Gum Tree Robbery Warning
Discussion
Gum Tree Robbery Warning
A friend of mine arranged a viewing of an Audi A4 which was advertised on Gum Tree. Prior to the viewing he told the seller that if the car was as advertised he would probably buy it immediately via bank transfer. The seller told him that he preferred cash (approx 6k), so my mate went to the bank to withdraw the money.
To cut a long story short.......
That evening they had arranged to meet at an address in North London at 6.30. He arrived at the address 15 mins early only to find that the address was a private dead end road with a number of large detached houses. Just as he arrived he noticed two young men at the end of the road smoking and generally hanging around, so as you can imagine the alarm bells started to ring. At that point the seller calls him to say that he is running late and would he mind holding on, and to check what car he was in.
Within 2 minutes he noticed in his mirror 2 men running up behind the car in balaclavas holding monkey wrenches. He locked the doors of the car and started to drive away whilst they were smashing the car windows in a trying to grab him.
After informing the police they told him that 3 other victims had been attacked that day and ended up in hospital.
I thought I would share this with you as a word of warning!!!
A friend of mine arranged a viewing of an Audi A4 which was advertised on Gum Tree. Prior to the viewing he told the seller that if the car was as advertised he would probably buy it immediately via bank transfer. The seller told him that he preferred cash (approx 6k), so my mate went to the bank to withdraw the money.
To cut a long story short.......
That evening they had arranged to meet at an address in North London at 6.30. He arrived at the address 15 mins early only to find that the address was a private dead end road with a number of large detached houses. Just as he arrived he noticed two young men at the end of the road smoking and generally hanging around, so as you can imagine the alarm bells started to ring. At that point the seller calls him to say that he is running late and would he mind holding on, and to check what car he was in.
Within 2 minutes he noticed in his mirror 2 men running up behind the car in balaclavas holding monkey wrenches. He locked the doors of the car and started to drive away whilst they were smashing the car windows in a trying to grab him.
After informing the police they told him that 3 other victims had been attacked that day and ended up in hospital.
I thought I would share this with you as a word of warning!!!
Pesty said:
Won;t the police be able to trace the seller through his phone number and car advert?
obviously the phone call was to confirm to the two acomplices that he was the buyer with the cash when he picked up the phone.
The police are on to it.obviously the phone call was to confirm to the two acomplices that he was the buyer with the cash when he picked up the phone.
Just don't want anyone else to fall into the same trap!
Sounds Nasty. Once of the reasons I don't like buying/selling privately. All that cash (usually).
We've had a similar thing happen, although no crobars. Went to view a car, ad seemed perfect. Got there, couldn't find address, then the bloke called and said he was running late. He turned up (parked next to us) and just got out and started selling. Didn't invite us to the (made up) address.
We both knew straight away it was dodgy (quick glance at each other). The car was knackered. Dents everywhere etc. We're going round saying "looks in perfect nick", trying to fob him off. He gets the paperwork out, tipex. I kid you not, there was tipex on one of the stamps, as well as a MOT missing from the same time frame.
"We've got an other to look at in 20 mins, bur really like this one, we'll be back with a deposit on the way back" Jump in car, drive like crazy out of there!
It was almost as badly done as those Nigerian email scams. If you're going to try, do it properly!
We've had a similar thing happen, although no crobars. Went to view a car, ad seemed perfect. Got there, couldn't find address, then the bloke called and said he was running late. He turned up (parked next to us) and just got out and started selling. Didn't invite us to the (made up) address.
We both knew straight away it was dodgy (quick glance at each other). The car was knackered. Dents everywhere etc. We're going round saying "looks in perfect nick", trying to fob him off. He gets the paperwork out, tipex. I kid you not, there was tipex on one of the stamps, as well as a MOT missing from the same time frame.
"We've got an other to look at in 20 mins, bur really like this one, we'll be back with a deposit on the way back" Jump in car, drive like crazy out of there!
It was almost as badly done as those Nigerian email scams. If you're going to try, do it properly!
Melman Giraffe said:
Pesty said:
Won;t the police be able to trace the seller through his phone number and car advert?
obviously the phone call was to confirm to the two acomplices that he was the buyer with the cash when he picked up the phone.
The police are on to it.obviously the phone call was to confirm to the two acomplices that he was the buyer with the cash when he picked up the phone.
Just don't want anyone else to fall into the same trap!
oyster said:
Melman Giraffe said:
Pesty said:
Won;t the police be able to trace the seller through his phone number and car advert?
obviously the phone call was to confirm to the two acomplices that he was the buyer with the cash when he picked up the phone.
The police are on to it.obviously the phone call was to confirm to the two acomplices that he was the buyer with the cash when he picked up the phone.
Just don't want anyone else to fall into the same trap!
[AJ] said:
oyster said:
Melman Giraffe said:
Pesty said:
Won;t the police be able to trace the seller through his phone number and car advert?
obviously the phone call was to confirm to the two acomplices that he was the buyer with the cash when he picked up the phone.
The police are on to it.obviously the phone call was to confirm to the two acomplices that he was the buyer with the cash when he picked up the phone.
Just don't want anyone else to fall into the same trap!
Sorry but if you don't think that taking £6K in cash to a random stranger in a random location is odd, then you're unlikely to take much notice of any warnings.
oyster said:
Melman Giraffe said:
Pesty said:
Won;t the police be able to trace the seller through his phone number and car advert?
obviously the phone call was to confirm to the two acomplices that he was the buyer with the cash when he picked up the phone.
The police are on to it.obviously the phone call was to confirm to the two acomplices that he was the buyer with the cash when he picked up the phone.
Just don't want anyone else to fall into the same trap!
Half the problem is people fall for it because they get ahead of themselves.
It is a silly idea to bring cash for a first viewing, especially if you don't know the area. I always make that clear on the phone.
This scam isn't a new concept, it has been happening for years sadly.
I didn't even bother stopping to look at one car once purely because I didn't like the look of the road he lived on.
It is a silly idea to bring cash for a first viewing, especially if you don't know the area. I always make that clear on the phone.
This scam isn't a new concept, it has been happening for years sadly.
I didn't even bother stopping to look at one car once purely because I didn't like the look of the road he lived on.
illmonkey said:
Sounds Nasty. Once of the reasons I don't like buying/selling privately. All that cash (usually).
We've had a similar thing happen, although no crobars. Went to view a car, ad seemed perfect. Got there, couldn't find address, then the bloke called and said he was running late. He turned up (parked next to us) and just got out and started selling. Didn't invite us to the (made up) address.
We both knew straight away it was dodgy (quick glance at each other). The car was knackered. Dents everywhere etc. We're going round saying "looks in perfect nick", trying to fob him off. He gets the paperwork out, tipex. I kid you not, there was tipex on one of the stamps, as well as a MOT missing from the same time frame.
"We've got an other to look at in 20 mins, bur really like this one, we'll be back with a deposit on the way back" Jump in car, drive like crazy out of there!
It was almost as badly done as those Nigerian email scams. If you're going to try, do it properly!
I've had almost the exact same thing, only when the seller arrived he blocked the exit from the area we were parked in. It was obvious within 10 feet of the car that it was a wrong'n (dodgy panel gaps, over spray on window rubbers etc.). When this was pointed out he started getting quite angsty about it. Luckily Mrs911 is built like a brick sWe've had a similar thing happen, although no crobars. Went to view a car, ad seemed perfect. Got there, couldn't find address, then the bloke called and said he was running late. He turned up (parked next to us) and just got out and started selling. Didn't invite us to the (made up) address.
We both knew straight away it was dodgy (quick glance at each other). The car was knackered. Dents everywhere etc. We're going round saying "looks in perfect nick", trying to fob him off. He gets the paperwork out, tipex. I kid you not, there was tipex on one of the stamps, as well as a MOT missing from the same time frame.
"We've got an other to look at in 20 mins, bur really like this one, we'll be back with a deposit on the way back" Jump in car, drive like crazy out of there!
It was almost as badly done as those Nigerian email scams. If you're going to try, do it properly!
thouse or I'm not sure we'd have got out of there so easily.911motorsport said:
illmonkey said:
Sounds Nasty. Once of the reasons I don't like buying/selling privately. All that cash (usually).
We've had a similar thing happen, although no crobars. Went to view a car, ad seemed perfect. Got there, couldn't find address, then the bloke called and said he was running late. He turned up (parked next to us) and just got out and started selling. Didn't invite us to the (made up) address.
We both knew straight away it was dodgy (quick glance at each other). The car was knackered. Dents everywhere etc. We're going round saying "looks in perfect nick", trying to fob him off. He gets the paperwork out, tipex. I kid you not, there was tipex on one of the stamps, as well as a MOT missing from the same time frame.
"We've got an other to look at in 20 mins, bur really like this one, we'll be back with a deposit on the way back" Jump in car, drive like crazy out of there!
It was almost as badly done as those Nigerian email scams. If you're going to try, do it properly!
I've had almost the exact same thing, only when the seller arrived he blocked the exit from the area we were parked in. It was obvious within 10 feet of the car that it was a wrong'n (dodgy panel gaps, over spray on window rubbers etc.). When this was pointed out he started getting quite angsty about it. Luckily Mrs911 is built like a brick sWe've had a similar thing happen, although no crobars. Went to view a car, ad seemed perfect. Got there, couldn't find address, then the bloke called and said he was running late. He turned up (parked next to us) and just got out and started selling. Didn't invite us to the (made up) address.
We both knew straight away it was dodgy (quick glance at each other). The car was knackered. Dents everywhere etc. We're going round saying "looks in perfect nick", trying to fob him off. He gets the paperwork out, tipex. I kid you not, there was tipex on one of the stamps, as well as a MOT missing from the same time frame.
"We've got an other to look at in 20 mins, bur really like this one, we'll be back with a deposit on the way back" Jump in car, drive like crazy out of there!
It was almost as badly done as those Nigerian email scams. If you're going to try, do it properly!
thouse or I'm not sure we'd have got out of there so easily.I tried to find out more when you said she was built like a brick s
thouse 
...Unless you were merely insulting her weight issues
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