SCAM PEOPLE BEWARE

[spencer1]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 28 February 2013 at 21:19

[Shaw Tarse]

Post a link (or report it)

[miniman]

scammer said:

PistonHeads surveillance

Awesome, Garlick got some binoculars

[slinky]

There is a substantial fraud warnings section linked on the right hand side of the classifieds section, also, every photo displayed has the note displayed in the screen shot below..

[slinky]

Spencer, why have you deleted your posts?

[spencer1]

I enquired about a car for sale on pistonheads yesterday . The advert was a scam and could've quite easily cost me £4000 . I posted this on the wrong discussion page earlier and reposted it on the general gassing page . Unfortunetly pistonhead decided to erase this warning off this discussion so I am reposting it . This is a copy of the email I received after my enquirey minus pictures of the car and the pistonhead logos that are on the original email which looked 100% authentic .

PISTONHEADS CAR SALES DEPARTMENT
Thank you for your enquiry regarding this vehicle.
Vehicle Honda S2000 GT Facelift Red low mileage
Year 2006
Mileage 23100
Price £4000
Tax Nov 2013
MOT Dec 2013 with no advisories on the last test
78384725.jpg
You're in safe hands when you buy on PistonHeads.
we confirm that the vehicle is in our custody, it has been fully inspected by our technical support team and it is in very good condition. All documents are present and in perfect order.
All cars sold by us:
-Have a Full Service History
-Are fully HPI Clear
-Have a minimum of 6 Months MOT
-All vehicles supplied with 3 months warranty
-7 days free driveaway insurance
We are afraid that due to the temporary lack of personnel and due to previous bad experiences we had with a lot of time wasters and tire kickers just wanting to test drive not to buy we do not organize private viewings or cash on delivery.
If you are genuinely interested in purchasing the car, this is how the transaction is going to take place :
The transaction will be fully under PistonHeads surveillance, giving both , seller and buyer security and insurance that nothing will go wrong. You will first have to send the payment for your transaction by verified bank to bank wire transfer to our bank account. PH will be the 3rd, objective party involved in the transaction. This way you will actually pay for the car after you will receive and test it, because PH will hold the funds in an escrow account and release it to the seller only after you accept and confirm the delivery. After the car reaches your address you will have 48 hrs for inspection to see and test the car. Within this period you have to decide if you purchase it or not. If you decide to take it you will have to contact PH and let us know that, so we can release the payment to the seller. If you won't like it you will have to ship it back to PH and we will refund you. The shipping back will be done on seller expense, but we are sure this will not be the case.
If you want to take the deal to the next step all you have to do is to send exactly the following information:
First name:
Last name:
Address:
City:
County:
Post Code:
Once your details will be received we will send you the official payment invoice for your transaction

• To send your details simply reply to this e-mail

Please decide quickly if you will buy it or not as a few potential buyers have expressed interest and PH golden rule is first come first served.

We trust you found our service helpful, comprehensive and easy to use.
Please remember PistonHeads.com next time you or a friend are looking for a used car.

Kind regards,
PistonHeads Car Sales Department
For any questions please contact our Sales Department by replying to this email
This message was brought to you by PistonHeads
© Haymarket Media Group Ltd, 174 Hammersmith Road, London, W6 7JP Registered in England No. 267189
Haymarket Media Group Ltd is a member of the Direct Marketing Association and registered under the Data Protection Act 1998.

[V40TC]

Have you read the Blurb at the top of every advert?
PH does not deal with selling cars
only advertises them.



Please be aware that PistonHeads.com is never directly involved in sales transactions. If the seller claims PistonHeads are handling the sale DO NOT proceed. View our fraud warnings

Edited by V40TC on Thursday 28th February 21:32

[VinceFox]

That's a girl's car, that is.

[andy-xr]

Posted automatically on all ads I think

Please be aware that PistonHeads.com is never directly involved in sales transactions. If the seller claims PistonHeads are handling the sale DO NOT proceed. View our fraud warnings

Just report it and check the warnings (click any ad in the classifieds and go through to a photo)

[MysteryLemon]

Surely it would be less hassle to deal with tyre kicks and time wasters than effectively loan out cars to prospective buyer for free...

Stupid scam, stupid people will fall for it. Theyre all stupid.

[spencer1]

I was browsing the adds last night saw the add and replied . I realised today all was not well and phoned pistonheads up told them about the add and they confirmed my suspicion it was fraudulent . I posted it on here as a warning do you think these crooks go to all the trouble of making an advert posting it replying to e-mails making really authentic replys for fun . No because some people do send money so a warning and copy of the e-mail might just save some one a lot of money . Why are you having a go at that then .

Edited by spencer1 on Thursday 28th February 21:48

[Terminator X]

Ffs how many times?! Cars at way less than market value = almost always scam.

TX.

[Matt172]

slinky said:

Spencer, why have you deleted your posts?

Looks like he decided to start a new thread so I've linked them together

[anonymous-user]

spencer1 said:

phew thanks, nearly got caught out just about to transfer the 4k by western union to him in Estonia, where his Half-sisters brother's best mate is ill. He would have arranged for a transporter to deliver the car from Shetland where it is located, but found the thread.

Now can I send you some money for your help?

[Turn7]

Surely you only have to read the way the reply scans to know its a scammy scam scam scam ?

How many car dealers tell you how the deal is going to go down ?

How many car dealers wont allow private viewings ?

[spencer1]

I did read it that's why I reported it .Like I said they do not go to all that trouble if they don't think there gonna make money , not off me but some one out there has lost money .

[Bill]

Spencer, please stop reposting this across the site. We know, we understand, we coordinate with the police and other advertisers to try to prevent people getting ripped off, so report ads if you find one but continually reposting this doesn't help.

[Turn7]

Wasnt particularly aimed at you Spencer, just a generalisation....

[spencer1]

I have only posted this once as far as I am aware pistonheads deleted it off general gassing because I had put it on the wrong forum . So I deleted it off that forum and reposted it on the general gassing forum as I believed that was the best place to put a warning . Trust me I now regret it and won't make the same mistake again

[aw51 121565]

The Spruce goose said:

phew thanks, nearly got caught out just about to transfer the 4k by western union to him in Estonia, where his Half-sisters brother's best mate is ill. He would have arranged for a transporter to deliver the car from Shetland where it is located, but found the thread.

Now can I send you some money for your help?

I thought he (in your post) was in Southampton but visiting his Gran in Shetland and could meet the buyer with the car in Inverness?

Or was he in Portsmouth - but had said he would be in Shetland at that time - when somebody rang him to catch him out because a scam was suspected?

(Could have the wrong thread , but I'm sure I read this particular scammy gem yesterday. )