A little odd this one......

[tvrbloke]

You may or may not known, but my S1 is in the classifieds here on Pistonheads, but i've just had an email message via pistonheads from a "prospective buyer". He announces himselfs as a Mr Robert, heres the message he sent.....

"Hi there ...
Im Mr Robert I came accross your contact details through the web directory where i made to know that you have this lovely car for sale ...Kindly let me know the last asking price and the reason why of selling it including it condition..
07031827504
0703182750

My Phone No: 0703182750"


I've tried to reply to the email, but it has been returned 3 times due to it being not being a valid yahoo email address. ([e-mail]) The phone number is invalid too.... and then there's the grammer, I'm not perfect, but it's not very good. (apologies if it was genuine)

Call me sceptical but this harps of some sort of prank/scam?

Any ideas?

[jimed]

It sounds a bit dodgy to me Ian. If the guy is genuine he will be back and then is time to ask the questions etc.
Jim

[Chris71]

Don't even go there - has scam written all over it.

[Barkychoc]

Its whats called a personal number - you buy the number then make it forward to your 'real' number (which could be offshore).

Bit of info here

http://www.ukphoneinfo.com/cgi-bin-Phones/nng?GNG=...

I'm always cynical but I'm guessing its some sort of fraudster.

Chris

Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 3rd April 17:29

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Probably costs £10 per minute to phone the number!

[Longers]

jimed said:

It sounds a bit dodgy to me Ian. If the guy is genuine he will be back and then is time to ask the questions etc.
Jim

[pies]

SCAM

[Gerald-TVR]

No NO No

Definatly smells of something approach with great caution, thick rubber gloves and a barge pole he could be a

[Dave_M]

Ian, look at my profile, I strongly suggest not to pursue this one

As has been said, IF it's OK, he'll come back to you. Personally, I wouldn't make any contact that can give my details away to this sort of thing.

You can put numbers into various search engines and try your luck but I doubt you'll fins anything. Sorry.

Dave

[tvrbloke]

Cheers guys - you've all reinforced my own suspicions here....

As you say - if it's genuine, he'll come back, if not..... SEE YA!!!!

[ketvrin]

I'm more concerned that you are selling your Tiv... wassup ?

K

[mep12345]

The cost of a call to a personal number is up to 40p per minute from BT and more from a mobile - I just had an argument with my insurance cmpany over footing the bill for these as their loss adjusters used them - they paid in the end!!!

This means that up to 38p is earned by the user of the personal number hence you make 1 1minute call along with the other 3000 sellers he's spammed and he's rolling in it.

The sooner OFCOM ban 070, 0845 and 0870 the better they are all profit making lines for the companies that use them!!!

See www.saynoto0870.com

[tvrbloke]

ketvrin said:

I'm more concerned that you are selling your Tiv... wassup ?

K

I know, I know...... I will regret it, but she's gotta go....

[tvrbloke]

Ok, this is getting silly now.......

This is the 4th email like this.... each one is worded almost exactly the same. If they'd really seen my advert, surely they wouldnt be asking these questions. Is it possible to report these people to anyone?

See below.......

Hello seller.
Im emmauel martin by name ,I came accross your contact details through web directory concerning the used item you have for sale and im highly interested in purchasing it.I will like to know all the details about the item before proceeding with the payment.....

1. How long have you owned it?
2. Why are you selling it?
3. Last Price?
4. Any avaliable photo?

So, your swift response to these required information would be highly entertained before proceeding to the next stage. The method of payment is Cheque. Kindly email back, if it's still forsale. Hope to hear from you asap.
Regards.
emmauel

My Phone No: 07024075607

[Chris71]

Have you emailed Pistonheads - don't they have some sort of anti-scam policy?

Sounds like you've been rather unlucky - I've sold three cars on here without any problems. Either that or the scammers have only just discovered it.

[V8S]

Report the email address to PH. They can block it and/ or the IP address of the user that sends the email I think.

Anything that mentions 'last price' is almost always a scam.

Why would any buyer in their right mind describe a TVR as a used item? Even those not having English as a first language wouldn't use that kind of wording. You aren't any less excited about owning a Tiv if you're from Romania or Timbuktu.

When the scammers finally get their act together and start sending believable emails, then I think we'll find a lot of classified ads and auction sites will become unusable.

[tvrbloke]

We've moved on from earlier - I've actually been able to email back to this one (the first one yet), it's almost been fun too.... Goading via email... (he, he)

For some reason he refuses to call me, insists on me calling him to discuss my car.... Yeah right....

[ketvrin]

tvrbloke said:

ketvrin said:

I'm more concerned that you are selling your Tiv... wassup ?

K

I know, I know...... I will regret it, but she's gotta go....

OK, its always a shame when the missus has to go, but why the Tiv ?

If you pull the Ad and keep the car, you needn't worry about scammers! see ... two problems solved in one

[tvrbloke]

Too late - car sold on Fleabay 2 nites ago - just waiting for the guy to make contact to pay & collect.

(assuming it's not yet another scam...)

The add's still on here until i have my palm crossed with his green paper.

[arebrec]

tvrbloke said:

Too late - car sold on Fleabay 2 nites ago - just waiting for the guy to make contact to pay & collect.

thats a shame, was just looking at your car for myself and wondering wether i could.

good luck hope it goes through ok, looked like a gorgeous car, love the colour combo.