Really weird reply to a email about a van for sale?

[Nicko_12345]

Brother is after a van, seen a perfect one for sale on auto trader and got this reply:

RE: 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3.5t Van 311cdi Diesel, £1,600þ

Good Day.
Sorry because I answered you to late but I was busy with my business.
I am writing you regarding the: 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3.5t Van 311cdi Diesel, 70,000 miles, Blue, 7 seats, £1,600.
It is in perfect condition inside and outside as well, never been implicated in accidents. I never smoke in it and i want to sell it to a serious person. The car is located in London/United Kingdom.
The price that I’m asking for the car is: £1.600.The car got MOT, TAX and full service history.
Now I am located in Italy with my business and I have nobody in United Kingdom that could show you the car. I need to come personal to meet you and present the car.
Few weeks ago a buyer told me that he'll buy the car, so we must meet in United Kingdom. I came to United Kingdom because I trusted his word, but when I arrived i call him and no answer, so I lost money and precious time on his promise. I don't want to ask you to send me any money in advance; I just want to see that you are a serious buyer. I will come only for a serious deal. If you don't want to buy it after you will inspect it, no problem, but I need to be sure that you will be there.
To be sure that you are real and serious, here is what I propose:
1. The service name that we'll use is Money Gram transfers. You will find Money Gram agency at all the Post Office in your city and you will go there with your best friend or your wife. Your wife or your friend (relative) will be the sender of the money and you will be the receiver in London.
2. Ask your wife or your friend to send £1.600 to your name in London. Is enough for me too see that I have a interested buyer. (I will pay the Money Gram fees when we will meet)
3. Only you can pick up the money from London, so this is no risk on your side.
4. Once the money is sent, you will have to scan the paper from Money Gram and email my. In this way you proof my that you have the money for my car and that you come to London to take your money back and see my car.
5. In the same day I will buy the flight ticket and I will email you the scanned ticket. (We will verify the car with a mechanical service and at police to. I also accept any test)
6. We will meet in London and we will finish the deal.
If you don't want to buy the car I will pay for your transport. I assure you that you will love this car and you will buy it. It is in perfect conditions.
I repeat: You must understand that you will not send the money to me. You will be the receiver of the money and only you can pick the money from Money Gram only in London.
If you are still interested to make the deal with me please reply me or call me.
Please don't spend my time with endless conversation, or pure curiosity.
My UK phone number is [phone]
Thank you for contacting me.
Respectfully
My Name: Leonardo Umberto.
Phone number: 07983146488.


Has anyone had a reply like that before? its strange that he says he aint in the uk but when you ring his phone you get a uk ring tone but never get a answer?

Everything is screaming scam to me i just want it confirming

Thanks

Nick

[AndrewW-G]

If it looks & sounds like a scam 99/100 its a scam

[Liam79]

SCAM in big letters! Move onto the next one mate.

[kma]

Nicko_12345 said:

It is in perfect conditions.

Sounds wonderful! You should go for it.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Nicko_12345 said:

I never smoke in it and i want to sell it to a serious person.

Serious Cat is serious about Mercedes Sprinter vans.

[sniff diesel]

Why does he keep talking about a car when he's selling a van?

[Nicko_12345]

I no its a scam, trying work out how it would work though if the money gram is in my wife/friend name?

[redtwin]

Sure its a scam, but was just wondering how it works. Will the scammer attempt to collect the £1600 in London using false ID?.

[Poledriver]

When you send the scanned receipt, they will print it and go straight to their local office and withdraw you money. There is no van!

[Mr2Mike]

It works by them making fraudulent documents to pick up the money from the Money Gram office in London. You help them by providing a scanned copy of the Money Gram documentation.

[Ry_B]

Get a fake copy then turn up and meet them in person with a few friends?

[kenmacrae]

I just got the exact same message when enquiring about a car on Autortrader. Since received an email from autotrader telling me that they have removed the advert as they suspect it to be a scam.
It's definately a scam, don't touch it.

[eliot]

[Poledriver]

Ry_B said:

Get a fake copy then turn up and meet them in person with a few friends?

Meet who, where? There is no van, "they" probably aren't even in UK!

[Nicko_12345]

Poledriver said:

Ry_B said:

Get a fake copy then turn up and meet them in person with a few friends?

Meet who, where? There is no van, "they" probably aren't even in UK!

WHen you ring the number its giving a uk ring tone.

[Tino]

You need to fake a mooneygram reciept just to waste their time.
Imagine them running over to the moneygram office expecting £1600.
We need to waste their time as much as they waste ours

[aga]

Hi, I received two emails like that. They're worded almost exactly the same, the same idea of sending money through the Money Gram. So be carefull with such emails. Below I'm attaching one of the emails I've received (the other one was same as one posted by Nicko_12345)

Good Day,

I am writing you regarding the: 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.9 Highline TDI , Diesel, 78000 km, £ 2100, (Left hand drive).
It is in perfect condition inside and outside as well,never been implicated in accidents.I never smoke in it and i want to sell it to a serious person. The car is located in London/United Kingdom.
The price that i'm asking for the car is: £ 2100. The car got MOT,TAX and full service history.
Now i am located in Germany with my bussines and i have nobody in United Kingdom that could show you the car. I need to come personal to meet you and present the car.
Feew weeks ago a buyer told me that he'll buy the car, so we must meet in United Kingdom.I came to United Kingdom because I trusted his word, but when I arrived i call him and no answer, so I lost money and precious time on his promise.I don't want to ask you to send me any money in advance, I just want to see that you are a serious buyer.I will come only for a serious deal. If you don't want to buy it after you will inspect it, no problem, but I need to be sure that you will be there.
To be sure that you are real and serious, here is what I propose:
1. The service name that we'll use is Money Gram transfers.You will find Money Gram agency at all the Post Office in your city and you will go there with your best friend or your wife.Your wife or your friend (relative) will be the sender of the money and you will be the receiver in London.
2. Ask your wife or your friend to send £ 2100 to your name in London.Is enough for me too see that I have a interested buyer. (I will pay the Money Gram fees when we will meet)
3. Only you can pick up the money from London, so this is no risk on your side.
4. Once the money is sent, you will have to scann the paper from Money Gram and email my.In this way you proof my that you have the money for my car and that you come to London to take your money back and see my car.
5. In the same day I will buy the flight ticket and I will email you the scanned ticket.(We will verify the car with a mechanical service and at police to. I also accept any test)
6. We will meet in London and we will finish the deal.
If you don't want to buy the car I will pay for your transport.I assure you that you will love this car and you will buy it. It is in perfect conditions.
I repeat: You must understand that you will not send the money to me.You will be the receiver of the money and only you can pick the money from Money Gram only in London.
If you are still interested to make the deal with me please reply me or call me.
Please don't spend my time with endless disscutions,or pure curiosity.
My UK phone number is:07542136812.
Thank you for contacting me and hope you will understand my point of view!!!
Respectfully:
My Name is: Robert Miller.
Phone number:07542136812

[Motorrad]

aga said:

Please don't spend my time with endless disscutions,or pure curiosity.
My UK phone number is:07542136812.
Thank you for contacting me and hope you will understand my point of view!!!
Respectfully:
My Name is: Robert Miller.
Phone number:07542136812

Please can we all spend his time with endless disscutions, or pure curiosity.
His UK phone number is:07542136812

Thank you for contacting him and hope you will annoy the st out of this robbing turd!!!

[madrob6]

I keep getting emails from the other side as I'm trying to sell a car

Beam Walter said:

Hello
In Regards to your advert placed of the car.I am interested in buying the above list car that is been display for sale.. Kindly let me know the present condition of the car and the price offer, i look forward to hearing from you....
Best Regards
Beam Walter

Surprising how many of them ask how much you want for the car despite quoting it in the subject line.

I replied to 'Beam' for a chuckle and got this in response

Beam Walter said:

Hello
Thanks for your prompt respond i am ok with the offer , i need to let you know that i m travel to Germany for a business trip which i, will be back by next week. so i have already implore my vice to make the payment on my behalf .so you will receive the payment this week, but never mind i will be contacting you true phone and mails, what you just have to do soon as you have the payment get it deposit into your account and wait for the clearance date
and when its cleared i will like you to update me so i can make the pick up preparation by my shipping Agent just make sure is available for shipping because i have already forward all the necessary pics to the shipping company who will pick it from your door to my own here in Holland.Beside the payment will be issue with the shipping agent fees soon as you deducted your money the rest need to be transfer to the agent to prepare for the pick up i will be very glad to have this. from you, if you are ok with this,get back to me asap with your details needed for the addression of the cheque such as below:

Your full Name to be on the cheque:
Address where cheque will be received by you:
Phone Number's such as Mobile ,
Land line
Best Regard
Beam walter

I was tempting to email back saying "Wow you're going to be in Germany too? What a coincidence!" and offer to meet him with the car. Instead I couldn't be arsed and ignored him to which he tried again with exactly the same opening email a few days later lol

How does this scam work when they're trying to give you money then? Are they after your bank details?

[Motorrad]

Update: I can report that this individual sounds like he may well be from.....................Nigeria.

I wasted quite a lot of his time

He's off to find (ie make up) some of the details as we speak...........

Edited by Motorrad on Thursday 6th August 18:45