From the category archives:

Vehicle Fraud

Money Transfer for Cars etc

by Alun Hill MCIJ

This is getting more common in the UK now.
You offer a car or similar for sale and get a promise of a cheque (or bank draft) for the total value + a few thousand pounds on top.
You agree, as the buyer clearly trusts you.
You bank the payment, and a few days later, as it’s cleared, you pay the extra back, usually by Western Union.
Problem, though.
The cheque or draft bounces – yes, often some weeks later.
You may believe that chequeas are cleared in 3 days.
They’re not – but, oddly enough, the bank’s don’t tell you this.
Result – you’ve lost the car and a few thousand as well (andin case you were wondering, no your car insurance doesn’t cover you for this).

Here’s an example:

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Thomas Date: Sep 25, 2006 11:53 AM
Subject: NAME,ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER NEEDED.
To: xxxx

HI,
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?FINE I PRESUME,THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY,I GOT YOUR EMAIL AND NOTED THE CONTENTS.
I AM OK WITH THE CONDITIONS OF THE CAR.I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR KIND GESTURE OF GIVEN ME A CAR OF THIS NATURE FOR £11,695.
MY WIFE INSISTS THAT I SHOULD BUY IT AT ALL COST BECAUSE IT IS JUST THE EXACT MATCH WE HAD ALWAYS WANTED.
I DONT HAVE CASH AT HAND NOW,AND SINCE YOU WANT A CHEQUE OR A DRAFT WHICH IS OK BY ME I HAVE DECIDED TO PAY YOU WITH A STERLING CERTIFIED CHEQUE OR DRAFT THROUGH AN ASSOCIATE IN UK.SHE IS OWEING ME THE SUM OF £16,000 AND HAS AGREED TO PAY ME,SO I WILL INSTRUCT HER TO ISSUE AND SEND THE CHEQUE OF £16,000 IN YOUR RESPECT YOU WILL CASH IT AND THEN DEDUCT YOUR £11,695 AND SEND THE BALANCE TO THEFREIGTH AGENT THAT WILL COME FOR THE PICK UP OF THE CAR AT YOUR LOCATION.
THE REASON WHY I AM DOING THIS IS THAT IT TAKES MAXIMUM OF 3DAYS FOR A CHEQUE DRAWN OUT OF A UK BANK TO GET CLEARED IN UK THAN AN INTERNATIONAL CHEQUE FROM BELGIUM AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SPEED UP TRANSACTION IN OTHER NOT TO LOOSE THE CAR.
I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND MY PLIGTH.
IF YOU ARE OK WITH THIS ARRANGEMENT SEND ME YOUR FULL NAME,ADDRESS,AND PHONE NO WITH WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECIEVE THE CHEQUE SO I CAN ARRANGE FOR PAYMENT ASAP.
PLS I PLEED YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD TO HELP SEND THE BALANCE VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER AS SOON AS THE CHEQUE GETS CLEARED SO MY FRIEGTH COMPANY CAN ARRANGE THE NECCESARY DOCUMENTS SO AS TO EFFECT THE PICK UP AT YOUR LOCATION AND I HOPE I CAN TRUST YOU WITH MY BALANCE I AM TRANSPARENT AND NOT DOWN TO RIPE YOU OFF SO PLEASE BE SINCERE WITH ME AND AS SOON AS THE CHEQUE CLEARS TRANSFER MY BALANCE IMMEDIATELY VIA WESTERN UNION.
I WILL BE WAITINGTO READ FROM YOU SOONEST.
BEST REGARD.
THOMAS WEST.

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Advance fee (419) fraud – Attempt to scam Internet vehicle buyers purporting to be sent by ebay

by Alun Hill MCIJ

Advance fee (419) fraud – Attempt to scam Internet vehicle buyers purporting to be sent by ebay

Warning – there are currently fraudulently attempts to obtain funds from vehicle buyers biding on vehicles on eBay.
This is clearly a development since the banning of money transfers as a payment method. The seller is allegedly in the UK and is asking for payment to be sent to Poland to the eBay account manager.

eBay is not involved in the actual transaction between the buyer and the seller, so they would never act as a payment intermediary and the email is fake. Note this email has been sent to the buyers external email account and has not been sent within the ebay mail system.

Any messages from eBay are personally addressed and will appear in the member’s ‘My eBay’ messages section. eBay provide advice throughout the site. The advice regarding the different payment methods is found at http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/confidence/isgw-sending-payments.html buying and selling cars is found at http://pages.ebay.co.uk/motors/privateseller/

This is clearly a development since the banning of money transfers as a payment method.

The seller is allegedly in the UK and is asking for payment to be sent to Poland to the eBay account manager. This is false. ebay do not use this account.

An example of the this type of fake email is below:

* DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY if you receive one of these type of emails or pass over any personal details.

Example of an email:

example 1

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: EBAY SECURE TRADER
Date: 11-Aug-2006 11:43
Subject: Your Invoice for 2003 AUDI A4 AVANT TDI
To: xxxxxxxxxxxx@googlemail.com

Here is the invoice for
2003 AUDI A4 AVANT TDI!

Dear xxxxxxx,

We require the payment towards poulton2233 to be done through Bank Transfer. As a protective measure for the parties involved in this transaction the funds will be held in our agent’s bank account until you receive the item(s) ordered. You can find all the details required to successfully transfer the funds below.
Item Information

Item Title: 2003 AUDI A4 AVANT TDI

Item Descripton: Climate Control Air Conditioning, Six Speed Manual Gearbox, Factory Fitted Satellite Navigation, CD Player/FM Radio, Trip Computer, Electric Windows, Electric Mirrors, Alloy Wheels, Remote Central Locking, Cruise Control, ESP Traction Control, Airbags All Round, Head Rests front & back, 60/40 Folding Rear Seats, Front Fog Lights, Luggage Compartment Cover, Adjustable Steering Column, Integrated Rear Compartment Blind, Factory Alarm, Hight Adjustable Front Seat, Rear Centre Arm Rest.
Payment Details

Buyer: xxxxxxx

Subject: 2003 AUDI A4 AVANT TDI

Amount: 4,000.00 GBP

Downpayment: 4,000.00 GBP

Shipping: 0.00

Total: 4,000.00 GBP
Delivery Information

Name: xxxxxx
Address:
Seller Details

Name: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Address:
Banking Account Details

Bank Name: ING BANK Slaski

Acct. Owner: Bizjak Saso (eBay account manager)

Acct. Number: 1000 0023 0450 0966

Bank Code: 1050 1445

IBAN: PL73 1050 1445 1000 0023 0450 0966

Swift Code: INGBPLW

Bank Address: Ul. Sw.Tomasza 20, 31-020 Krakow

Bank Country: Poland

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Top tips for buying vehicle online from overseas

by Alun Hill MCIJ

Top tips for buying vehicle online from overseas

* Do not send money via money transfer (i.e. Western Union, Moneygram or any other service)
* Be very careful buying vehicles abroad, take note of where the vehicle is, where the seller is and where they are asking you to send your money – are they all different? Why?
* If the vehicle for sale is abroad make arrangements with the seller to see it – there are plenty of cheap flights and do not accept excuses from them not view – walk away from the transaction if they make viewing awkward
* Would you normally buy a second had car without seeing it first and hand over your money without knowing who the seller was and where they live – I would hope not! Someone at the end of an email or phone could be anyone who often is never traceable
* Beware of escrow/false shipping sites, where the seller gives an escrow site or sends you a consignment number and a shipping agent website to confirm the vehicle is being sent to you. Once you have sent your money and the website turns out to be false it is too late. Find your own escrow or shipping agent – do not let the seller recommend one!
* If it is too good to be true then it is!

* Do not accept over payments in the form of bankers drafts or cheques for the vehicle you are selling (known as Criminal Cashback)
* Do not send money via money transfer (Western Union, Moneygram or any other service)
* Cash is probably the best payment method, as long as you look out for forgeries. Go with the buyer and bank the money there and then if in doubt.
* Cheques can be trouble. Never let the car go before a cheque has cleared through your account. Be aware of forgeries. Remember if your bank gives instance access to the funds it does not mean that the cheque is okay, it can take several days for a forgery to be discovered and the funds will be taken out of your account if the cheque is forged. Consider paying for express clearance to safe guard yourself.
* Ask the buyer to give you a bank or building society draft; it’s the best way to ensure you receive your money safely. This is as good as cash, as they can only be issued if the buyer has enough money in their account. There are forgeries, so be careful, so ask the buyer to bring along the a statement and cheque book/passbook from the bank account or building society account that the bankers draft was issued from to shown the account is theirs and they held the funds to cover the bankers draft. If cannot – do not accept the draft
* Know who you are dealing with – ask for ID

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