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Selling a car on Autotrader - is this a PayPal scam?
I am currently trying to sell my car on autotrader as I have just obtained a new one and I have been offered the asking price but the story sounds a little strange do you think it is a scam?The following is the latest email I have received from the potential buyer:
"I have actually tried to get this kind of car earlier from here but most of the ones I got either have one huge mechanical fault or the other, some have had accident in the past while some are extremely exorbitant. I am glad to know that the car is of a good mechanical condition and has not had any accident in the past as you have not mentioned that. Your sincerity is something I see very necessary to appreciate. Thanks a lot.
I could have come and inspect the car and then pay you in cash, but i can't due to the nature of my work. I am a Marin Biologist, I am on yatch right now..I am actually trying to get the car for my dad who will be adding a year to his age in about 3 weeks as he has always been a fan of the car. So I think its worth paying whatever the shipping charges will be just to put a laughter on his face.
As to the price, I will offer you £3250 Sounds to me the offer is good enough at that, I will be very glad to make the payment asap through my PayPal account as I am currently offshore and I won't definitely be able to make it to my bank to make even bank wires across to you.
As to shipping, you need not worry yourself about how the car will get to him in Malaysia as soon as you have the payment in your account as I will contact a shipping company that has their headquarter situated in Malaysia and they will handle the pick up and shipping i do understand the v5 and other related paperwork could be signed on my behalf by the local pick up agent so that would be handled as well by whoever is coming to pick up the car from you.. Please note that I will not be needing the vehicle mot or tax because it will be invalid over there so you don't have to worry about it.. I will however be needing your contact address to be able to get the shipping quote from the shipping company.
Do get back to me asap with your PayPal Email address and Full name or send me a paypal money request...i use the same email address here on paypal if we have a deal, so that I can remit the payment asap."
Asked on 30 March 2011 by scam?!
Answered by
Dan Harrison
This has all the hallmarks of a scam, many that are circulating at the moment involve the 'buyer' or 'seller' conveniently out of the country.
The strange phrasing ("I am actually trying to get the car for my dad who will be adding a year to his age in about 3 weeks") and poor English is another giveaway. You'd hope that a Marine Biologist would be able to spell the words 'marine' and 'yacht'.
If you Google parts of the e-mail, you will find that it's a scam.
They will send you too much for the car, ask for you to send the excess (probably a few hundred pounds) back and then reverse the transaction. You'll then be out of pocket.
The strange phrasing ("I am actually trying to get the car for my dad who will be adding a year to his age in about 3 weeks") and poor English is another giveaway. You'd hope that a Marine Biologist would be able to spell the words 'marine' and 'yacht'.
If you Google parts of the e-mail, you will find that it's a scam.
They will send you too much for the car, ask for you to send the excess (probably a few hundred pounds) back and then reverse the transaction. You'll then be out of pocket.
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