Car Sales Scam

33WING · Feb 1, 2012

I will try to keep this short and sweet, I recently listed a car on carsales.com.au and I received a text message from a potential buyer asking to send more details to a yahoo email address.

First alarm bell starting ringing once I received the text from a number that couldn't be contacted as well as asking for things that were clearly stated in the car add but I proceeded with the email to see where this was going.

I received the following email and I have certain factors that raise alarm bells and they are highlighted in red in the message.

Hello,
Thanks for the swift reply,I am pleased with your price but I want you to get back to me with more pictures of the (interior,engine and the exterior) of this vehicle because i won't be able to come for the inspection due to the nature of my work,am buying it for my holiday cos i'll be coming soon from our rig as am a petroleum engineer and am on a rig offshore.As for the payment..i can only pay via the fastest and secure way to pay online (PayPal) here,pls get back to me with your PayPal details in case you don't have? you can also get back to me with your bank details so i can proceed with payment and contact the courier agent that will come to pick it up and deliver it in my place,and With the issue of my details,transferring the name of ownership and signing of all paperwork will be done by the courier services company agent so you don't have to worry about that it.

I have sold many cars through the Car Sales website and I have never come across this, It also helps that I didn't come down in the last shower because this is an item not received case just waiting to happen but I would never receive a payment for a car via PayPal.

Has anyone had a similar experience? And is there a way I can track the IP address of this email davidfok19@yahoo.com.

Thanks for looking guys.

goldcoasttradingcards · Feb 1, 2012

Hi Leigh,

Wish I knew what courier company he used. I dont know any that fill out paperwork for you.....lol

I sell Air Conditioning systems online and we get similar type emails a lot from Reverends wanting to buy several airconditioners with a credit card.

Cheers Glenn

33WING · Feb 1, 2012

Yeah, I found that rather funny as well but there's people out there that will fall for these sort of scams which is why I mentioned it here. I looked into it a bit further and the scam runs like this. The interested buyer will pay for the car via PayPal and add extra to cover shipping or fees for the pickup agent then they tell you to pay the extra they paid you to someone else via Western Union, the original payment they make via PayPal will get recovered then your out of pocket.

First time I've come across this, thanks for the reply.

goldcoastcards said:
Hi Leigh,

Wish I knew what courier company he used. I dont know any that fill out paperwork for you.....lol

I sell Air Conditioning systems online and we get similar type emails a lot from Reverends wanting to buy several airconditioners with a credit card.

Cheers Glenn

drob50 · Feb 1, 2012

I have had the same thing when I listed cars on Gumtree.

Smelt a rat straight away and told them they were dreaming!

33WING · Feb 1, 2012

I've never seen this until now, It's amazing the lengths people or bottom feeders will go to to get your money.

I guess if they hit up to 20 people with this scam and only one or two are stupid enough to play along they still come out with some money.

drob50 said:
I have had the same thing when I listed cars on Gumtree.

Smelt a rat straight away and told them they were dreaming!

Cobretti · Feb 1, 2012

I would say I will be more than happy to deliver the car to you at 1/2 the cost the courier will charge you.

see what he says haha.

jefferson · Feb 1, 2012

Had the same thing on gumtree. Funny thing was the guy told me he wasn't in Australia and wanted me to send funds via Western Union (?) Also the fact that the paypal email he sent me had spelling mistakes sent alarm bells ringing. Told him I'd forwarded his email address to the proper Paypal and to f*ck off. Never heard from him again

33WING · Feb 1, 2012

I like your style.

jefferson said:
Told him I'd forwarded his email address to the proper Paypal and to f*ck off. Never heard from him again

matty83 · Feb 1, 2012

Yeah this is a massive scam guys, They send a "agent" because they are on holidays or what ever.
Then he brings his nice Ipad to show you that the money is in and tells you to hand over the keys.
Basically i think they pay by E-check and it goes into your account straight away but you cannot use it for like 3 days.
So the "agent" comes along shows you the cash in your account and then takes the keys. Then probably on the way home he then cancels the transaction and you wont see a cent.

A_Iverson_I · Feb 2, 2012

You may be able to get some info about his IP from the email headers, but I suspect that since it was sent via Yahoo you won't get much and Yahoo would be the only ones that could get any decent info on him.

aussiemjfreak · Feb 2, 2012

Yeah this scam has being going around for a while now.... Generally aimed at Cars, Trucks, Bikes and boats. They try it on Ebay, Gumtree, Carsales and Car forums. They try the whole Western Union crap or fake paypal stuff and basically screw you as hard as they can! It's always from an Oil Rig too!!

ADELAIDE CHILLI SOURCE · Feb 2, 2012

not just an oil rig, i hae had cruise ship, commercial fihing boat and airline. eithey way they are all scams.
they dont actualy take ur stuff, car etc.
what they do is send you a fake paypel email saying the money for the "shipping agent" has been paid to your account and ask you to forward it to the shipping agent for them. so the only money the ever actually try and sca from you is that extra shipping agent money.
either way they should be shot.
i have seen heaps of different ones, and as said before from forums , ebay and gumtree. and i a sure there are many people that fall for it. if there wasnt they wouldnt keep doing it.

33WING · Feb 2, 2012

I'm almost certain this is the guy.

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