U seen this scam

[doer1]

I saw a car on autotrader looked a good price so I sent them an email and got this response. Looks like the Ebay scammers

Hi there, my name is Ben and I would like to tell you that the car is still

for sale. The car is in 100% perfect condition both optical and technical.

The car is on my name and I have all the service records books from the

dealer up to date. I am the first and only owner of this beauty so far and I

am selling it because I have moved to Germany for a few years with my wife

and kids for business purposes and it's very difficult if not impossible to

bring the car over here in Berlin. The car has never been involved in any

kind of damage or accident so far. The car is located in London, England,

where I have a home and if you plant to buy it and you are serious about it

I am sure we can find a way for you to buy the car . So please tell me if

you are 100% serious about getting this car or you just asked about it out

of pure curiosity. Also, I forget to mention the car has all documents valid

and the taxes paid.

PS: I confirm the price.

Best Regards

Ben

[Guest]

Doesn't seem dodgy to me :confused: I haven't bought a car myself, but reading from that it doesnt sound dodgy, but if hes actually selling the car to you whilst hes at Germany, then yes it is dodgy

[Dr Zoidberg]

It's a definite scam.

[JRHartley]

I am sure we can find a way for you to buy the car .

..I'll bet you can......through some dodgy finance or 'buy now see it never' scheme.

dodgier than a holdall full of used car stereos..

[andy2407]

it's very difficult if not impossible to

bring the car over here in Berlin.

Can't see why? Is`Germany not in the EEC any more?

[Jimmy]

Seems fair enough to me. Probably just sick to the back teeth of people anonymously e-mailing him for more details when they've probably got bott all intention of actually buying the car. If it's in the Autotrader then I would suggest people just pluck up the courage and ring the bloke up

[Xavier]

IT does seem a little incoherent to me.

If it's such a problem importing a car into Germany (can't see why apart from MOT issues), then why mention it's in London, England. Surely, everyone looking in Autotrader knows that London is in England. And if you're saying England because you're opening the sale up to potential foreigners, I thought you'd rather keep the car and try and sort out importing it into Germany in the first place.

In general, some terms and wording are a bit strange.

Although he could be German and some expressions just aren't quite right...

[johnjohnhealy]

I'm always suspicious when people use phrases like 'optical and technical perfect' on E-bay etc.

We simply dont say things like that here, we'd say 'its in perfect condition, no faults at all' or something similar.

Also the 'all taxes paid'?? you couldn't buy a car in england without paying tax!? so they really have no knowledge of the way the taxation system works here.

They always seem to have a base in London or another major city, seems like thats the only place they know in England!

Of course they could just be foreign and not have a perfect command of the language!!

[doer1]

ok guy's I was mixed so as per the autotrader FAQ's I sent it to [email protected]

they responded today. Should of also said it was a 2001 RHD TT 1.8T 225 Q with 41K on the clock. The price the guy wanted was £6000. I was thinking that he had dropped the 1 off the front of the price anyaway the response from the cops was....

--- Email start ---

You are correct this is fraud have nothing to do with it and DO NOT reply to any of these types of e-mails and never disclose any personal information.

Thank you for the information.

Tim Hinks

Detective Constable

C.M.U.

Economic and Specialist Crime Unit

Wellington House

67-73 Buckingham Gate

London

SW1E 6BE

--- Email End ---

So a useful email address if you smell somthing a bit wrong... [email protected]

[Moose]

Did they say they are going to investigate? And have you let Autotrader know? They may be able to stop them placing any more ads.

[doer1]

they never said I did email autotrader not sure if they will do anything. I presume the cops did look into it I did send them the reg of the car in the pic. He even had a pic of the clocks showing the miles!!!! Not sure how the scam would work.. maybe he want the cash before the car, or maybe the cop just jumped at the email without checking it out. Ad not on the website today