Another AutoTrader Scam?

[GaryThomlinson]

So I'm on the lookout for a nice classic Mini Cooper and I see one for sale in Wigan not to far from me. I email the seller and ask about the car.. I get back;

Hi Gary,
It`s still for sale. Excellent condition with no damages or any faults. All necessary documents available. My current location is Scotland due to my work commitments, If this is going to be a quick sale I will let it go for £3,700 buy buy delivered at my costs. Are you familiar to eBay? I will list the car on eBay Motors for the £3,700 buy it now price and I will send you a link to my auction, so you can buy it immediate.
As soon as you will confirm the payment to eBay, I will proceed delivery without any additional costs for you.
In case you are not familiar with them, please read their Buyer Protection and will see that they cover 100% the transaction done through them up to £50,000. You will receive the car with all the documents. As you know eBay is the best company of online transactions. If indeed interested in it and have the funds, I will list it on eBay, as I have a 100% positive feedback with them.
Please let me know your decision.
Best regards


Sent from my iPhone

[anonymous-user]

There is no car. Report it to Auto Trader and walk away.

[Sea Demon]

If it sounds like bullsh*t - it usually is.

[GaryThomlinson]

charltjr said:

There is no car. Report it to Auto Trader and walk away.

Already clicked the button suspecting as much.

[Monkeylegend]

Got to be a scam, when was the last time a genuine seller answered an e-mail?

[maffski]

Yep, ebay buyer protection doesn't cover vehicles - http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/money-back-g...

[HaloGen8]

Why would you even consider buying a car of such status and value without viewing it and giving it the once over?

(I know the OP hasn't and isn't and is flagging this up as Mickey Mouse bur seriously why would folk do it?)

[mnkiboy]

Sureley a scam, and a rather over-complicated one at that!

Ask to view the car, as nobody would spend that kind of money on an old car unseen.

Is it the green one with white stripes?

[GaryThomlinson]

It is. First look at the pictures made me go 'too good to be true surely' before then getting a response that said 'give me all your money and I will send you the car'... of course I'll hand over nearly four grand based on an email promise to deliver the car to me. NBY (not born yesterday)

[mnkiboy]

Advert said:

classic min john cooper one of a limited edition of 300 very collectable modle haveing only had 2 former keepers, finished in brooklands green with old english white roof and a genuine electric sunroof fitted from new by supplying dealer at a cost of over 500 pounds, 13" cooper sport wheels and arches, the interior is full red leather with silver dash as standared, the vehicle has undergone a extensive professional renavation including front wings, front pannel, a pannels, scuttle pannel, top dash pannel, both door skins ,inner and outer sills, back pannel.gearbox overhauled,new clutch fitted, front ball joints, track rod ends and brakes fitted, 2 owners, Next MOT due 25/09/2014, Full service history, CD player, Alloy wheels, Alarm, Driver's airbags. £3,700

Just goes to show you should never trust an advert from someone who can't spell!

[Matt UK]

GaryThomlinson said:

As you know eBay is the best company of online transactions.

Oh yeah, they really step in and help out when thing are going tits-up

[Jaldi]

mnkiboy said:

Advert said:

classic min john cooper one of a limited edition of 300 very collectable modle haveing only had 2 former keepers, finished in brooklands green with old english white roof and a genuine electric sunroof fitted from new by supplying dealer at a cost of over 500 pounds, 13" cooper sport wheels and arches, the interior is full red leather with silver dash as standared, the vehicle has undergone a extensive professional renavation including front wings, front pannel, a pannels, scuttle pannel, top dash pannel, both door skins ,inner and outer sills, back pannel.gearbox overhauled,new clutch fitted, front ball joints, track rod ends and brakes fitted, 2 owners, Next MOT due 25/09/2014, Full service history, CD player, Alloy wheels, Alarm, Driver's airbags. £3,700

Just goes to show you should never trust an advert from someone who can't spell!

The scammers just copy the text of a genuine advert elsewhere.
http://uk.findyourauto.net/Mini-john-cooper-LE-ZZc...

[mnkiboy]

Good find, pics are of the same car as well. I was wondering why a car for sale in Wigan was photographed on the coast. Turns out it's in Morecambe!

Sadly for the OP, the car is up for a little more than the £3700 the scammer wanted.

[zeppelin101]

Monkeylegend said:

Got to be a scam, when was the last time a genuine seller answered an e-mail?

I sold my Integra Type R to a man in the Cayman Islands via email. Worked a treat.

Email is highly convenient for sorting details out of any sale IME.

[GaryThomlinson]

mnkiboy said:

Sadly for the OP, the car is up for a little more than the £3700 the scammer wanted.

lol story of my life.

[Harvey Mushman00]

[nottyash]

Be fine, just let him send the link, pay by pay pal and he will send it at no cost to you.
What are you waiting for?

[rb5er]

GaryThomlinson said:

So I'm on the lookout for a nice classic Mini Cooper

Scammer said:

Hi Gary,
Excellent condition with no faults.

Theres the first clue.

[ADP68]

I've been looking at cars recently on Autotrader and there are a number of them with little messages in the photo saying 'please respond directly to the seller via this email...' but they appear to be ads from motor traders in that the advert has a dealer's logo etc. It all seems very suspicious to me and the ads were reported and have been removed today.