Whats the scam?

[Danblez]

So, cheap car posted on another forum probably advertised for 50% of market value. I emailed the advert and received this.

 

Hi,

  First of all I want to thank you for your interest for my car. I've almost  reached an agreement with a potential buyer. Unfortunately, it looks like there  are some problems and he doesn't have all the money to pay, for the moment. It is in extremely good condition,100% HPI  Clear, full service history. Currently I am on a business trip to France and will  have to stay here for about 6 months (this is why I am selling the car for a low  price and I am looking for a fast sale to finance the french project ). I left the car in F&J Transport custody and they  will handle the sale for me. The V5 log book is already signed on my behalf, the car will come with 2 keys, all service records and previous MOT's. F&J Transport will deliver the car directly to your home address and I will  pay all delivery expenses.
 In order to go ahead with this transaction just contact F&J Transport ( www.fj-transport.co.uk ) department that handles the sale directly at: [email protected] and they will assist you with any questions  you might have regarding the transaction.
When contacting the F&J Transport please specify my name ( Suzan Watson ) and the car make and model.
  Thank you,
  Suzan

 

So how exactly does "Suzan" expect to be driving away with my hard earned cash, whilst I suspect I would be walking home?

[cobblers]

FJ transport is a fake escrow company. you pay them and lose your money.

 

They have copied http://www.advatec.co.uk/which I presume is a legit shipping co/

[rainagain]

Website looks ok I suspect the email address will be dodgy, I can't see why a transport company would suddenly branch into car sales. I imagine the next step will be asking you to pay by western union transfer. Why not do some background research on FJ Transport if they are legit call them on the phone and ask the if they know anything about the sale. If they then only part with your money when you have sight of the car. I.e. don't pay first on the promise it will be delivered.

 

Well it did until Cobblers pointed out it was a straight copy!

[rainagain]

FJ transport is a fake escrow company. you pay them and lose your money.

 

They have copied http://www.advatec.co.uk/which I presume is a legit shipping co/

 

Wow that's a good copy! I note there's no phone number on the FJ website

[stephen01]

it's almost worth following it up with the company via email see what info they throw your way.

 

I paid for the panda without seeing it, but that was 100£ so not the biggest loss if it went tits up.

 

Email is a little broken English wise, but not that bad to make you think, er hang on this is 100% dodgy, also a woman replying, because women never lie or try to deceive you..

[castros_bro]

Their Companies House paperwork suggests one bloke with a turnover of Â£1000 a year  which doesn't match the awe inspiring mega company of a website.

 

 

A.pdf

 

b.pdf

 

 

 

and a previous company which may have the same director-exdirector has a closure tag from Companies House

 

 

c.pdf

 

[Urko]

Scam city. Even if that website and the co are legit, there's nothing to say thay haven't been hacked/intercepted. My guess is as soon as you say you want to turn up and pay cash to drive the car away, they stop responding. They are only interested in taking money off people, probably by Western Union as others have said. I would bet quite a large sum on this.

[garbaldy]

Give us the deets on the car and we will all email and enquire, suzan will think it's Christmas again when heshe gets hundreds of possible buyers.

[carlo]

Wow that's a good copy! I note there's no phone number on the FJ website

 

Actually both websites look suspect; the Advatec one has no contact hyperlink, only a mobile number and the postcode is wrong

[Bren]

If something seems to good to be true, it usually is.

[scaryoldcortina]

So, cheap car posted on another forum probably advertised for 50% of market value. I emailed the advert and received this.

 

Hi,

 

  First of all I want to thank you for your interest for my car. I've almost  reached an agreement with a potential buyer. Unfortunately, it looks like there  are some problems and he doesn't have all the money to pay, for the moment. It is in extremely good condition,100% HPI  Clear, full service history. Currently I am on a business trip to France and will  have to stay here for about 6 months (this is why I am selling the car for a low  price and I am looking for a fast sale to finance the french project ). I left the car in F&J Transport custody and they  will handle the sale for me. The V5 log book is already signed on my behalf, the car will come with 2 keys, all service records and previous MOT's. F&J Transport will deliver the car directly to your home address and I will  pay all delivery expenses.

 In order to go ahead with this transaction just contact F&J Transport ( www.fj-transport.co.uk ) department that handles the sale directly at: [email protected] and they will assist you with any questions  you might have regarding the transaction.

When contacting the F&J Transport please specify my name ( Suzan Watson ) and the car make and model.

  Thank you,

  Suzan

 

So how exactly does "Suzan" expect to be driving away with my hard earned cash, whilst I suspect I would be walking home?

 

Red flags in bold - no specific details, seller is on a business trip, third party to collect funds and deliver car.

[HillmanImp]

I enquired about a Lotus Sunbeam that was up for £2k a few years ago and got almost exactly the same wording. I knew it was a scam but kept pestering him to see how outlandish his excuses would get when I was offering cash on delivery of the car etc.

[jonny69]

Scam just by the wording

[Bobthebeard]

It's certain* to be genuine...

Its Da Internet.

 

[stripped fred]

You can see why people get hoodwinked. Can you post up the original advert for our interest/amusement?

[scaryoldcortina]

It's the other side to the "Hello, is your gumtree ad still valid, please contact [email protected] for more correspond" texts I keep getting. On those ones, it's the buyer who is on a business trip, but they will buy "your item" for 20% extra money and a courier will collect it from you. The paypal payment bounces just after your item left in a taxi.

[carlo]

You can see why people get hoodwinked. Can you post up the original advert for our interest/amusement?

 

People get hoodwinked because

 

1.  They're greedy and want something for nothing

2.  They have either low IQ or low common sense levels

[cort16]

Is it that Delta Integrale?

[Jerzy Woking]

it's almost worth following it up with the company via email see what info they throw your way.

 

I paid for the panda without seeing it, but that was 100£ so not the biggest loss if it went tits up.

 

Email is a little broken English wise, but not that bad to make you think, er hang on this is 100% dodgy, also a woman replying, because women never lie or try to deceive you..

 you've not met my ex-wife.....

[stripped fred]

People get hoodwinked because

 

1. They're greedy and want something for nothing

2. They have either low IQ or low common sense levels

Or 3. They're decent, honest people who aren't that savvy and are too trusting.

[chodweaver]

Scam.

The vehicle doesn't exist or is not theirs to sell. You'll never see it, or your money again. Sorry, but these turned up on the Caravan Club's classified section about a year ago - that was the first time I'd seen it. The club was mortified that it was being so used. Supposedly this is run by East European gangs. Wish Roger Cook could get these swine brought to book, but the law seems to have little interest or resource for it.

 

Sent from my GT-S5830i using Tapatalk 2

[Danblez]

The advert has been pulled so cant link to it but apart from the price was mostly legit looking. Copied from an advert for the same car for sale down south.

 

Anyone fancy emailing Suzan and asking about a brown Talbot Tagora?

 

[email protected]

[Andrew353w]

Hi there!

 

I’m intersted in the Talbot car you’re selling. Is it still available and may I view it at a convenient time?

 

Thanks!

 

Andrew 

 

I just did! Will keep the forum informed as to developments....

[Tamworthbay]

Tell them you are buying the car with funds from your Nigerian uncle, they just need to send a release fee of £100 to his account and he will wire the money over.

[sierraman]

Sounds like bullshit to me. And he can't spell Suzanne properly. If you've got a dodgy feeling you are probably right.

[tapir]

Has anyone checked the owner of the domain name (fj) online, they usually have to have full address and phone if trading, interesting to google the number and see if it links to anything else, ps it's a scam:)

[Grundig]

`

[djimbob]

Seems legit, go for it

[Alexg]

Yeah, it's another variation of a common scam. They'll ask you to transfer cash and you'll never hear from them again. The car will certainly not exist or not belong to them, with info robbed from another classified ad.

 

I kept an eBay scammer on the go for 2 weeks promising to transfer the money, claiming banking problems and just winding them up with silly arse questions. He claimed to be on an Oil Rig and used a fake 'eBay Live Chat' account to convince me it was all a legitimate eBay handled transfer and delivery service and I'd receive my mint MK2 Mexico once they'd received just 5 grand. I spent a few evenings watching TV and drinking wine whilst constantly logging in and asking tedious questions until the penny dropped that I was just pissing about. If they think you're about to transfer over some cash it's amazing how much patience they find. The penny only dropped when I finally ran out of excuses why the bank hadn't transferred the cash and so forwarded a picture of a naked midget drinking beer as proof. 

[inconsistant]

Wasn't there a thread a few months ago following someone on here pissing about a scammer or something like that^^^ Or was that yours Alex?