Online Car Selling Autotrader Scam

If you are selling your car online on a website like autotrader and you have been given the option that the potential buyer can contact you via email, you will definitely receive an email like this from a buyer; don’t get surprised by the offer as this is another technique used by the scammer. You will receive a further two emails from the buyer. The first one will be where the buyer will ask for the specification of the car and the second one will be where the buyer will ask for the option of paying by cheque.

They will then ask you if you could find out what it will cost to deliver the car through an agency that delivers cars. Another offer given to you will be that the cheque will be always more than the price of the car. He/she will then ask you to give the outstanding money to the agency for delivering of the car.

Sometimes the email is sent by an agent and will mention in the email that a client is interested in your car. He will negotiate on the price with you later and give you the same offer of delivery through an agency. The reason he will mention an agency will be that he is far from where you live or he is out of country. He will also mention that the cheque which will be sent to you will include his commission and all you have to do is to take the cheque to the bank and take the price off your car, send him his commission and also pay for the delivery charges.

Now what happens is that you will receive a cheque that is forged. You will then deposit the cheque in your account and you will think that the cash is in your account. But you are wrong, what actually happens is that when the cashier takes the cheque he/she will keep the cheque on hold until it is cleared from the other bank. It normally takes a up to 7 working days.

You will probably send the commission to the agent and also you will give the car for the delivery. Now what happens is that you will lose your car, plus the delivery charges and commission which was paid from your account. The bank will find that the cheque was forged they will complain to the police and this will create a big trouble for you. The only evidence you will have will be the emails with no proper and exact location of the buyer.

One small problem will give you such a lot of trouble. Whereas the one who sent you the email got your car, free delivery and commission as well. The only way to get rid of this scam is that don’t get excited when you receive this email. A potential buyer will always give you a call; he/she will not have such extra and free time to send you such big emails. An interested buyer will check the car and the documents and will meet you face to face. In some circumstances you will also receive a phone call but do check the number and ask for the cash payment. Don’t fall victim of this scam. These scammers send thousands of emails to the sellers on the auto trader.

Following is the email I have received for my car advertisement.

Received: 28 September 2008 10:44
Customer Details:
NAME: MRS Victoria Brown
TELEPHONE:
EMAIL: vic.bro1@live.com
Vehicle Details:
MAKE: MITSUBISHI
MODEL: COLT
PRICE: £4395

Message:Good Morning,
I am really interested in your Car listed for sale on the auto trader website.
I would like to know if you still have it for sale and if so:
Are you the first owner?
Do you have all the paper work and the receipt of purchase for documentation?
What is the present condition?
Is it an automatic drive or manual drive?
The area of the vehicle and the reason for offering it for sale?
Send more pictures apart from those ones on the website if also available if NOT is okay.
Thanks so much and I look forward to hear back from you today.
I will wait to hear from you soonest.
Cheers
Vicky

This e-mail is sent on behalf of Trader Media Group Limited, registered office: Unit 6, Thatcham Business Village, Colthrop Lane, Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 4LW (Registered in England No. 4768840). This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.
Good Afternoon,

Thanks for your quick response and am also excited to hear from you the vehicle is still available for sale and thanks for the information you just gave about the vehicle and am quite delighted to hear from you the vehicle is still in great conditions, the reason why I want to purchase this vehicle is because our family is expanding we are expecting our triplet babies in a few weeks time.My self and my husband just need one additional vehicle.

Please would you to email me more pictures if is still available both the exterior and interior.
Due to my condition I would not be able to view the vehicle at present I’m heavily pregnant, and the distance as well.

My personal circumstances do not allow me to travel because the doctor told me that I should not stress myself any more like while my husband is away on a business trip in Texas.
According to the features of the vehicle and the full description of the vehicle I have read on the advert pages I’m fully satisfied with everything.

I will make an offer of £4,600 inclusive the advert fees just because I know the worth of the vehicle and more so what you’ve stated about the vehicle details in the advert page and the maintenance of the vehicle you’ve spent so far since you bought the vehicle.

Presently we are located at Guernsey in Channel Islands, I will take care of the shipment and have already consulted a private shipping company who’s going to handle it professionally for me both the shipping cost and other necessary activities concerning the shipment of the vehicle.

Though the shipping company still have some furniture to ship for me in Western Isles I have made it clear to him that your location will be his first arrival before moving down to any other destination.
Cleared funds would have to be obtained prior to the sale, what I mean is that you will be able to withdraw your money first before you hand over the vehicle.

My preferred method of payment is by bankers draft or Cheque in a (GBP) that’s the only option and safest way for me to transfer CASH which I’m going to instruct my business associate to post you a bankers draft via post office.

The bankers draft is going to clear in your bank within 3 to 5 working days before I shall take the possession of the vehicle.

Thanks so much and I really appreciate your efforts for taking your time to respond to my inquiry, hopefully to hear back from you today in order to proceed further with the payment and shipping arrangements as soon as possible.

In my next email I shall let you know the details that are required from you to enable the bankers draft gets to you by post office.

I look forward to hear back from you today.

Cheers

Vicky.