Is this the first tentative steps of a scam....

[dave_s13]

My car is currently for sale on here, gumtree and AT.

I got an email enquiry via AT a few days ago with the simple question... "is the car still for sale?". I replied that it was and to contact via email/telephone for more info and provided my mobile number.

This morning I got this email from - Simonne Laperriere ([e-mail])

Potential scammer said:

Hello ,
I'm ready to purchase it... but I saw that your item is listed on several other locations at a lower price. Please
confirm this is your add too: http://used-cars-autotrader-classified-advert-fpa2...
Thanks

The link takes you to some weird log in page?? This is in fact my ad (excuse the plug!!)
http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

So, obviously I've not logged into that link but what's the angle here? Could this guy be genuine as I've heard of French chaps buying cars from the UK given them being cheaper? I'm going to assume he's a badun, he already has my email address, name and mobile number, I'll not furnish him with any more information.

ps. I've bought/sold 20+ cars over the years and this one is just stuck, not a bit of interest in 3 weeks, apart from this chap, starting to pi$$ me off now.

Edited by dave_s13 on Tuesday 26th March 08:43

[steveo3002]

if theyve gone straight into "im ready to buy it" then id be thinking scam , everyone would ask a few questions about the car or your location etc

[daemon]

its clearly a scam to get your email address and password for autotrader, so they can place scam adverts.

First time round its the 'fake' site. Once you've entered your details it refreshes to the true site, which is pretty much identical making you think you've entered your username and password wrong.

[LuS1fer]

They often clone your ad and then run links off that to a scam Paypal etc. Amazingly, people still fall for this.

[dave_s13]

daemon said:

its clearly a scam to get your email address and password for autotrader, so they can place scam adverts.

Aha, yes, that makes sense.

Fook you Simonne Laperriere!!

[daemon]

dave_s13 said:

daemon said:

its clearly a scam to get your email address and password for autotrader, so they can place scam adverts.

Aha, yes, that makes sense.

Fook you Simmone Laperriere!!

Test it out - i entered an appropriately derrogitory email address and password 'go_and_fk_yourself@get_a_life.com' and 'sad_bd' as the password just to test it.

[Aidancky]

You do realize it could be stealing information just by clicking the link if you're logged into Auto Trader?

Cookies are stored on your browser with login details, even just clicking the link could give them what they need.

Never click scam links.

[dave_s13]

Just got another fishy sounding one. It looks legit, like it's from AT

The following potential buyer has expressed an interest in your cars advertised on Auto Trader.

View Advert
To turn this lead into a potential sale, please use the contact details below.

AT Email said:

Reg plate:
LE57MHO

Colour:
Grey

Vehicle Details:
BMW 5 SERIES 525d M Sport 5dr Diesel Touring 3.0

Price:
£10,250

Buyer's message:
hi , I am interested on your car . please tell if your car is still available.

Buyer's name:
Mattew Williams

Contact number:
07951822700

Email:
[e-mail]

Email the buyer

There's a "mailto" link to reply to this within the email but when I click on it nothing happens. I think it's my browser/email settings though.

It's hard work this, I feel like I should just ignore it but then again I'm getting little interest and need a buyer, don't want to miss a potential lead. I can't see the harm in emailing this chap direct?

[dave_s13]

Aidancky said:

You do realize it could be stealing information just by clicking the link if you're logged into Auto Trader?

Cookies are stored on your browser with login details, even just clicking the link could give them what they need.

Never click scam links.

Didn't know that, cheers. Wasn't logged into AT at the time though and nothing fishy seems to be ocuring with my account.

[Piersman2]

dave_s13 said:

Just got another fishy sounding one. It looks legit, like it's from AT

The following potential buyer has expressed an interest in your cars advertised on Auto Trader.

View Advert
To turn this lead into a potential sale, please use the contact details below.

AT Email said:

Reg plate:
LE57MHO

Colour:
Grey

Vehicle Details:
BMW 5 SERIES 525d M Sport 5dr Diesel Touring 3.0

Price:
£10,250

Buyer's message:
hi , I am interested on your car . please tell if your car is still available.

Buyer's name:
Mattew Williams

Contact number:
07951822700

Email:
[e-mail]

Email the buyer

There's a "mailto" link to reply to this within the email but when I click on it nothing happens. I think it's my browser/email settings though.

It's hard work this, I feel like I should just ignore it but then again I'm getting little interest and need a buyer, don't want to miss a potential lead. I can't see the harm in emailing this chap direct?

How did this turn out? I've just had the same 'name' contact me via AT Dealer email asking basically the same question but with a different mobile number?

ETA: Having looked at the email address on google, he seems to have been selling a Land Rover on Gumtree in at least 4 completely random different locations around the country.

Scam artist it would appear. Wish I'd googled before bothering to reply!

Edited by Piersman2 on Saturday 30th March 11:38

[Fane]

This sort of thing really pisses me off. These people are obviously reasonably intelligent to be able to set this sort of thing up, so why don't they apply their brains to something legitimate? tts.

[gazchap]

Fane said:

This sort of thing really pisses me off. These people are obviously reasonably intelligent to be able to set this sort of thing up, so why don't they apply their brains to something legitimate? tts.

Because sadly, "something legitimate" is rarely as lucrative for such little work.

[Kinky]

Can not this 2nd guy spell his first name correctly? I've never ever seen that name before Sounds phoenetically spelt!

[soad]

Kinky said:

Can not this 2nd guy spell his first name correctly? I've never ever seen that name before Sounds phoenetically spelt!

Probably isn't his/her name though...

[dave_s13]

Piersman2 said:

How did this turn out? I've just had the same 'name' contact me via AT Dealer email asking basically the same question but with a different mobile number?

ETA: Having looked at the email address on google, he seems to have been selling a Land Rover on Gumtree in at least 4 completely random different locations around the country.

Scam artist it would appear. Wish I'd googled before bothering to reply!

Edited by Piersman2 on Saturday 30th March 11:38

"Delete"

Sold my car yesterday, it drove off into the sunrise this morning

In the end the buyer got in touch via PH, NOT Autotrader, all AT did was cost me nearly 60 quid and generate nothing but emails from scamming bstds. Never will I use them again.

Funny really, I had it up for sale for 3 weeks and not a single call. Then got a legit email from a chap on Thursday, rang him and arrange to come and view yesterday. So while I'm giving it a good clean out yesterday morning another chap rings asking to come at the same time! Anyway 1st guy shows, likes it but has another to see, off he pops and then a while later the other chap rings saying he's on his way, about 70 miles away. 1st guy then rings back asking to come back which I was fine with, he then wants the car, makes a good offer and I then have to ring chap number 2 and explain I'd just sold it. Felt a right tw"t as he was half way here, what can you do though? Went from no interest to fighting them off with a stick....stressful.

I'll miss that car though, it was bloody lovely.

[steve singh]

dave_s13 said:

Piersman2 said:

How did this turn out? I've just had the same 'name' contact me via AT Dealer email asking basically the same question but with a different mobile number?

ETA: Having looked at the email address on google, he seems to have been selling a Land Rover on Gumtree in at least 4 completely random different locations around the country.

Scam artist it would appear. Wish I'd googled before bothering to reply!

Edited by Piersman2 on Saturday 30th March 11:38

"Delete"

Sold my car yesterday, it drove off into the sunrise this morning

In the end the buyer got in touch via PH, NOT Autotrader, all AT did was cost me nearly 60 quid and generate nothing but emails from scamming bstds. Never will I use them again.

Funny really, I had it up for sale for 3 weeks and not a single call. Then got a legit email from a chap on Thursday, rang him and arrange to come and view yesterday. So while I'm giving it a good clean out yesterday morning another chap rings asking to come at the same time! Anyway 1st guy shows, likes it but has another to see, off he pops and then a while later the other chap rings saying he's on his way, about 70 miles away. 1st guy then rings back asking to come back which I was fine with, he then wants the car, makes a good offer and I then have to ring chap number 2 and explain I'd just sold it. Felt a right tw"t as he was half way here, what can you do though? Went from no interest to fighting them off with a stick....stressful.

I'll miss that car though, it was bloody lovely.

You should never sell a car if someone is en route to view it - unless you told them that situation could change ahead of their arrival - bad form otherwise.

[dave_s13]

steve singh said:

You should never sell a car if someone is en route to view it - unless you told them that situation could change ahead of their arrival - bad form otherwise.

I had no clear indication that the chap was coming back to buy it though. I wasn't about to tell the other chap not to come on the basis that the other chap might have made me an offer. Bit of a catch 22.

I did ensure I rang and spoke to the en-route chap though and was very apologetic, I felt a right tt but I needed to sell my car!

Oh and, to add. the first chap rang to ask if he could come back after the other chap had just txt to let me know he had set off. Fook, I dunno, maybe I'm the worlds worst .

[standardman]

You snooze you loose, been for Sale for weeks.

[dave_s13]

standardman said:

You snooze you loose, been for Sale for weeks.

This!!

Just had another telephone enquiry, I bet it was the intial high(ish) price then the utterly sheeite weather we've been having. I bet if I put it up a grand I'd have sold it twice over now it's a bit sunny.

[SMcP114]

steve singh said:

dave_s13 said:

Piersman2 said:

How did this turn out? I've just had the same 'name' contact me via AT Dealer email asking basically the same question but with a different mobile number?

ETA: Having looked at the email address on google, he seems to have been selling a Land Rover on Gumtree in at least 4 completely random different locations around the country.

Scam artist it would appear. Wish I'd googled before bothering to reply!

Edited by Piersman2 on Saturday 30th March 11:38

"Delete"

Sold my car yesterday, it drove off into the sunrise this morning

In the end the buyer got in touch via PH, NOT Autotrader, all AT did was cost me nearly 60 quid and generate nothing but emails from scamming bstds. Never will I use them again.

Funny really, I had it up for sale for 3 weeks and not a single call. Then got a legit email from a chap on Thursday, rang him and arrange to come and view yesterday. So while I'm giving it a good clean out yesterday morning another chap rings asking to come at the same time! Anyway 1st guy shows, likes it but has another to see, off he pops and then a while later the other chap rings saying he's on his way, about 70 miles away. 1st guy then rings back asking to come back which I was fine with, he then wants the car, makes a good offer and I then have to ring chap number 2 and explain I'd just sold it. Felt a right tw"t as he was half way here, what can you do though? Went from no interest to fighting them off with a stick....stressful.

I'll miss that car though, it was bloody lovely.

You should never sell a car if someone is en route to view it - unless you told them that situation could change ahead of their arrival - bad form otherwise.

Coming from someone who sells quite a lot of them, it's a car sale not a date. The car belongs to the first person who puts the money in your hand. What was he supposed to say to the guy standing in front of him? And how would you feel if you were trying to buy a car and the seller refused, telling you he's waiting on someone who not only may or may not show up, but may or may not buy the car?