Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: omegod on 21 March 2011, 14:41:58

Title: Autotrader scam?
Post by: omegod on 21 March 2011, 14:41:58
Currently selling a Corsa which is up for £1995 and received an email asking about it's condition and my final price, make an offer I says then receives this rather odd reply:

Thanks for your mail..i will like you to know that am buying this car for my son in australia as a bithdsy gift ..so i will offer you £2,200 if my offer is accepted with you kindly get back to me with your PayPal Account so that i can proceed with the payment in time as a matter of urgently needed
y:

Obviously some oddness going on but I haven't seen the paypal angle before, most curious!!! what do you reckon and how do you think this will play out if I was to play along ?
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: Proz on 21 March 2011, 14:44:41
I would stay away from this .... a long long way away  :y
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: rikki_essex on 21 March 2011, 14:46:38
yup its a scam alright my friend got conned out of 2k in a similar one
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: omegod on 21 March 2011, 14:51:13
Oh its definately a scam alright but the paypal bit is intriguing, how would they rip you via paypal?
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: The Red Baron on 21 March 2011, 14:56:15
Quote
Currently selling a Corsa which is up for £1995 and received an email asking about it's condition and my final price, make an offer I says then receives this rather odd reply:

Thanks for your mail..i will like you to know that am buying this car for my son in australia as a bithdsy gift ..so i will offer you £2,200 if my offer is accepted with you kindly get back to me with your PayPal Account so that i can proceed with the payment in time as a matter of urgently needed
y:

Obviously some oddness going on but I haven't seen the paypal angle before, most curious!!! what do you reckon and how do you think this will play out if I was to play along ?
i did, cheque for over 3k arrived in post, put it in bank, after clearance its shown in your account(on line banking) then its immediatly cancelled as duff cheque. but for the unsuspecting they could have released the motor & lost the lot.
didnt catch me though. :y
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: tunnie on 21 March 2011, 15:28:35
scam, avoid!
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: aaronjb on 21 March 2011, 15:37:02
Quote
Oh its definately a scam alright but the paypal bit is intriguing, how would they rip you via paypal?

I imagine there are ways just like the cheque scams.. Either:

1) Make payment via PayPal, get car, file dispute (you lose the money)
2) Make payment via PayPal 'accidentally' for too much (of someone elses hacked money), request partial refund by cheque/BACS/cash, get cheque, cash cheque, never collect car

Usually ones that involve a foreign country mean scams where they never even bother to collect the car, they're just interested in using your account to filter someone elses money away..
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: Banjax on 21 March 2011, 15:51:33
here omegod - read this:

http://www.suite101.com/content/car-buying-scam-using-paypal-a215956

total scam - tell the guy to foxtrot oscar  :y
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 21 March 2011, 16:09:35
..................and so there is yet another scam for all of us to be wary of!! ::) ::) ::)

No one ever seems to be caught though! :( :(
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: Danny on 21 March 2011, 17:24:19
never ever accept larger payments with paypal

i would always only accept a cash sale for a car

if someone genuinely wants your car enough, they'll come and buy it with cash
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: omegod on 21 March 2011, 17:55:31
Quote
never ever accept larger payments with paypal

i would always only accept a cash sale for a car

if someone genuinely wants your car enough, they'll come and buy it with cash

But he seemed so genuine in his email! ;D ;D ;D

Wouldn't have caught me out but I think the unaware trust paypal implicitly sadly, got another through the autotrader site from a thoroughly english sounding name @btinternet told him to break off too, shame if it was a genuine query but can't be bothered with someone who won't ring
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: Mysteryman on 21 March 2011, 19:26:10
Well...I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole. He's obviously insane. Buying a used corsa from a scouser? I don't think so. :-X
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: russ0205 on 21 March 2011, 22:15:58
Well said danny you only let the car go when you have cash in your hand,

 :D :D :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: Eddi on 21 March 2011, 23:06:23
The same scam with same parties and locations (New Zealand) appeared with a member on Astra Owners Club this week too.  Looks like he/she is having a good old go with the same story with many, many cars!
Title: Re: Autotrader scam?
Post by: Danny on 22 March 2011, 12:49:26
to follow on from my post, never EVER trust anyone who offers more than what you're asking

why would anyone actually NEED to pay more than the asking price when it only takes a small deposit to secure something? especially when they've not viewed it in person!