Hi,
I recently advertised my car for sale online and got an SMS and email from a buyer who claims he is an engineer working on an oil rig and he would like to buy the car (without inspecting it). He was asking for my Paypal details or bank account details so that he could pay me and with the funds cleared he would send his courier to pick it up.
Does he sound genuine or is he dodgy?

This scam has played out and is old in SA already. The buyer normally works on a oil rig, trawler, research or or leisure boat, and is buying for his poor father or other family member.

Don't engage - you will lose your car / bike. They have a reputation for getting quite aggressive too. Just walk away.

Moondog wrote:

This scam has played out and is old in SA already. The buyer normally works on a oil rig, trawler, research or or leisure boat, and is buying for his poor father or other family member.

Don't engage - you will lose your car / bike. They have a reputation for getting quite aggressive too. Just walk away.

Same in the UK 

Moondog wrote:

Don't engage - you will lose your car / bike.

You will get many more of these. They will write a bankers draft or make a payment and take the car. The draft or payment will not be genuine and you will lose the car.

I have no idea why auto trader cannot filter this spam out. It would be a simple rule to write...

 2012 DISCOVERY 4 GS AUTO ORKNEY GREY
2012 FREELANDER 2 SD4 GS AUTO BALTIC BLUE - GONE
2011 FREELANDER 2 TD4 GS MANUAL BALI BLUE - GONE

A well (scuse pun) documented scam, nearly always Oil rig workers

http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=23073

You need to ask for his bank details so you can take the money out of his account before they come for it
These guys are always working in some inaccessible location like a diamond mine and only get one day a year off work to come up to the surface, its a big scam, spam whatever

alex_pescaru wrote:

Moondog wrote:

Don't engage - you will lose your car / bike.

But how is that as long as the money are ALREADY in your bank account and only AFTER that you'll hand over the car?

You can always state that the car will not be released untill the funds are cleared and because you are not doing the deal in person there will be a 30 day waiting period after the funds have cleared in your account.
Also ask them for their ebay id so that you can send them an invoice.
After that bet you dont hear from them again.

Typical response:


Hello,

     Great reading from you. I believe you must have buyer's interested in the purchase and I thought the best way to outbid them is by offering additional sum of ( R2500 )to the asking price . I am an oceanographer and am presently working in United states but I'm buying this as a surprise Gift for my Dad.

To start with, I can only make the payment via paypal because it's very safe and secure for both of us. In case you don't have a paypal account I'll advice you to register for one at  www.paypal.co.za . (I will cover the paypal charges) I won't be available to come for inspection due to my present location. I have a private pick-up agent that will contact you in-order to handle the pick-up at your place once the payment is completed.

I'll like you to tell me more about the present mechanical condition of the Bike, how often do you service it, the history, have you ever experience any mechanical problem with it before?

I'll be the one to handle the payment via Paypal because the pick up agent doesn't deal with cash payment on behalf of their customers. Your quick response is greatly appreciated so that we can proceed with this transaction a.s.a.p. I will keep checking my email every 15 minutes for your message.

Kind Regards,

Steve

Please be aware the the FUNDS will show as cleared in your account but two weeks later your bank will find out that the cheque/bankers draft was a fake and make you pay...A well know scam..

geoffk wrote:

Please be aware the the FUNDS will show as cleared in your account but two weeks later your bank will find out that the cheque/bankers draft was a fake and make you pay...A well know scam..

Usually it considered that a check will be cleared after about 4 to 6 working days BUT the funds will not be released into your account for some time after that if they are still waiting for funds to be transfered from the other bank.
If you let your goods go before this time you may loose them as your bank wont credit your account or if they did then they will want it back.
Trying to get your goods back is almost imposible so never let goods go untill you have comfirmed money has been cleared in your account. You can comfirm this by getting your bank to make checks about two weeks after they were paid in.
If its nit cleared by then its not going to be

Last edited by superspark on 2nd Sep 2012 3:53 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Sorry guy's, I live in the UK, not America, so can we spell correctly please.

The word I'm referring to is CHEQUE not CHECK!!  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

Dave wrote:

Sorry guy's, I live in the UK, not America, so can we spell correctly please.

The word I'm referring to is CHEQUE not CHECK!!