PH classifieds scams.

[Kentish]

It appears there are some scammers at work here.

Refer to TT forum thread.

http://www.tt-forum.co.uk/ttforumbbs/viewtopic.php...

There is also a 2004 3.2 DSG V6 low mileage TT for sale for £9.5k, seems far too cheap. I could be wrong but be careful!

[DucatiGary]

lots of this in the classifieds at the moment, there was once a time that people saw the PH classifieds as a place to buy cars from people who know about cars = meaning most are usually looked after and had anything that needed doing sorted.

seems the scammers are targetting it big time now and once they all get to know its free unlike autotrader more will come.

[Kentish]

That's a damn shame, I think a lot of people post up the PH classified link on other forums which perhaps don't have such a genuine group of subscribers.

I'd hate to see the service disappear from here.

[LukeBird]

DucatiGary said:

seems the scammers are targetting it big time now and once they all get to know its free unlike autotrader more will come.

Guess thats why people think Haymarket will bring in fees...

[elms]

These ads only appeal to the truly stupid who really think that someone is going to sell them a car for thousands of pounds less than a dealer would buy it from them from.

If someone falls for them, I have no sympathy for them at all

[TonyHetherington]

There is a "report to administrator" button on each and every advert.

There are in place MANY hoops through which every sale and every e-mail to seller need to be verified through. Everyday it is amazing the amount that do get stopped but, of course, on rare occasions some do slip through.

So use the report button and it will get dealt with!

It's naive to think that on such a service on such a well publicised website, now one of the top ways to sell a car online in the UK, you will not have people trying to be deceitful. PH deals with those fantastically well at the moment but, as said, some will always get through.

Place an ad on another top online site and see how many scammers you get then - the difference is unbelievable!

Tony

[VladTheDad]

elms said:

These ads only appeal to the truly stupid who really think that someone is going to sell them a car for thousands of pounds less than a dealer would buy it from them from.

If someone falls for them, I have no sympathy for them at all

Just because people are naive doesn't mean they deserve to be ripped off. Even if they are being greedy that's still a bit harsh isn't it?

[waynepixel]

I was looking at the Classifieds last night, and I come across a very cheap 2003 M3, going for £12000. Not too sure what to make of that one?

[TonyHetherington]

I assume you mean an E46 M3? If so, it is cheap but could be crash repaired for example which would explain it!

Somethien worth remembering is that when PH-ers advertise their cars they can link to their PH profile. This is a way to see a genuine ad from afar.

[HAB]

Some scammer was trying to resell my old 944S2 (complete with visible number plate) in the classifieds. I sold the car in June to a fellow PH'er who noticed it and contacted me, the mods removed it yesterday. My car had 107k on it, this chancer was advertising it with 50k.

Edited by HAB on Tuesday 17th July 17:25

[Plotloss]

Some of the proper bargains are geniune, I'm reminded of an £11K 2001 Cerb Speed Six (this was about 2003), everyone thought it was a wind up, apart from the chap who bought it, for £11K, the seller just wanted shot of it.

[TVR MAN]

waynepixel said:

I was looking at the Classifieds last night, and I come across a very cheap 2003 M3, going for £12000. Not too sure what to make of that one?

I think this is the one you mean;

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/181152.htm

I too would be a bit suspicious.

Edited by TVR MAN on Tuesday 17th July 17:27

[sleep envy]

HAB - did you sell it with history?

[Kentish]

waynepixel said:

I was looking at the Classifieds last night, and I come across a very cheap 2003 M3, going for £12000. Not too sure what to make of that one?

There's also an Audi TT 2004 DSG 302 V6 for £9750.

That's very very very very cheap even if it has been a cat C!

Tony mate, I'm not having a dig at the mods or PH in any way!
It's a bloody monumental task to catch all these ads and be aware of the price of every car or item posted for sale. Impossiblt in fact!

[Uncle Fester]

Perhaps we need a system that only allows free adverts from established and active PHer's.
Ration us to a couple of car adverts a year and such advertisers must have been regularly posting.
At the very minimum, a way of marking adverts as from such people.
I would prefer to buy only from fellow enthusiasts that have loved their car than some masquerading Arthur Daily.
Fester

[waynepixel]

TonyHetherington said:

I assume you mean an E46 M3? If so, it is cheap but could be crash repaired for example which would explain it!

Somethien worth remembering is that when PH-ers advertise their cars they can link to their PH profile. This is a way to see a genuine ad from afar.

Well from the information given in the advert, there was no indication of crash damage.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/181152.htm

[TonyHetherington]

Kentish said:

Tony mate, I'm not having a dig at the mods or PH in any way!

Yeah sorry wasn't taking it personally, just letting you guys know we have a lot in place I guess

[TonyHetherington]

waynepixel said:

Well from the information given in the advert, there was no indication of crash damage.

You're right, so it does look very cheap as it's written there. Absolutely must be something about it - as that is 5k, maybe 8k too cheap?
As plotty above said though, bargains DO come along sometimes!

[Lotusespritforum]

Type:Coupe
Number of Doors:2
Engine Size:3,246 cc
Date of 1st Registration:28 Mar 2003
Right-hand drive/Left-hand drive:Right-hand drive
Colour:Black
Fuel:Petrol

Looks like it's been copy and pasted from the DVLA! Who puts date of registration on an ad, year is the norm.

[Viper]

Uncle Fester said:

Perhaps we need a system that only allows free adverts from established and active PHer's.
Ration us to a couple of car adverts a year and such advertisers must have been regularly posting.
At the very minimum, a way of marking adverts as from such people.
I would prefer to buy only from fellow enthusiasts that have loved their car than some masquerading Arthur Daily.
Fester

thats the way to go, a minimum 50 or 100 posts before you can even place an ad, will stop people abusing the system

Edited by Viper on Tuesday 17th July 21:59