Selling My Clio - The Scammers!!

[JPL172]

This post is not to promote the fact I’m selling my Clio 172 ( but please do see the for sale section if you’re interested, it’s in mint condition!!) but to vent my frustration at the number of scammers out there who have tried on 3 occasions to get my pride and joy or personal details/bank account information!

I’ve had three people try and scam me now (no one on this forum may I add!) with bizarre questions or ridiculous stories. I thought I would share this one with you all to give you a taste of what I have been receiving and to warn you of the Muppets lurking about!!!


“Hi, I am ready to buying it now as a for birthday
gift for brother in-law. I am at sea at the moment as I am a marine
engineer and due to the nature of my work, phone call making and
visiting of website are restricted but I just have to squeezed out
time to check this advert and send you an email regarding it. I really
want the car to be a surprise package for brother in-law so I wont let
him know anything about the car until it gets delivered to him, I am
sure he will be more than happy with the car. I insisted on PayPal as
my mode of payment because I don't have access to my bank account
online and also, I don't have internet banking, but I can pay from my
PayPal account. I have my bank account attached to my PayPal account,
so I will need you to give me your PayPal email address and your final
price so I can make the payments asap for the car and please if you
don't have a PayPal account yet, it is very easy to set up, go to
www.paypal.com and get it set up, after you have set it up I will only
need the e-mail address you use for the registration with PayPal so as
to put the money through. I have a pick up agent that will come and
pick the car up after I have made the payments for the car...”

That’s all really, rant over..it’s just getting really frustrating when you see emails relating to the sale of your car in your inbox and when you open them its Muppets trying to scam you!!!

Fair enough some people do have a credible story like the above but once I replied asking them to give me a call to discuss further and not hearing anything, I know they are up to no good!!! Its bad enough when you have to sell your pride and joy in the first place!!!

 

[ScarySquirrel]

Lead them on, and scam them back.

 

[DrR]

Just play them along, best way!

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Reply with a sensible response, but throw in as many Anchorman quotes as possible !

 

[Kane.]

I wonder if people fall for this, my mate almost did until i told him it was a scam.

 

[DrR]

I wonder if people fall for this, my mate almost did until i told him it was a scam.

They do, otherwise scams wouldn't be about.

 

[John182]

Only allow people to contact you via phone and not email!.

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

A guy wrote a book about replying to scammers (Delete this at your peril) its called, very very funny reading.

 

[jack_kemp]

You can have great fun with these people.

 

[JPL172]

I've read the book "Delete this at your peril" its very funny!! ill try a few tricks on them!!

 

[vivid white]

I have received these emails a couple of times while ive been trying to sell my Peugeot and to be honest I dont even understand the scam.....what are they actually after!?

 

[DrR]

I have received these emails a couple of times while ive been trying to sell my Peugeot and to be honest I dont even understand the scam.....what are they actually after!?

They send you a fake paypal email saying they've paid you x amount, when they have not.

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

They send you a fake paypal email saying they've paid you x amount, when they have not.

After trying to sell my Samsung Galaxy for £250 i was delighted to hear that Hwan Gdansk from Nairobi was willing to pay me more than double its value.

He was even kind enough to send me a fake Pay-pal invoice for £500.

 

[Kane.]

+ £80 postage.

 

[Wick]

Reply with a sensible response, but throw in as many Anchorman quotes as possible !

FLOL!!

 

[Will.]

Reply and tell him that you are happy for paypal but you will not let the car go until that money has been transfered into your bank...That will throw him off.

 

[.Adam.]

This is almost as bad as the "I moved to Spain and cannot use a RHD car on this side of the road.." scam.

 

[treemanx]

Lead them on, you'll be amazed how far it goes until they realise your taking the piss. I said my truck (a fiesta) was hit by a tree, hit a cow, had ran out of NOS etc and flirted with him for ages until he got the message lol.

 

[Damo_Sport]

tag him along.. ask for paypal gift lol

 

[Marv-C]

Check out www.419eater.com for the best scam the scammer stories.

 

[Matty_N]

 

[Matty_N]

When i sold my Megane I had more scams than genuine messages. One guy even sent me a cheque to pay for the car & a shipping fee that of course I should pay up front.

The cheque was made of rubber...

 

[easym5]

I was selling my 535i sport last year and i got exactly the same message said he was an offshore marine biologist and wanted the car, except it was a birthday surprise for his father but e bay warned me it may be a scammer and had suspended him t**t

 

[MikeoftheQuays]

I still don't really understand how this scam works.

Surely people aren't handing over the keys to their car without actually seeing the money in their account?!

 

[R-Sport.]

you think youve recieved funds into your PAYPAL when all you seeing is fake PAYPAL emails- that appear to have put money in your account- however when you logon- nada!

S

 

[MikeoftheQuays]

Hmm, well, to be honest and at the risk of sounding like a complete b*****d - If you do that you kinda deserve to have your money/car taken.

Until I saw the money in my bank account (seeing it in my paypal account wouldn't be enough) the car would be going nowhere.

 

[Marv-C]

Hmm, well, to be honest and at the risk of sounding like a complete b*****d - If you do that you kinda deserve to have your money/car taken.

Until I saw the money in my bank account (seeing it in my paypal account wouldn't be enough) the car would be going nowhere.

Even seeing the money in your bank account is not enough. You must be able to move the money as well. Banks tell you the money is in your account before the funds are fully cleared.

 

[MikeoftheQuays]

Yeah? Didn't know that tbh.

If I went online to check my balance and it was there in my account I sure as s**t would expect to see it there the next day! And I'd expect to be able to withdraw/move/spend it.

 

[Simf40]

Had this scam last month whilst trying to sell our sofa, we lead them on and they actually sent 3 Travellers cheques totaling £1500 euros when the sofa was only advertised for £300 lol took them to thomas cook and they were fakes ofc,
contacted police and they are now involved tracking them down as there is lots of this going around at the moment.

 

[Jamesyy]

Hi,
Thanks for the prompt response.. I am ready to buying it now as a for birthday
gift for brother in-law. I am at sea at the moment as I am a marine
engineer and due to the nature of my work, phone call making and
visiting of website are restricted but I just have to squeezed out
time to check this advert and send you an email regarding it. I really
want the car to be a surprise package for brother in-law so I wont let
him know anything about the car until it gets delivered to him, I am
sure he will be more than happy with the car. I insisted on PayPal as
my mode of payment because I don't have access to my bank account
online and also, I don't have internet banking, but I can pay from my
PayPal account. I have my bank account attached to my PayPal account,
so I will need you to give me your PayPal email address and your final
price so I can make the payments asap for the car and please if you
don't have a PayPal account yet, it is very easy to set up, go to
www.paypal.co.uk and get it set up, after you have set it up I will
only need the e-mail address you use for the registration with PayPal
so as to put the money through. I have a pick up agent that will come
and pick the car up after I have made the payments for the car...

My Regards.
Sounds like the same pal I had when selling my mini. Reply to them and watch the names change on the e-mails. From the same e-mail address (davbut1@googlemail.com), I had 3 different names. David Butler. David Butt. David Mario.

 

[JPL172]

Yep I have had the David Mario chap as well! im glad its not just me who is suffering from these time wasters!!!!!

Hi,
Thanks for the prompt response.. I am ready to buying it now as a for birthday
gift for brother in-law. I am at sea at the moment as I am a marine
engineer and due to the nature of my work, phone call making and
visiting of website are restricted but I just have to squeezed out
time to check this advert and send you an email regarding it. I really
want the car to be a surprise package for brother in-law so I wont let
him know anything about the car until it gets delivered to him, I am
sure he will be more than happy with the car. I insisted on PayPal as
my mode of payment because I don't have access to my bank account
online and also, I don't have internet banking, but I can pay from my
PayPal account. I have my bank account attached to my PayPal account,
so I will need you to give me your PayPal email address and your final
price so I can make the payments asap for the car and please if you
don't have a PayPal account yet, it is very easy to set up, go to
www.paypal.co.uk and get it set up, after you have set it up I will
only need the e-mail address you use for the registration with PayPal
so as to put the money through. I have a pick up agent that will come
and pick the car up after I have made the payments for the car...

My Regards.
Sounds like the same pal I had when selling my mini. Reply to them and watch the names change on the e-mails. From the same e-mail address (davbut1@googlemail.com), I had 3 different names. David Butler. David Butt. David Mario.

 

[Gandi69]

Pistonheads is bad for these I find. Got messages about my 106 and Range Rover classic when I was selling up. Cars were both under a grand and I got "i give £5000 but car will need to be left with shipping agent at the docks first" and all sorts of crap like that. Have some fun winding the c**t up tbh.

 

[treemanx]

Even seeing the money in your bank account is not enough. You must be able to move the money as well. Banks tell you the money is in your account before the funds are fully cleared.

It's true, I even received a cheque despite blatantly taking the piss.

The cheque actually goes through but is rejected at a later stage apparently. The scam was they give you more money than the price of the car so you pay the transport costs through a company theyre linked with.

 

[Daza]

dirty scammers should be shot! someone hacked my account and bought a shed. WTF why whould u just buy a shed?

 

[.Kev.]

The crap use of English gives it away, oxygen thiefs.

 

[jimjim150]

dirty scammers should be shot! someone hacked my account and bought a shed. WTF why whould u just buy a shed?

Lol a shed, someone scammed my mates card and tried to buy a sofa! Like surely they'd be getting the sofa delivered to where they live!?!

 

[aldo_87]

Lol a shed, someone scammed my mates card and tried to buy a sofa! Like surely they'd be getting the sofa delivered to where they live!?!

FLOL!!

 

[jammy123]

hi guys, i couldn't believe this, i have been lead on by this david butt for the last 2 days under the email of davbut2@googlemail.com and also davbut1@googlemail.com interested in my white clio sport that was up for £3000, he emailed me first saying:
Hello,
I'm writing in respond to your advert,and I'm pleased to informed you about my interest in purchasing it,and i will like to know the present condition and also the current pics(do you still have it available)and also re-affirming your asking price. Hoping to hear from you soon.Do get back to me with your personal Email ..

David
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

then replied etc etc and then had an email:
Thanks for your mail. i would be glad to pay for it as soon as
>> >> possible though i will not be available to come for an inspection due
>> >> to my flexible schedule. I will be paying you with my PayPal account
>> >> because it's attached to my bank account and its safe and very secure
>> >> way to make payment online. If my mode of payment is accepted kindly
>> >> email me with the information below to proceed with the payment.
>> >>
>> >> 1) The pictures
>> >> 2) What is the condition?
>> >> 3) Are you the Original Owner?
>> >> 4) Your PayPal Email Address
>> >> 5) Your Picked Up Location Address
>> >>
>> >> Get back to me with your address so i can forward to the shipping
>> >> company to schedule an appointment with you for pick up. I have a
>> >> private pick up agent that will come for the pick up after payments
>> >> has been made. And if you don't have a paypal account, you can easily
>> >> go to www.paypal.com and sign up. its very easy. I await your reply
asap..

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I THEN STARTED TO THINK this does sound to good to be true but paypal is a
good trusted company.

the 1 email that got me thinking hang on a minute was:
There is a little issue,i got a notification from the shipper that
before they can set out for an inspection and shipment they required
their fee via western union money transfer and insisted that's the
only mode of payment they accept and there is no way i could get the
money sent to them because I'm currently offshore and i don't want to
cause any delays in this transaction.Anyways i would be glad to send
the agreed price with the shippers fee to your PayPal account and you
will help me to forward the fee to the shipping agent through Western
Union.This is the analysis of the funds i would send to your PayPal
including all the relevant charges: Item Price:£3000, Shipper's fee
including transfer charges: £800 the sum of £100 for your
compensation and other unknown expenditure,so the Total sum = £3900).
Please get back to me immediately if you want me to proceed with the
payment..Thanks for your understanding

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

i then realised that when i tried to get into my email account that evening
my hotmail email account said you have been blocked out as u have tried to
log in with an incorrect password too many times.
i rang the police who took my details and a report and basically warned me
it was a scam which i already knew at this time.
but with the technology knowledge i have i thought i'd try trace the email
address which i entered into google and then seen these threads.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
i have managed to trace the i.p. address of this person and the i.p. traces
to:
Host Name: mail-qy0-f195.google.com IP Address: 209.85.216.195 Country: United States us United States

Country Code: US USA Region California California City: Mountain View Postal Code: 94043 Phone Code: 650 Longitude: -122.0574 Latitude: 37.4192

 

[beng-120]

wouldnt that be the ip address of google's headquarters if its a webmail address running off of a google server? Theyre headquarters is in California if i remember rightly

 

[Rob]

Jesus H Christ.

The guy can't speak english, doesn't want to see the car, and wants to pay using paypal.

Honestly, if the guy turned up doing with an arctic lorry with "I'm a bloody scammer, don't trust me" written along it I don't think he could have been more obvious.