Beware, car buying scam

[espymal]

Guy's,
I thought this site would be the best way to sell my van and although i recieved a lot of interest ( thanks ), a mate who has always wanted it bought the van.
The reason for this topic is that I was contacted by a guy in the UK wanting to buy the van apparently for his son. During the conversations he said he was offshore and wanted a quick sale.
Short story long, He stated that he payed the agreed sum plus $1800 AUS for shipping through his agent, I had to pay the $1800 then I would recieve the payment for the car.
I recieved an email stating this from (a fake) PayPal. I had already sent a money request to him through my PayPal account, and nothing showed up.
I called PayPal and they ensured me this was a scam, and to send them the email and delete it. I was lucky not to click on any of the links on the page as this would apparently give them access to my computer details and accounts.
To me this web site is for like minded people with an interest in these cars... just beware that others with not so good intentions are looking in.

[Blacky]

Thanks for the heads up Mal , do you have any pics of the van ?

[Trev]

Damned scumbags .
Thanks for the warning.

[fxfjholden.com]

The reason that you received an email supposedly from a guy in the UK about your van, is that you have your email as a hyperlink in your for sale ad and the board is open to the general public to view the thread.

All the scammers are doing is running a script that picks up a for sale ad on an open forum with an email address and contacting you. These scams have been going on for many years.

The easiest way to make sure you don't receive any more scam emails when you make a For sale Ad put your email as name at domain dot com so it doesn't show as a hyperlink.

Jason

[Ken]

Guy's,
I thought this site would be the best way to sell my van and although i recieved a lot of interest ( thanks ), a mate who has always wanted it bought the van.
The reason for this topic is that I was contacted by a guy in the UK wanting to buy the van apparently for his son. During the conversations he said he was offshore and wanted a quick sale.
Short story long, He stated that he payed the agreed sum plus $1800 AUS for shipping through his agent, I had to pay the $1800 then I would recieve the payment for the car.
I recieved an email stating this from (a fake) PayPal. I had already sent a money request to him through my PayPal account, and nothing showed up.
I called PayPal and they ensured me this was a scam, and to send them the email and delete it. I was lucky not to click on any of the links on the page as this would apparently give them access to my computer details and accounts.
To me this web site is for like minded people with an interest in these cars... just beware that others with not so good intentions are looking in.

The same thing has happened to me & and my friend on separate occasions. If u google the apparent buyers name or email address into google I bet u get linked to plenty of forum discussions about people in same boat.
'vintageholden advertised my HR Holden, I got the same story, works away on rigs but wants the car etc... Can I forward my pay pal details so he can process payment. If you look it's alway slightly broken English.
After the interest in my car, I thanked the would be buyer (never released details) and told him / her that in was suffering from a fatal illness & that the sale had lifted my spirits, I never heard back!

[Ken]

Try this, deanmills2007@ymail.com

[J]

Was trying to sell my motorbike, somebody from Malaysia who would only want to be contacted by email wanted to buy it without rego and get it shipped over. Linked me to the paypal website in the email.

I considered it, then i thought - why would someone buy a bike from australia when he can probably get it for a $5 in Malaysia.

[ekwags62]

Had this happen to me a couple of weeks ago.
I've got an Rx3 on Gumtree atm they texted me an email address so I responded giving my email address. They replied by email saying they were working off shore on a rig and what they did there and said they would send the money to my paypal account. Another email came in a bit later telling me they had left their credit card on shore and were having trouble paying the transport company. It stated they would send the money for the car and the cost of tranport including bank fees. It then asked me to pay the transport company thru Western Union and i would receive a receipt number that I was to pass on to paypay which inturn paypal would forward the money for the car to my account. As soon as Western Union was mentioned I became a bit suspicious as I had heard of other scams using Western Union An email came thru from paypal or what looked like a legitimate paypal page telling me they had received money from a source relating to the Mazda and to pay the transport company, forward the receipt number to them and they would release the money for the car. I got in touch with my brother who is pretty much a guru with comunications showing him the letter from paypal. He verified my suspicions and told me to ignore it. I ignored it then a few days later a message came back from this fake paypal page saying if I didnt follow thru with the previous instructions they would be taking legal action. Knowing this was fake I ignored it again and have not heard any more.
The thing to what out for is the paypal address. The genuine address is http://www.paypal.com.au and the fake one is http://www.paypal.com.au. Note the dot after au. To check validity right click on the incoming email without opening it and select properties go to details and the return address should say service@paypal. The return address on the fake PayPal went to a Mark Spenser verifying of its origin. Another thing to what is the grammar the translation from foreign to english is not great.

Appologies for the rambling but hope this helps with identifying a scam.

Cheers Mick.

[Trev]

Great info Mick, glad you were onto them.