam - crazy though it seems. Scamsters quite good at setting up new websites to which the buyer is directed to "protect" their payment. Delivery never takes place and the seller vanishes with the money, website closed down, only to reopen under a different domain name a few days later.

Scam, scam, scam - all the car selling sites have been targetted, including Autotrader ads. Be warned!