Is this a scam?

The following is an email I received after posting my car advert on Auto Trader:

"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."

Do you think the potential buyer is trying to scam me?

Asked on 2 April 2011 by scam?!

Answered by Honest John
Whenever anything is as complicated as this it's a scam. Have nothing to do with it. Even if you have to sell your car for £1,000, that's better than a fake payment that loses you the car and lets someone play havoc with your Paypal account.
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