Is this a scam?
Author
Discussion

chim666

Original Poster:

2,337 posts

295 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
I have just received the following email from a Yahoo email address in response to my 'for sale' ad.

HELLO,
AM INTERESTED IN BUYING THE CAR YOU PLACED ON NET FORSALE.HOWEVER,I WANT TO KNOW THE BEST PRICE FOR IT AND ALSO TO KNOW IF IT'S AVAILABLE FORSALE.DO SEND THE PICS OF IT TO ME AND PLS DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW ANYTHING YOU FEEL I'D KNOW ABOUT IT.
WAITING FOR YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE.
REGARDS

Note the poor punctuation, bad format, questionable phrasing and exclusive use of upper case text. It is from someone apparently representing a company in the UK (CENTRUM INC. - though I don't know of a UK company being an 'Incorporated'), yet they have used a Yahoo email address, but have included a mobile number.
I note that no mention is made of the model of the car, not where the ad was seen.

Edited by chim666 on Monday 9th October 09:22

BliarsGoing

72,863 posts

269 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
It couldn't be more scammy if you wrapped the email in scam print wrapping paper adorned with a scam print bow and a label across it saying SCAM in huge letters.



chim666

Original Poster:

2,337 posts

295 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all


Thanks BG

puffsorted2

2,442 posts

255 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
Yeap its a scam but there is a brillant wind you can do on the buyer. Thet buyer will say he will send you an international bank draft for more than the amount you want (he will make up some silly reason as to why), you then have to return the differance, the scam is your cheque is valid but the their draft will eventually bounce

Note that the actual car does not figure in the scam - so they don't care about the conditon of the car and as such will accept some damage to it - and this we can use to have a little fun

So email them back with - 'Oops I have scratched the wing, are you still interested?' - which of course they will be

and then take it from there with increasingly silly and bizarre damage. See how far you can take it before they twig its a wind up,

Our best in the office so far is replacing the seats in an MR2 with deck chairs cause we couldn't get rid of faint smell of cat wee.

Other classics include the full example below we used my mate selling his BMW 5 series - check out the place, Hobnobshire, had us in stitches

'Mr Harris


Further to my last email, the car unfortunately incurred further damage - I'm not sure if you saw it in the news but, there was a freak storm in Hobnobshire (Wales) and lightening struck my village. A bolt hit a neighbouring hut and a plank of wood and other debris (including animals)flew onto the car. Currently I am in the process of getting quotes for getting the roof welded back on, this may incur a fee of around £3000. Would you still be interested if I sell you the car without getting it repaired?

Regards'




Puff

bluebottle

3,498 posts

270 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
pmsl...Brilliant! never thought of returning the windup, I think i shall have some fun today..lol

else

795 posts

268 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
chim666 said:
I have just received the following email from a Yahoo email address in response to my 'for sale' ad.

HELLO,
AM INTERESTED IN BUYING THE CAR YOU PLACED ON NET FORSALE.HOWEVER,I WANT TO KNOW THE BEST PRICE FOR IT AND ALSO TO KNOW IF IT'S AVAILABLE FORSALE.DO SEND THE PICS OF IT TO ME AND PLS DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW ANYTHING YOU FEEL I'D KNOW ABOUT IT.
WAITING FOR YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE.
REGARDS

Note the poor punctuation, bad format, questionable phrasing and exclusive use of upper case text. It is from someone apparently representing a company in the UK (CENTRUM INC. - though I don't know of a UK company being an 'Incorporated'), yet they have used a Yahoo email address, but have included a mobile number.
I note that no mention is made of the model of the car, not where the ad was seen.

Edited by chim666 on Monday 9th October 09:22


Yeah its definately a scam, i received the same email word for word!

chim666

Original Poster:

2,337 posts

295 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies, I can't be @rsed to wind this bloke up (have better things to do...like sell my car!) but PMSL at the inventiveness of the wind-ups!

Cheers,
Paul

chris_chim

207 posts

267 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
You really ought to report the scammer to their email account provider. I know these people have hundreds of accounts but if you report them it makes their life a little harder.

mhanington

159 posts

273 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
chim666 said:
I have just received the following email from a Yahoo email address in response to my 'for sale' ad.

HELLO,
AM INTERESTED IN BUYING THE CAR YOU PLACED ON NET FORSALE.HOWEVER,I WANT TO KNOW THE BEST PRICE FOR IT AND ALSO TO KNOW IF IT'S AVAILABLE FORSALE.DO SEND THE PICS OF IT TO ME AND PLS DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW ANYTHING YOU FEEL I'D KNOW ABOUT IT.
WAITING FOR YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE.
REGARDS

Note the poor punctuation, bad format, questionable phrasing and exclusive use of upper case text. It is from someone apparently representing a company in the UK (CENTRUM INC. - though I don't know of a UK company being an 'Incorporated'), yet they have used a Yahoo email address, but have included a mobile number.
I note that no mention is made of the model of the car, not where the ad was seen.

Edited by chim666 on Monday 9th October 09:22


Paul,
You selling then? Getting something interesting?
Martin.

rallycross

13,752 posts

267 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
do you seriously need to ask?

boobles

15,251 posts

245 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
chim666 said:
I have just received the following email from a Yahoo email address in response to my 'for sale' ad.

HELLO,
AM INTERESTED IN BUYING THE CAR YOU PLACED ON NET FORSALE.HOWEVER,I WANT TO KNOW THE BEST PRICE FOR IT AND ALSO TO KNOW IF IT'S AVAILABLE FORSALE.DO SEND THE PICS OF IT TO ME AND PLS DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW ANYTHING YOU FEEL I'D KNOW ABOUT IT.
WAITING FOR YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE.
REGARDS

Note the poor punctuation, bad format, questionable phrasing and exclusive use of upper case text. It is from someone apparently representing a company in the UK (CENTRUM INC. - though I don't know of a UK company being an 'Incorporated'), yet they have used a Yahoo email address, but have included a mobile number.
I note that no mention is made of the model of the car, not where the ad was seen.

Edited by chim666 on Monday 9th October 09:22


Hey was this something i wrote? hehe
Im known for my bad punctuation on here thats all. (wasnt really me that wrote that)

mhanington

159 posts

273 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
rallycross said:
do you seriously need to ask?

???????

gruffgriff

2,164 posts

273 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
OK, same question, different email:

>I am interested in buying/acquiring your TVR GRIFFITH valued at £16,500.00
>, if the car is still available get back to me with the necessary details.
>I will be needing:
>* pictures of cars to verify autenticity of advert.(engine and interior)
>* your full name and home address together with
>* your reconfirmed phone number (both home and mobile)
>* number(s) of previous owner.
>* fax number (if possible).
>My personal details are also listed below,please feel free to contact me if
>the car is still available for sale so that we can commence negotiations as
>soon as possible.
> Name:-Mr JONATAN SIGVARD .
>Residence/Home Address :-AB RINGVAGEN 98 A
> Box 20089
> SE-104 60
> STOCKHOLM
> SWEDEN .

When I gave a stalling, non-commital reply, I got the folowing:

Hello (my wife`s name!?),
How are you doing today?I am a used car dealer with my own private showroom and garage and presently i am having talks with a shipping company here in Stockholm and they have informed me that they have an agent in the U.K who would be doing the pick-up and all the necessary documentation(dvla papers,log-book and the insurance and inspection cover).
When my draft clears at your bank then i inform the shipping agent to come to your residence to do the pick-up and all other documentation for the car,i pray this arrangement is suitable for you too,please i would be expecting you to email me the pictures i asked after so that i can have a pictorial assesment of the car in question.

Regards'


What do we think? I`m not sure as it seems, well, was going to say tailor made but maybe just individually written with relevant details, and there is an address, but my searches don`t come up with any car dealer business there..... I too had the over-payment bankers draft scam email and the purchase figue was obviously inserted in to a standard, ambiguous, non model specific letter, and in a different font! This one, I`m not so sure, but wary. Any advise experience welcome.thumbup

SuperKartracer

8,959 posts

252 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
chim666 said:
I have just received the following email from a Yahoo email address in response to my 'for sale' ad.

HELLO,
AM INTERESTED IN BUYING THE CAR YOU PLACED ON NET FORSALE.HOWEVER,I WANT TO KNOW THE BEST PRICE FOR IT AND ALSO TO KNOW IF IT'S AVAILABLE FORSALE.DO SEND THE PICS OF IT TO ME AND PLS DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW ANYTHING YOU FEEL I'D KNOW ABOUT IT.
WAITING FOR YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE.
REGARDS

Note the poor punctuation, bad format, questionable phrasing and exclusive use of upper case text. It is from someone apparently representing a company in the UK (CENTRUM INC. - though I don't know of a UK company being an 'Incorporated'), yet they have used a Yahoo email address, but have included a mobile number.
I note that no mention is made of the model of the car, not where the ad was seen.

Edited by chim666 on Monday 9th October 09:22


Yep!! scam for thick tts...

kingb

1,166 posts

256 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
if you have to ask then its not worth it

scruffy

3,757 posts

291 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
gruffgriff said:
OK, same question, different email:> Name:-Mr JONATAN SIGVARD .
>Residence/Home Address :-AB RINGVAGEN 98 A
> Box 20089
> SE-104 60
> STOCKHOLM
> SWEDEN .

When I gave a stalling, non-commital reply, I got the folowing:

Hello (my wife`s name!?), a shipping company here in Stockholm


The poor swedish guy was the last mugu that got stung, and his details are now the property of scammers worldwide.
Hello (my wifes name)...
aren't you just a bit worried?

ferrisbueller

30,317 posts

257 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
gruffgriff said:
OK, same question, different email:

>I am interested in buying/acquiring your TVR GRIFFITH valued at £16,500.00
>, if the car is still available get back to me with the necessary details.
>I will be needing:
>* pictures of cars to verify autenticity of advert.(engine and interior)
>* your full name and home address together with
>* your reconfirmed phone number (both home and mobile)
>* number(s) of previous owner.
>* fax number (if possible).
>My personal details are also listed below,please feel free to contact me if
>the car is still available for sale so that we can commence negotiations as
>soon as possible.
> Name:-Mr JONATAN SIGVARD .
>Residence/Home Address :-AB RINGVAGEN 98 A
> Box 20089
> SE-104 60
> STOCKHOLM
> SWEDEN .

When I gave a stalling, non-commital reply, I got the folowing:

Hello (my wife`s name!?),
How are you doing today?I am a used car dealer with my own private showroom and garage and presently i am having talks with a shipping company here in Stockholm and they have informed me that they have an agent in the U.K who would be doing the pick-up and all the necessary documentation(dvla papers,log-book and the insurance and inspection cover).
When my draft clears at your bank then i inform the shipping agent to come to your residence to do the pick-up and all other documentation for the car,i pray this arrangement is suitable for you too,please i would be expecting you to email me the pictures i asked after so that i can have a pictorial assesment of the car in question.

Regards'


What do we think? I`m not sure as it seems, well, was going to say tailor made but maybe just individually written with relevant details, and there is an address, but my searches don`t come up with any car dealer business there..... I too had the over-payment bankers draft scam email and the purchase figue was obviously inserted in to a standard, ambiguous, non model specific letter, and in a different font! This one, I`m not so sure, but wary. Any advise experience welcome.thumbup


scam

gruffgriff

2,164 posts

273 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
Ta, confirmed my suspisions. Was clinging to the hope it was genuine because I`ve had no interest in my car so far!

Marki

15,763 posts

300 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
I find it hard to belive that people are still asking this question scratchchin

Ianswvan

2 posts

238 months

Sunday 17th December 2006
quotequote all
Hello Ian,
How are you doing this morning?i am willing to purchase the car for £10,500.00 that is £095.00 less than the asking price,I am a used car
dealer with my own private showroom and garage and presently i am having talks with a shipping company here in Stockholm,they have an agent in the U.K(Mr Shaun Gilfillian Mob:+447024099671)who will do the pick-up and all the necessary documentation(dvla-papers,log-book and the insurance and inspection cover) on my behalf .
When my draft clears at your bank then i inform the shipping agent to come to your residence to do the pick-up and all other documentation
for the car,i pray this arrangement is suitable for you too,please get back to me on receipt of my email with your so payment can be made available to you promptly.

Cheers'


Fresh off the press 17th Dec am he's after my shogun

Jonatan........