Is this a scam?

[ModMan]

I know some would say that if you have to ask if it's a scam, then it probably is. But just want to check.

Following on from my thread about buying a small car, there's a chap on Gumtree who has 8 adverts he puts up day in and day out. I just gave him a call about one of his cars (The A2) and got the normal "The Service booklet was missing, the previous owner will have it this weekend" and that it has full history and is in good condition etc. He asked if it was for me (It is, but it'd be for my Mum to use) and a couple of other questions which was a bit odd as I've not been asked them before. He also asked if I'd be bringing my Mum to look at it with me, just an odd question I thought, (I'm in my 30s) He also said he'd had 4 or 5 calls about the car this morning, but it's been re-advertised on Gumtree every day this week so it's always at the top.

This is the car - http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2003...

Is it too good to be true would you say?

[ecsrobin]

The price is very low compared to other A2's of similar age and mileage. Walk away.

[ManFromDelmonte]

I've been a member here for over 5 years and in all that time I don't think I've ever seen an "Is this a scam" thread answered "No".

[barwea]

We need an auto-answer facility for the various thread titles that occur most weeks:

Is this a scam? - Yes
Is this a good idea? - No
Am I overreacting? - Yes
Am I being unreasonable? - Yes

ModMan said:

I know some would say that if you have to ask if it's a scam, then it probably is. But just want to check.

Following on from my thread about buying a small car, there's a chap on Gumtree who has 8 adverts he puts up day in and day out. I just gave him a call about one of his cars (The A2) and got the normal "The Service booklet was missing, the previous owner will have it this weekend" and that it has full history and is in good condition etc. He asked if it was for me (It is, but it'd be for my Mum to use) and a couple of other questions which was a bit odd as I've not been asked them before. He also asked if I'd be bringing my Mum to look at it with me, just an odd question I thought, (I'm in my 30s) He also said he'd had 4 or 5 calls about the car this morning, but it's been re-advertised on Gumtree every day this week so it's always at the top.

This is the car - http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2003...

Is it too good to be true would you say?

This case would seem to be no different.

[IanCress]

The service book will never turn up, and it will be hiding some dodgy history.

If it seems too cheap, then it's for a reason. Someone who sells cars for a living as this guy does will know the true value of these cars. Therefore there's a reason he's selling it so cheap.

[ModMan]

Fair enough, thanks all. Looks like I'll be giving it a miss. I have a nice little Honda Civic I'll hopefully see this afternoon which is hopefully better. Cheap car buying is hard work.

[Snowboy]

The only question is what sort of scam.

It's either a knackered car, in which case it's not a scam, it's just a crap car and a sneaky dealer. Probably flogging a cat-c with no history and pretending it's a premium FSH example.

Or, there's no car.
It's a full on scam and you'll be called up and told someone else wants to buy but he'll keep it for you if you give a deposit.

[ModMan]

I agree. All his pics are taken in the same place so not stolen pics or anything like that. A "free" HPI shows it doesn't have VIC attached to it and the mileage tallys up so I was just thinking it's knackered.

Was also weary when he asked who'd be coming to look at it with me as I had visions of 4 big lads pitching up and robbing me or something daft.

Edited by ModMan on Thursday 17th July 12:38

[Liquid Tuna]

Agree with everyone else really. If it looks and drives like a car for double that price, why is he selling it at half its value and why hasn't it sold yet? I realise a too low price can sometimes put people off, but Gumtree is rife for this sort of thing.

[soad]

What a bargain, I'll buy two!

[uncinquesei]

Audi system said:

Vehicle
VIN
WAUZZZ8Z93N023396
Registration Number
NG52OJS
Colour Description
Dolphin Grey, metallic
Vehicle Status
Active 20/07/2010
Service Regime
Longlife
Imported Vehicle
No
Model Description
Audi A2 1.6 FSI Sport 5Spd
Vehicle History
Event
Date
Dealer
Mileage
Additional Details
Repair 15/04/2006 00681 52,927
Repair 01/03/2006 00681 50,454
Repair 19/01/2006 00661 48,575
Care 19/01/2006 00661 48,000 Claim Number: 16321 /1| Emissions central sensor |Electrical defects |I| Value: 103.78
Disowned 20/10/2005
Care 21/07/2005 00586 52,000 Claim Number: 11128 /1| Connecting pipe |Leaking |I| Value: 177.61
Service 22/03/2005 00720 37,817 AVS
Disowned 28/02/2005
Service 23/12/2003 00647 18,871 AVS
New Sale Event 03/01/2003 00780

[ModMan]

Thanks for that. Not quite sure if it's bad or good that report. Either way I gave it a miss just in case and bought a lovely Honda Civic instead. Thanks all.

[Escort3500]

Link just says that "this scam is no longer available "

[ferrariF50lover]

I feel slightly bad now, about the P/X I gave a dealer a couple of months back. I genuinely had misplaced the service book when I moved (tell me about it!) I promised the trader I'd find it and get it to him. I couldn't place my hands on it within a couple of days, so I got sleuthing and managed to get not only the full Audi service history, but also the independent stuff it had had done earlier in its life. I was quite impressed with myself... until I found the original service book the day after I'd paid for a new one from Audi HQ.

I put the cost down as stupidity tax and moved on (until today. Now I'm all bitter and murderous).

Simon.

[Riknos]

uncinquesei said:

Audi system said:

Vehicle
VIN
WAUZZZ8Z93N023396
Registration Number
NG52OJS
Colour Description
Dolphin Grey, metallic
Vehicle Status
Active 20/07/2010
Service Regime
Longlife
Imported Vehicle
No
Model Description
Audi A2 1.6 FSI Sport 5Spd
Vehicle History
Event
Date
Dealer
Mileage
Additional Details
Repair 15/04/2006 00681 52,927
Repair 01/03/2006 00681 50,454
Repair 19/01/2006 00661 48,575
Care 19/01/2006 00661 48,000 Claim Number: 16321 /1| Emissions central sensor |Electrical defects |I| Value: 103.78
Disowned 20/10/2005
Care 21/07/2005 00586 52,000 Claim Number: 11128 /1| Connecting pipe |Leaking |I| Value: 177.61
Service 22/03/2005 00720 37,817 AVS
Disowned 28/02/2005
Service 23/12/2003 00647 18,871 AVS
New Sale Event 03/01/2003 00780

Not sure why those two have been highlighted? If it's to show it has only had 2 services - then that doesn't prove anything as they could have taken it to anywhere apart from Audi? Or am I missing something?

[aw51 121565]

Riknos said:

uncinquesei said:

Audi system said:

Vehicle
VIN
WAUZZZ8Z93N023396
Registration Number
NG52OJS
Colour Description
Dolphin Grey, metallic
Vehicle Status
Active 20/07/2010
Service Regime
Longlife
Imported Vehicle
No
Model Description
Audi A2 1.6 FSI Sport 5Spd
Vehicle History
Event
Date
Dealer
Mileage
Additional Details
Repair 15/04/2006 00681 52,927
Repair 01/03/2006 00681 50,454
Repair 19/01/2006 00661 48,575
Care 19/01/2006 00661 48,000 Claim Number: 16321 /1| Emissions central sensor |Electrical defects |I| Value: 103.78
Disowned 20/10/2005
Care 21/07/2005 00586 52,000 Claim Number: 11128 /1| Connecting pipe |Leaking |I| Value: 177.61
Service 22/03/2005 00720 37,817 AVS
Disowned 28/02/2005
Service 23/12/2003 00647 18,871 AVS
New Sale Event 03/01/2003 00780

Not sure why those two have been highlighted? If it's to show it has only had 2 services - then that doesn't prove anything as they could have taken it to anywhere apart from Audi? Or am I missing something?

Possibly...

The deleted Ad said:

2003 Audi A2 FSI Sport 1.6 (12 MONTHS MOT)
Hide full description

£1,325

Sorry, this ad is no longer available.
2003 Audi A2 FSI Sport 1.6 in met grey, grey cloth interior, Manual, Petrol, 5 Door, 83 k from new, 12 Months MOT & Taxed . P/A/S, E/W, E/M, A/C, CD Player, Alloys. Very clean & tidy, drives extremely well. £1325

Apart from it hopefully having been serviced outside the Audi network...

In April 2006 the car was apparently averagng around 360 miles a week (as it seemed to have done since new until this time - no info afterwards), and had only 30,000 miles less on the clock than it has now (8 years 3 months later).

I'd assume it's had a haircut (at best )? Not been serviced? Neglected? These aren't engines to neglect (or to pootle around town all the time), by a few accounts.

More speculatively, I also wonder if the VIN ties up with that registration mark? Or if the PNC holds any info against that VIN? Or if it's the real VIN for that vehicle? Or...