[Robert Stancliff]

Yes it seems to good to be true, but check this out.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tegory=31 861


He also has a 2001 Mercedes E320 with almost no miles for $12,000 "buy it now"


Whatta you think the deal is?

[MickyD]

my golden rule on ebay.... if it looks to good to be true, it probably is!

[ScottyB]

Gotta be a con.

[poki]

The VIN looks wrong on that.

It does look way too good to be true.

[AprilWhine]

I would say it's a scam to get your deposit, but he has all positive feedback. I still think it's a scam, but that the account was hijacked.

[BRGreenie]

Cant see how it can be legit - what is the going rate for this car in the states - at least $18000 - is that right ? Maybe more

I'll watch this one to see what happens

[AprilWhine]

OK, I emailed the seller to ask why he's selling so cheap.

[BRGreenie]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

OK, I emailed the seller to ask why he's selling so cheap.

This should be interesting! - keep us informed

[MattM]

In searching for my first Mini, I found myself at eBay Motors looking a a fairly gorgeous black/ black '03(?) S with tinted windows, chrome, low miles, blah blah. The price was ~$7500 with 3 days left. In the auction description the seller states that no one can bid without contacting him first.

Having never bought a car online, this seems fair enough, so I send an email. Two nervous days later I get a reply. Turns out this fine fellow has to leave the country soon - his wife is a Spanish diplomat and they're being transferred. Sorry, but he's super-busy with the move, there's no chance I can check the car out in person (it's 1.5 hours away from me); he directs me to a web page where I can get more info.
And, sorry, he's mute, so no phone contact. He writes, if you don't want to deal with me because I'm mute, I understand. All this in non-grammatical English. And he signs "Stan James" when his member name is "MarkPlatt66." And he's got 0 feedback.

I'm not at all excited about not being able to see the car first. BUT! He says he'll pay for shipping, and further, I'll have a 30-day guarantee. I'll put the money in an escrow account, to be transferred only when I'm satisfied.
This seems fair, eh?

The web page is a little iffy, though. Among other things it lists a clear $8500 sell price. Huh? I thought this was an auction? And says something about how one wheel has a cosmetic defect, so he'll replace it free of charge before the transfer. Huh? Who would do that?


But, the escrow thing seems to be a remedy for all fishiness. So I do a web search for escrow sites.

The first several I get to are either lists of illegal escrow sites that have been shut down by the government or warnings about escrow scams. Further, eBay itself warns about scams of this nature. Reading over the warning signs, my hot black Mini fits them all to a "T".

I reply to my seller's email saying "Sure, we're all go. But, of course, there are lots of scams out there [I include helpful links], so I'm sure you'll let ME pick the escrow site."

Strangely, I received no reply.

-Matt

[Grings]

Looks like a sold, or hijacked ID. Look at the feedback dates.

A very frequent user from March to September and then nothing, until two recent transactions (where they were the purchaser).

I don't understand these scams - if you are going to scam, underprice the car by 10%, not 50% (that is not a tip to scmmers by the way, just my opinion )

I'd stay well clear of this.

[ALD0]

Ships world wide-wonder what the postage would be!!

[ninethreeeleven]

HEADS UP, these types of scams are popping up all over ebay. You have to be a pre approved bidder, only problem is your not bidding, you basically buying (it’s a buy it now car)

Also there is no report to ebay button. These are "Hacked" ebay accounts as stated above, look all over ebay they're everywhere, anyone who will pay for shipping and has a low "buy it now price" is a scam. Usually the car is in a foreign country (foreign to the US at least).

Moderators, you should (if you think it’s a good idea) put a sticky explaining these types of accounts. They are in every car manufactures page in ebay (well maybe not Yugo).

[ALD0]

I was sent a Fraudulent Email claiming to be from Ebay-I just replied to them saying nice try!!!!

Oh and also reported it-But Ebay didn't really seem that bothered about it IMHO

[dansmini]

I usually get at least an email or two a week that are supposedly from ebay or paypal trying to get me to "verify my account" or "verfiy my credit card or else your account will be suspended". They are spoofs and I report them to spoof@ebay.com or spoof@paypal.com.

[GAM]

Yeah - i get those emails all the time - the first time a while ago, i filled the form out (some are very convincing) and then got hacked.
Somebody listed a couple of quad bikes with low buy it nows and free shipping. Luckily i caught it quickly and stopped the auction. (the fees for the auctions were over £90, which i got credited back)

So the moral of the story is don't trust the emails.

[BRGreenie]

Hallo Hallo - the MINI os no longer on Ebay - has it been pulled ???

[AprilWhine]

Got the reply:

Quote:

Hello and thank you for your interest
I want to tell you a few words about the car.
First of all the car is in perfect condition and looks just like in the
pictures.It is in imaculate condition and has no schrach on and hasn't been
involved in any accident.
The motor run very well. The title is clear ,it is not a salvage one.
The car belongs to my brother.He died last month in a bike accident.
The car is now in France as my brother lived there.I am willing to sell it
and shipp it to any of the UE countries or to US.I will not ship to any
African,Asian or Eastern European countries.
I know that the price is low but i have no use for the car and I want to get
back home as soon as i sell it.
The price I hope to obtain is 9000 $ (this price includes the 25% shipping
to your door and insurance, the shipping cost is 1700$ - 2000$) and if you
agree
with this price we can start to complete the transaction.As i've told you,in
order to proceed with the deal i need a deposit of 2500USD.The payment must
be done using a money order service.
I prefer money order because in this way i will ship the car in the same day
you make the payment.As i've said my brother lived in France and now i
arrived here to take care of his funerals and to solve his problems here and
i want to get back home asap.

You will arrange payment through western union .You receive and inspect the
machine you have to send me the rest of the money.The inspection period for
it is 3 days.
Look here how things are going:
l'm a serious seller with more than 2 years of experience in this
field. l'm a fair trader with a very good feedback on ebay which is
the proof that l have closed a lot of sucessful deals.
You will have to make a deposit of 2500 USD . You will have to go personal
to an western union office with the cash and send the money (the deposit of
2500 USD ) from your name and address to WATH NAME DO YOU WANT (FOR YOUR
SIGURANCE)NEVER CAN TUCH THE MONEY IN THIS WAY ONLY AFTER YOU WILL RECEIVED
THE CAR AND YOU WILL INSPECT IT YOU CAN CHANGE THE RECEIVER NAME WITH MY
NAME.
The transfer only need to be here in France for i can be avaible to check at
my WU agent that you really have the money for this great car .in this case
the money is deposited in westernunion on my adress but on your friend name.
.I will ship the car as a gift for my best friend so you will not have to
pay any custom taxes and I hope you will do the same thing when you will
make the transfer because
this way we will not have to pay any other taxes.
After you will make the transfer you will email me the details:
-the sender name
-the sender address
-the amount
-the confirmation #-MTCN (money transfer control number)
-the receiver name, that you choose to be and the adress.
With all this informations i will be able to check the payment and
after i will see that it is OK i will send the car right away
and you will receive it in 10 days at your door (if not less).
Here is my name and my address where you must send the money:
First name: Mark
Last name: Anderson
Address: RUE LOUIS ASTRUC # 69
Zip code: 13005
City: MARSEILLE
Country: FRANCE
Don't forget to give me your exact adress!!!
Please let me know what you decision asap in order to prepare the
shippment and because I have a lot of offers and I can not wait much
longer, thanks.
Best Regards
I shall be awaiting your response.
With upmost respect

__________________________________________________ _______________
Free up your inbox with MSN Hotmail Extra Storage. Multiple plans available.
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And here's the headers:

Quote:

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[AprilWhine]

And here's my answer:

Quote: Originally Posted by me

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the quick answer. I have a friend who lives near Paris, would it be ok if he came over to check out the car?

April

[ALD0]

LOL

Good reply to him

His Reply seems abit Jackanory to me.

[ALD0]

Did he also mention why it has been withdrawn from Ebay Auctions?