Scammers asking for address and postcode?

[rossub]

My car is for sale on autotrader and I've had several emails from gmail accounts just asking for the address and postcode that the car is located at.

It's a 5 year old relatively common hot hatch, so not really something that would be stolen to order, but I can't think what else they would use the info for?

[Buff Mchugelarge]

So they can find it to view it?

[robinessex]

Buff Mchugelarge said:

So they can find it to view it?

Best if you don't ever advertise a car for sale I think. Not 'buyer beware, it's 'seller beware' these days.

[rallycross]

Sounds like it - genuine buyers don't just ask for the address.

[HaloGen8]

If they are genuine I would have thought they would want to make contact first - email for details or phone call. Anything less I would be very cautious of

[VinceFox]

Contact them and agree viewing in public place close to home in first instance. If legit can then view at home address as well.

[BFG TERRANO]

I would want to know where it is if I was interested, but would the location not be in the advert anyway?

[Rickeh]

I wouldn't give them it, especially if you've had a few similar ones. I had my car up on auto trader and had nothing but scam emails from gmail accounts. If they were proper buyers they'd ask more questions. I would probably just ignore, or give them a very rough location like which town it's in and judge their response.

[Slidingpillar]

Buff Mchugelarge said:

So they can find it to view it?

Wearing tinfoil hat - to steal it.

Fair enough to give rough location, although you should give rough location in the advert as a car advertised in Perth is not likely to attract buyers in the West Country.

Above is an example, no idea where the OP is.

Edited by Slidingpillar on Sunday 6th July 10:32

Edited by Slidingpillar on Sunday 6th July 11:08

[rossub]

Rickeh said:

I wouldn't give them it, especially if you've had a few similar ones. I had my car up on auto trader and had nothing but scam emails from gmail accounts. If they were proper buyers they'd ask more questions. I would probably just ignore, or give them a very rough location like which town it's in and judge their response.

Exactly. They don't ask any of the normal questions about the car itself and are written in a way that makes them sound foreign. Maybe it's the start of the phishing process, trying to lure me into giving the car to their "shipping agent".

[rossub]

This is one of the emails:


Hi again Ross.I have checked out my agenda for this week and it's seems I can squeeze in half an hour on Monday afternoon around 6.30. I have seen the photos from Autotrader and your Civic is quite amazing. Looks really well maintained and I am sure this is the lucky one. If it is not to much to ask can you please let me know what's your postal code? In case that we can arrange a meeting on Monday.You'll find my personal address in the Subject since I am rubbish with computers and I don't know how to open my office address from home.

Amazing? Lucky one? ....really?

Just sounds totally dodgy. So I told him the car is near Inverness, which is 100 miles away from me - no response yet.

[VinceFox]

If you're not sure, just tell them the car's sold or isn't for them.

[Chainguy]

rossub said:

This is one of the emails:


Hi again Ross.I have checked out my agenda for this week and it's seems I can squeeze in half an hour on Monday afternoon around 6.30. I have seen the photos from Autotrader and your Civic is quite amazing. Looks really well maintained and I am sure this is the lucky one. If it is not to much to ask can you please let me know what's your postal code? In case that we can arrange a meeting on Monday.You'll find my personal address in the Subject since I am rubbish with computers and I don't know how to open my office address from home.

Amazing? Lucky one? ....really?

Just sounds totally dodgy. So I told him the car is near Inverness, which is 100 miles away from me - no response yet.

I may be cynical, but I agree with you. That sound very dodgy indeed. Just something about the way its written rings an alarm bell with me.

[Negative Creep]

Just jad this through the PH Classifieds (can't seem to find an easy way to report it) and they do seem to be brushing up on their Enlgish skills

" Hello,

I'm a Cars and Bikes agent, I look at the advertisment of your car, very interesting,I would like to purchase it. This car is on my roster that one company listed for me to get for them, it will be very
nice if you have recent picture of the car. Please send it to me but if you dont have it, no problem. Please do let me know the condition of the car then let me know the price you want to sell the car. I would be
looking forward to hear from you soon.


My regards. "

[anonymous-user]

It's just written far too nicely.

It's like the Nigerian scammers have taken the criticism of poor English grammar to heart and gone too far in perfecting it.

[Vaud]

rossub said:

This is one of the emails:


Hi again Ross.I have checked out my agenda for this week and it's seems I can squeeze in half an hour on Monday afternoon around 6.30. I have seen the photos from Autotrader and your Civic is quite amazing. Looks really well maintained and I am sure this is the lucky one. If it is not to much to ask can you please let me know what's your postal code? In case that we can arrange a meeting on Monday.You'll find my personal address in the Subject since I am rubbish with computers and I don't know how to open my office address from home.

Amazing? Lucky one? ....really?

Just sounds totally dodgy. So I told him the car is near Inverness, which is 100 miles away from me - no response yet.

scam.

[Vaud]

Much like this. Massive yacht.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsYoeoEE3ww&fe...