I know this is a bad idea but I'm so tempted anyway

steveeeee

I saw an ad for a car that matches everything on my wantlist and is a great price and I really want to buy it, but when I contacted the seller for more info their reply threw me a little bit.

The car is a Ford Fiesta Ghia 1.4 TDCi, 54 plate, 5 door, 32000 miles. It has air con, ABS, CD player, alloys, remote locking, FSH, etc. From what I can tell, the price of such a car should be around £4500-5000. This one's being sold for £2600.

The seller's response to my request for details goes some way towards explaining why it's so cheap:

First of all I have to tell you that the vehicle is in good condition, has no technical damage at all, no scratches or dents, no hidden defects, no smoking. It's fun and robust to drive. Technical inspection and emissions testing is passed and stamped as well.
It has title of ownership, cleared of any obligations or fees and comes with all the documents you need to register it. The reason I am selling the car is because I really have to not because I don't like it anymore.
I have worked in UK for the last 2 years and I've purchased the car there. My company wanted me back home, so currently I'm in Rome, Italy. I've bring the car home with me. I decided that is better to sell it because I don `t use it anymore (the wheel is on right side and is very difficult for me to drive it in Italy) and it `s a pitty to keep such a car and not to use it.
I realize that is a cheap price for such a car but my special situation makes me do things that I wouldn't do in normal circumstances. I've wanted to register it here and keep it for me, unfortunately import taxes and European regulations made me change my mind.
The price I am looking for my car is £2,600 including the shipping costs,insurance and handling(delivery to EUROPE).
You will not have to pay additional taxes for this (VAT reclaimable).
The car has MOT, Road tax until next year.
Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have.

I know it's crazy but the situation hasn't put me off. The story sounds plausible but I'm not able to fly to Italy to check the car out in person so can't verify anything. Even if it turns out to be genuine and I can figure some safe way to send the money, and it turns out I hate the car, I expect I could at least sell it for a reasonable profit. I can't afford to risk £2600, though (hey, who can?!).

Please tell me that I should forget it and leave this car alone!

Keith

You'll never see the car. Run away.

Woby_Tide

you could start mailing to say you've booked a flight and are coming to view the car so cuold they meet you at the airport, that'll soon give you an indication of what the seller was expecting

but other than that

run away, run away

vikingaero

That's a classic FleaBay scam ad.

vikingaero

First of all I have to tell you that the vehicle is in good condition, has no technical damage at all, no scratches or dents, no hidden defects, no smoking. It's fun and robust to drive. Technical inspection and emissions testing is passed and stamped as well.

This is American style language for a UK car.

It has title of ownership, cleared of any obligations or fees and comes with all the documents you need to register it. The reason I am selling the car is because I really have to not because I don't like it anymore.

Again in the UK we talk about the registered owner and not title.

I have worked in UK for the last 2 years and I've purchased the car there. My company wanted me back home, so currently I'm in Rome, Italy. I've bring the car home with me. I decided that is better to sell it because I don `t use it anymore (the wheel is on right side and is very difficult for me to drive it in Italy) and it `s a pitty to keep such a car and not to use it.
I realize that is a cheap price for such a car but my special situation makes me do things that I wouldn't do in normal circumstances. I've wanted to register it here and keep it for me, unfortunately import taxes and European regulations made me change my mind.

The seller, if they were genuine, is a retard for taking a RHD car to a LHD market. It would be easy to register if it was genuine and you have to register cars kept in a country for more than 6 months. So how can it be in Italy and not registered?

The price I am looking for my car is £2,600 including the shipping costs,insurance and handling(delivery to EUROPE).
You will not have to pay additional taxes for this (VAT reclaimable).
The car has MOT, Road tax until next year.
Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have.

The car may have Italian MOT and tax but it's not registered there. There's no reclaimable VAT as it's a personal import. If you are still interested :rolleyes: then ask the seller how they want to be paid? I'd wager it's Western Union the scammers friend.

tomstickland

Forget it. Only buy a car you can see and inspect.

FannyHill

A fool and his money are soon parted.

sillygoose

Personally I agree with most - forget it, sounds very dodgy ..but.......

If you really must go for it, you MUST at least use an escrow service, they will hold money for both parties until both sides are happy, if its scam you would get nearly all of your money back eventually. It costs a fee but well worth it. Ebay recomend this one:
http://www.escrow.com

steveeeee

Thanks all for your comments. I've been stewing over this while watching the second half of Stranger Than Fiction (beautiful film, highly recommended) and I just emailed him to say thanks but no thanks.

I agree with everything you've all said (even you, FannyHill ) I just needed to be told.

The wording he used had been bothering me, too, and also the fact that his email address, display name, and given name were all different.

withabix

This is one of the standard current eBay scams. There are many similarly worded ones quoted in forums all over the place at the moment.

Just google 'ebay scam' or 'ebay car scam'

steveeeee

Just had this reply from the seller... definitely sounding more like a scam now, especially him starting to get pushy and his suggestion to use his nominated shipping/escrow service. Good call on the scam, and thanks again for talking me out of it!

We can use a shipping company for this deal, the process is very easy and I have just bought a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee and this is why I know how it works.
This company will handle the delivery of the car and also they will handle all the registration papers. If we will use it you will have 5 days to inspect the car before you decide to buy it.
I will pay delivery! The delivery time will be arround 3-4 days and the car will be delivered at your home address. In this time you will receive the tracking number of the transaction so you can use it to check the status on the company website.
Let me explain you the whole proccess:
First I will need your details, full name and address. As soon as I get the info from you I will take the car and go to the shipping company to transfer it in their custody. I will pay all the shipping charges. After the car is in their custody they will send you a confirmation and also payment instructions. They work as an escrow service and will hold the payment during the 5 days period for inspection. After the payment is confirmed to them, they will get the car to your home address and will also give you the documents of registration and the car will be left in your custody, in this period you can inspect the car, take it to a service for inspection and drive test it. After the 5 days period is over the shipping company will come to you and if you decided to keep the car you will transfer the documents on your name and after the car is registered on your name they will release the payment to me. If you decide not to buy the car they will get the car back and will send you a full refund of the payment.
Please e-mail me with your decision and also your full name and address!!