Autotrader and the scammers

[Simpo Two]

Be careful out there folks.

My Griff is currently on Autotrader and PH Classifieds. Every response I've had from Autotrader has been a gmail account and a comedian trying to send his agent and pay by Paypal.

I nearly got caught by the latest angle, this from a 'Milton Willynat':

Milton Willynat said:

Thank you for getting back to me.
I'm looking at several cars at the moment, and I have lost track of which one yours is! Could you please let me know if this is your car (link removed)
Thank you
Milton

The link looks like an Autotrader one but isn't, it's a phishing site.

Anyone else had this?

[KTF]

Simpo Two said:

Anyone else had this?

Probably everyone who advertises on AutoTrader and is contactable by email...

[T1547]

KTF said:

Probably everyone who advertises on AutoTrader and is contactable by email...

Yep. Practically daily when selling my E60. Sadly I fell for it the first time and account was suspended. Fortunately AT gave me an extra 2 weeks free advertising as a result so it actually worked out quite well..

[tbc]

everytime i've put anything on scumtree, auto trader I get about 10 emails and messages

"is your item still for sale"

"what is your best price"

I usually just reply with

"sorry, but you can't possibly buy my car without giving it the once over, if you'd like to arrange a viewing then call me"

[Simpo Two]

Interesting that PH is relatively immune (though shows up well in searches).

I'm starting to wonder if any genuine buyers use Autotrader.

At least there are no 'We've got 100 buyers in your area, just send us £50' phonecalls.

[Limpet]

When I sold my ZX7R, I got a number of the "please state your best price" mails. I got so sick of them, I eventually replied to one "I'm a bit skint so the price has just gone up to £42,000. Also I just popped a wheelie and the chain broke and went through the crankcase. My fault for never adjusting the thing but then I've never even checked the oil so how could I be expected to check a chain. Anyway, the leak is really not too bad - I did it an hour ago, and it's still pouring, so there's plenty still in the sump. I also recovered the chain from the road. It's got some grit in it, but I reckon it will buff up fine. Let me know if you are still interested."

And the absolute moron came back and said it would be fine, and would I accept a Western Union transfer and when could his shipping agent collect......

[Save Ferris]

I look after the Autotrader site at work, and today received this enquiry on a pre-reg Avensis we have:

"I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR CARS AND IF YOU CAN SUPPLY ABOUT 3.IF THERE IS A MINIMUM ORDER QUANTITY PLEASE LET ME KNOW ALSO GIVE ME YOUR MINIMUM ORDER QUANTITY, DELIVERY TIME, WAITING YOUR URGENT REPLY. THANKS, DEREK IVANOVIC."

[Simpo Two]

Save Ferris said:

I look after the Autotrader site at work

As a matter of interest what's your ratio of scammers to real enquiries? I'm up to about 6:0 so far.

[Save Ferris]

I'd say for every one genuine enquiry, there's one nutcase with no intention of buying a car, and one scammer.

[cirian75]

I got three attempts when I sold my Ignis

so I signed up their addresses to dating sites for men seeking same

[The Moose]

Save Ferris said:

I look after the Autotrader site at work, and today received this enquiry on a pre-reg Avensis we have:

"I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR CARS AND IF YOU CAN SUPPLY ABOUT 3.IF THERE IS A MINIMUM ORDER QUANTITY PLEASE LET ME KNOW ALSO GIVE ME YOUR MINIMUM ORDER QUANTITY, DELIVERY TIME, WAITING YOUR URGENT REPLY. THANKS, DEREK IVANOVIC."

If there's one thing I've learned in business dealing with the general public (admittedly not cars) it's always worth replying politely and positively.

Some of my biggest customers are ones where you pick the phone up/write the e-mail response and your first reaction is "no way"!

That also includes some interesting African chaps who end up placing big orders over the last few years.

Granted, the majority are a waste of time, but it's always worth indulging.

[ChasW]

Maybe the scam is a WBAC campaign to drive frustrated sellers their way?

[Save Ferris]

The Moose said:

If there's one thing I've learned in business dealing with the general public (admittedly not cars) it's always worth replying politely and positively.

Some of my biggest customers are ones where you pick the phone up/write the e-mail response and your first reaction is "no way"!

That also includes some interesting African chaps who end up placing big orders over the last few years.

Granted, the majority are a waste of time, but it's always worth indulging.

You are right, and as always I have responded politely.

I'm pretty sure this one is a scam as the contact number is an 070.... 'Premium' number

[silver surfer]

Posted my car for sale also on autotrader and receive several emails of interest:

Thanks for the prompt response.I'm Okay with the condition of the
Car, as i have already go through it on the ad but just trying to make
little inquiry from you ready to buy it now as a gift for my Daughter,
I'm at sea at the moment as I'm a Naval Officer,and due to the nature
of my Job.....phone calls making and visiting of website are
restricted but i squeezed out time to check this advert and send you a
Text regarding it. I really want it to be a surprise for my Daughter i
won't let her know anything about it until it gets delivered to her, i
am sure she will be more than happy with it. I insisted on PayPal
because i don't have access to my bank account online as i don't have
internet banking, but i can pay from my PayPal account, as i have my
bank a/c attached to it,Get back to me with your PayPal email and the
price so i can proceed with the payment quickly, and sorry if you
don't have an Account, you sign-up for a PayPal personal account
www.PayPal.com it is very fast and easy to set up. And there is a
shipping company pick up agent that will come for the pick up after
the payment has been sorted out. Thanks

And another one:

Hi,

Thanks for the prompt response. I am ready to buy it now as a birthday
gift for my brother-in-law. I am at the sea at the moment as I am a
marine engineer, due to the nature of my work, phone calls and use of
the internet is restricted but I have managed to squeeze out time to
check your advert and send you an email regarding it. I really want
the car to be a surprise package for my brother-in-law so I won't let
him know anything about the car until it gets delivered to him, I am
sure he will be more than happy with the car. I insist on PayPal as my
mode of payment because I don't have access to my bank account online
and also, I don't have internet banking, but I can pay from my PayPal
account. I have my bank account attached to my PayPal account, so I
will need you to get back to me with your PayPal email address and
your final price so I can make the payment for the car asap. Please if
you don't have a PayPal account yet, it is very easy to set up, log on
to www.paypal.com and get it set up. After you have set it up, I will
only need the e-mail address you used for the registration with PayPal
so as to put the money through. I have a shipper that will come and
pick up the car after I must have made the payment for the car and
funds available in your account.

My Regards.


As you can see...rather similar!!

Also they all have some similar email address: name + [e-mail]

[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

Beware.

SS

[Terminator X]

I never use AT + get free adverts on here ... Win win

TX.

PS never get spam via P/Heads.

[Simpo Two]

I suppose you could insist on some money up front as deposit, give a false address, then clean out your Paypal account before they realise?

[80quattro]

A trader I know recently had his AT account hacked. Every car he had advertised had its price reduced very significantly, and his advert text changed to include a Gmail account, urging interested buyers to 'contact by email first'. The next day, he received approx 200 phone calls regarding his super cheap cars.

[e8_pack]

You know there are genuine people like me.
I work in oil and gas, in Nigeria of all places!

I want to buy a car by getting a ppi, (Porsche actually) and I want it bought before I get home as I have a limited amount of time in the UK, and I don't want to spend it looking. You can imagine how difficult it can be...

[Countdown]

The people I feel really sorry for are the marine engineers who are trying to buy cars

[aw51 121565]

What about the marine engineers who are (all ) at sea??