Help I think I've been scammed into buying a fake car?
Discussion
Hello, I hope someone here can offer me some reassurance.
I recently replaced to an advert for a car on EBay which was placed by a motors dealer in Leigh in Sea. I asked some questions about the car and got a responce from a guy saying it was his brothers car. I then enquired about the situation as on eBay it said he was a dealer, he said he was selling the car through Alfasell and the car was in Aberdeen, but they would ship it to me at his expense if I wanted to go ahead. I asked lots of questions about the history of the car and he said he was in Germany and all the paperwork was with the car at Alfasell, he did however send me a photograph of the V5 which showed his brothers name and address as the previous owner and his name and address and the current owner. I contacted Alfasell and their phone line said that they were experiencing trouble and I should use thier live chat. I asked lots of questions on the live chat about the vehicle and after conferring with my husband we decided to go ahead and buy it. I also googled the company and lots of forums had people asking similar questions about the legitimacy of Alfasell and there were lots of replies from people saying they'd bought and sold through them and they were excellent.
We sent the money by online transfer on Thursday and they replied to say the money had been received. I went on the live chat on Friday morning to ask when the car would be delivered and they said after 4pm on sat and the driver would call within 2 hours to let me know he was on his way. Well it is now 830pm and we have had no phone call. We've tried calling the owner in Germany who said to call him if there were any probelms etc and he's not picking up his phone.
I feel physically sick with worry as we have spent all our savings on this car for our 8 month old twins. My husband is convinced it's all a scam.
Has anyone else had an experience of this company, do they just have crap customer service and drivers who don't think they need to update you if they are going to be rediculously late?
Thankyou for your time
I recently replaced to an advert for a car on EBay which was placed by a motors dealer in Leigh in Sea. I asked some questions about the car and got a responce from a guy saying it was his brothers car. I then enquired about the situation as on eBay it said he was a dealer, he said he was selling the car through Alfasell and the car was in Aberdeen, but they would ship it to me at his expense if I wanted to go ahead. I asked lots of questions about the history of the car and he said he was in Germany and all the paperwork was with the car at Alfasell, he did however send me a photograph of the V5 which showed his brothers name and address as the previous owner and his name and address and the current owner. I contacted Alfasell and their phone line said that they were experiencing trouble and I should use thier live chat. I asked lots of questions on the live chat about the vehicle and after conferring with my husband we decided to go ahead and buy it. I also googled the company and lots of forums had people asking similar questions about the legitimacy of Alfasell and there were lots of replies from people saying they'd bought and sold through them and they were excellent.
We sent the money by online transfer on Thursday and they replied to say the money had been received. I went on the live chat on Friday morning to ask when the car would be delivered and they said after 4pm on sat and the driver would call within 2 hours to let me know he was on his way. Well it is now 830pm and we have had no phone call. We've tried calling the owner in Germany who said to call him if there were any probelms etc and he's not picking up his phone.
I feel physically sick with worry as we have spent all our savings on this car for our 8 month old twins. My husband is convinced it's all a scam.
Has anyone else had an experience of this company, do they just have crap customer service and drivers who don't think they need to update you if they are going to be rediculously late?
Thankyou for your time
[quote=J
We sent the money by online transfer on Thursday
[/quote]
Really feel for you and I hope you have a happy conclusion but this is the part that made me think, as you do that you may have been scammed.
Easy to say with hindsight but never ever for any amount send money via bank transfer to someone you don't know.
We sent the money by online transfer on Thursday
[/quote]
Really feel for you and I hope you have a happy conclusion but this is the part that made me think, as you do that you may have been scammed.
Easy to say with hindsight but never ever for any amount send money via bank transfer to someone you don't know.
Really? Are you a troll?
I don't mean to be condescending, but you actually bought a car without viewing it in person, bought that story and transferred money to an unknown off the internet?
I wouldn't even buy a used car from a main dealer without viewing it, let alone some random indy.
Recently shopping for a family wagon, main skoda dealer, "approved used" etc... traveled to view after being told it's wonderful... one whole corner of the car had been replaced (wheel, tyre, wing, shock etc).. "no sir, it's never been in an accident" - we left.
I don't know why but the industry just attracts lying scum, including pretty much every main dealer I have ever dealt with, even buying new.
So to me actually transferring money to an unknown without even seeing the car in question... would be idiotic & nieve to the extreme, sorry.
I don't mean to be condescending, but you actually bought a car without viewing it in person, bought that story and transferred money to an unknown off the internet?
I wouldn't even buy a used car from a main dealer without viewing it, let alone some random indy.
Recently shopping for a family wagon, main skoda dealer, "approved used" etc... traveled to view after being told it's wonderful... one whole corner of the car had been replaced (wheel, tyre, wing, shock etc).. "no sir, it's never been in an accident" - we left.
I don't know why but the industry just attracts lying scum, including pretty much every main dealer I have ever dealt with, even buying new.
So to me actually transferring money to an unknown without even seeing the car in question... would be idiotic & nieve to the extreme, sorry.
Edited by sl0wlane on Saturday 4th February 20:52
JaM2016 said:
Hello, I hope someone here can offer me some reassurance.
I recently replaced to an advert for a car on EBay which was placed by a motors dealer in Leigh in Sea. I asked some questions about the car and got a responce from a guy saying it was his brothers car. I then enquired about the situation as on eBay it said he was a dealer, he said he was selling the car through Alfasell and the car was in Aberdeen, but they would ship it to me at his expense if I wanted to go ahead. I asked lots of questions about the history of the car and he said he was in Germany and all the paperwork was with the car at Alfasell, he did however send me a photograph of the V5 which showed his brothers name and address as the previous owner and his name and address and the current owner. I contacted Alfasell and their phone line said that they were experiencing trouble and I should use thier live chat. I asked lots of questions on the live chat about the vehicle and after conferring with my husband we decided to go ahead and buy it. I also googled the company and lots of forums had people asking similar questions about the legitimacy of Alfasell and there were lots of replies from people saying they'd bought and sold through them and they were excellent.
We sent the money by online transfer on Thursday and they replied to say the money had been received. I went on the live chat on Friday morning to ask when the car would be delivered and they said after 4pm on sat and the driver would call within 2 hours to let me know he was on his way. Well it is now 830pm and we have had no phone call. We've tried calling the owner in Germany who said to call him if there were any probelms etc and he's not picking up his phone.
I feel physically sick with worry as we have spent all our savings on this car for our 8 month old twins. My husband is convinced it's all a scam.
Has anyone else had an experience of this company, do they just have crap customer service and drivers who don't think they need to update you if they are going to be rediculously late?
Thankyou for your time
Just in case.I recently replaced to an advert for a car on EBay which was placed by a motors dealer in Leigh in Sea. I asked some questions about the car and got a responce from a guy saying it was his brothers car. I then enquired about the situation as on eBay it said he was a dealer, he said he was selling the car through Alfasell and the car was in Aberdeen, but they would ship it to me at his expense if I wanted to go ahead. I asked lots of questions about the history of the car and he said he was in Germany and all the paperwork was with the car at Alfasell, he did however send me a photograph of the V5 which showed his brothers name and address as the previous owner and his name and address and the current owner. I contacted Alfasell and their phone line said that they were experiencing trouble and I should use thier live chat. I asked lots of questions on the live chat about the vehicle and after conferring with my husband we decided to go ahead and buy it. I also googled the company and lots of forums had people asking similar questions about the legitimacy of Alfasell and there were lots of replies from people saying they'd bought and sold through them and they were excellent.
We sent the money by online transfer on Thursday and they replied to say the money had been received. I went on the live chat on Friday morning to ask when the car would be delivered and they said after 4pm on sat and the driver would call within 2 hours to let me know he was on his way. Well it is now 830pm and we have had no phone call. We've tried calling the owner in Germany who said to call him if there were any probelms etc and he's not picking up his phone.
I feel physically sick with worry as we have spent all our savings on this car for our 8 month old twins. My husband is convinced it's all a scam.
Has anyone else had an experience of this company, do they just have crap customer service and drivers who don't think they need to update you if they are going to be rediculously late?
Thankyou for your time
sl0wlane said:
Really? Are you a troll?
I don't mean to be condescending, but you actually bought a car without viewing it in person, bought that story and transferred money to an unknown off the internet?
I wouldn't even buy a used car from a main dealer without viewing it, let alone some random indy.
Recently shopping for a family wagon, main skoda dealer, "approved used" etc... traveled to view after being told it's wonderful... one whole corner of the car had been replaced (wheel, tyre, wing, shock etc).. "no sir, it's never been in an accident" - we left.
I don't know why but the industry just attracts lying scum, including pretty much every main dealer I have ever dealt with, even buying new.
So to me actually transferring money to an unknown without even seeing the car in question... would be idiotic & nieve to the extreme, sorry.
How do you know he was not telling the truth, after all customers are the most honest genuine people you could ever want to meet and never lie about anything.I don't mean to be condescending, but you actually bought a car without viewing it in person, bought that story and transferred money to an unknown off the internet?
I wouldn't even buy a used car from a main dealer without viewing it, let alone some random indy.
Recently shopping for a family wagon, main skoda dealer, "approved used" etc... traveled to view after being told it's wonderful... one whole corner of the car had been replaced (wheel, tyre, wing, shock etc).. "no sir, it's never been in an accident" - we left.
I don't know why but the industry just attracts lying scum, including pretty much every main dealer I have ever dealt with, even buying new.
So to me actually transferring money to an unknown without even seeing the car in question... would be idiotic & nieve to the extreme, sorry.
Edited by sl0wlane on Saturday 4th February 20:52
It was an ad on eBay - did you go through them?
If so, you should be protected in some way... Certainly speak to them first and see if they'll help.
Ultimately, you shouldn't pay for ANYTHING of this value without first seeing the item - and if you HAVE to, use PayPal so that you can appeal later on! Bank transfers are zero-comeback. If this IS a scam, you'll have most likely lost your money.
If so, you should be protected in some way... Certainly speak to them first and see if they'll help.
Ultimately, you shouldn't pay for ANYTHING of this value without first seeing the item - and if you HAVE to, use PayPal so that you can appeal later on! Bank transfers are zero-comeback. If this IS a scam, you'll have most likely lost your money.
Thankyou to those who have sent constructive replies.
This is the link to the Alfasell website:
http://www.alfaselgroup.com/page/about_us.html
I stupidly, I expect, thought that because of their 10 day return guarantee and the fact that they look like a legit company, and they were advertising on EBay ( also supposedly through this site as well as Craigslist etc) and that I spoke to the 'owner' on the phone, I received official looking emails from Alfasell and the owner as well as a photo of the V5. And I also saw lots of good feedback about them on forums, all of which have been checked out by a friend who is a computer wiz. I thought it seemed legit.
I really hope that tomorrow I'll be posting again with good news. If not I'm glad I've given some of you a good laugh.
This is the link to the Alfasell website:
http://www.alfaselgroup.com/page/about_us.html
I stupidly, I expect, thought that because of their 10 day return guarantee and the fact that they look like a legit company, and they were advertising on EBay ( also supposedly through this site as well as Craigslist etc) and that I spoke to the 'owner' on the phone, I received official looking emails from Alfasell and the owner as well as a photo of the V5. And I also saw lots of good feedback about them on forums, all of which have been checked out by a friend who is a computer wiz. I thought it seemed legit.
I really hope that tomorrow I'll be posting again with good news. If not I'm glad I've given some of you a good laugh.
the website was registered on the 30/01/2016, and spells sell,'sel'. it is a scam.
the only recourse you have is to contact the your bank and ask them if they can claw the money back. they have a legal obligation to do so, as confirmed by the financial ombudsman. but you may never see the money again.
the only recourse you have is to contact the your bank and ask them if they can claw the money back. they have a legal obligation to do so, as confirmed by the financial ombudsman. but you may never see the money again.
the website is a rip off of http://demaclogistics-ltd.co.uk/site/about_us.html
i am suprised your 'computer friend' didn't notice, considering how s
t the website is.
https://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=...
FAKE RUSSIAN ESCROW COMPANY
i am suprised your 'computer friend' didn't notice, considering how s
t the website is.https://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=...
FAKE RUSSIAN ESCROW COMPANY
Edited by The Spruce goose on Saturday 4th February 22:03
Spruce Goose, I googled the address on the V5 before buying and it was a new build housing estate in Aberdeen. I also google street viewed the company address and it was a warehouse under construction with shipping containers outside, as they only set up their uk base in 2016 I thought the Google pic. Could have been taken when they were setting up. Our house looks nothing like the one on Google street view. I bought the vehicle status report through the link on eBay before i contacted the dealer. I have no idea how he got my personal email address, maybe through eBay?
It will be almost impossible to make the £5200 back, I'm on maternity leave with twins so money is very very tight as it is, this was all our savings. The saddest part for me is the fact that I asked so many safety questions about the car, and explained to him that I was an over protective mother who was paranoid about safety because our son had died whilst I was in labour 2 and a half years ago.
It will be almost impossible to make the £5200 back, I'm on maternity leave with twins so money is very very tight as it is, this was all our savings. The saddest part for me is the fact that I asked so many safety questions about the car, and explained to him that I was an over protective mother who was paranoid about safety because our son had died whilst I was in labour 2 and a half years ago.
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