Have I been scammed?
Discussion
I listed my classic car on ebay 99p no reserve on Friday pm. 8am this morning I got a few messages from other ebayers saying that my car was also listed as a classified with my pictures and some of my text. Bidding is at 9k and the classified was for 4k. I reported it straight away and it was removed after a few hours. Just got home and one of the ebayers told me he inquired about it with the scammer (before he realised it was a scammer)and says they emailed him back with a chassis number and other info and the car was in Scotland 4k for a quick sale. I've asked for a copy of what they sent but haven't heard back yet. This type of car is easily and often stolen/cloned/ringed and the reg number is in full display in the ad. Should I be concerned that there's a ringer out there, or was this more likely a money scam on the other ebayer? Anyone else had this happen to them? Cheers guys
ADEuk said:
Yeah thought the same until I got the message about chassis numbers and stuff. made me think WTF!
Chassis numbers aren't exactly top secret. Remember, anything vaguely modern has them visible through the windscreen.There's a few websites where you can put the plate in and get the VIN back.
They use the ad to lure people in, once they're hooked they'll weave a web of deceit about why they can only communicate via email, probably offer to deliver it with a guaranteed refund "if you don't like it". Ultimately they'll send a link, usually to a cloned Ebay page, with instructions to pay via paypal "as it's safer for both of us". All the page links will be genuine apart from the payment ones. Sadly I know somebody who was caught like this.
The flip side is if you realise it's a scam and fancy a bit of fun. I found an Alpine A110 at a stupidly low price once and instead of falling for it I went along with it, saying I would fly in, do a cash deal at the airport and would drive it home if it was as good as he said. I recall we got as far as the day before my supposed flight - even then he thought I was blind to his scam and was desperately requesting me to paypal him the money and he'd deliver it instead.
72twink said:
The flip side is if you realise it's a scam and fancy a bit of fun. I found an Alpine A110 at a stupidly low price once and instead of falling for it I went along with it, saying I would fly in, do a cash deal at the airport and would drive it home if it was as good as he said. I recall we got as far as the day before my supposed flight - even then he thought I was blind to his scam and was desperately requesting me to paypal him the money and he'd deliver it instead.
Good man. I've done this as well on a camera that was being 'sold'.Amazing how someone would 'own' a £15,000 camera system yet not know how it worked. It was his Dad's...who had moved away, and the guy selling it now worked away a lot...so would send me it...from work...if I paid him via bank transfer...but as he was working away I asked could I see the camera where he was working as he took it with him...great fun.
The trick is to act dumb and see how far you can push it.
Just a heads up, currently there at least 200 vehicles I am aware of listed on ebay all look like stolen ID's found about 10 of these ID's so far this morning, each appears to have about 10 items listed from camper vans to Land Rovers & diggers etc, all classified ads with the descriptive text has the words "Message me, leave your number & email" etc
Despite reporting some yesterday Ebay have left them up so far
Eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Fiat-Benimar-6000ST...
Despite reporting some yesterday Ebay have left them up so far
Eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Fiat-Benimar-6000ST...
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