What to do?

[Don1]

I have found my car for sale on a website (http://www.magode-extras.co.uk/tvr/sagaris.php), but obviously this isn't the case. They are old pictures from Racing Green, and on an old plate.

I've tried contacting the company - no joy.

What should my next steps be?

Whois gives me a name and an address - should I try to get in touch before asking Trading Standards about it?

[funkyrobot]

Not sure if this helps:

Domain name:
magode-extras.co.uk

Registrant:
andrew yagomba

Registrant type:
UK Individual

Registrant's address:
14 Chancery Court
Hull
HU5 5EW
United Kingdom

Registrar:
1 & 1 Internet AG [Tag = SCHLUND]
URL: http://www.1and1.co.uk or http://registrar.1und1.info

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 05-Feb-2008
Renewal date: 05-Feb-2012
Last updated: 29-Mar-2010

Registration status:
Registered until renewal date.

Name servers:
ns59.1and1.co.uk
ns60.1and1.co.uk

WHOIS lookup made at 09:53:58 28-Dec-2011

[funkyrobot]

Found this website with the same freephone number:

http://www.congressexchange.com/contact.php

That site has a landline number on it. Maybe you could try that?

I'm wondering if this is all a bit fishy.

HTH.

[Don1]

Thanks, I have tried contacting them, and I was refraining from publishing names and address etc.

[funkyrobot]

Don1 said:

Thanks, I have tried contacting them, and I was refraining from publishing names and address etc.

Ok. The info I have shown is available to anyone who uses a search function on the internet. To me, it sounds like this may be a scam. If it is your car and you can't get in touch with anyone from the company, either contact the website's domain host or maybe ring the non emergency police number as someone is trying to sell your car.

Is this advice right everyone? Or would you not recommend the non emergency police number? Thanks.

[funkyrobot]

Found this too:

http://www.congressexchange.com/fraudalert.php

[GeraldSmith]

I think it's more likely to be a failed attempt to get something off the ground than a scam, the registrant was owner and director of a company with the same name as the url but it was dissolved in October 2009.

[Don1]

@ FunkyRobot - thanks, I have seen what's out there, and as an Information Security consultant, I have a fair few extra tools at my disposal. I know the information is in the public domain, but I'm also very mindful of the naming and shaming rules here. Thanks for your help though!

@GeraldSmith - that's interesting. I hadn't considered looking into the activity of the company itself. Which could mean the tel number given is a VOIP line tacked onto a package, which is why it rings, but isn't answered.

Only problem is for me, winding up a company means all ends tied off - website, numbers etc, which is why it still rings alarm bells. Thanks for your help as well.

[GeraldSmith]

Don1 said:

Only problem is for me, winding up a company means all ends tied off - website, numbers etc, which is why it still rings alarm bells. Thanks for your help as well.

It should but in reality if the site is sat at an ISP and it's all paid up for a few years it will just sit there until it expires. I'm not saying that you shouldn't be concerned though, obviously it is still weird.

[ShampooEfficient]

That's the scammiest website I've ever seen. Unless he's on first name terms with Alfred McAlpine, to keep rebuilding his premises in a variety of interesting ways...