Katie chambers scam

[jasondixon02]

Saw a type 72 Elise advertised on sat with a very low price, with a link to john Holland garage in Sheffield. The contact detail was an email with [e-mail]. Sent an email (stupid), then rang the garage, they said their website has been hacked, it's a scam. Just got an email back with a long story about how the owner is out of the country, and they need quick cash to finance a business deal blah blah blah

They are now advertising same car at another garage.

Wondering if anyone else has come across this scam, and how it works ?

[GSalt]

jasondixon02 said:

Wondering if anyone else has come across this scam, and how it works ?

They extract money from you and are never seen or heard from again. Same way most scams work.

[rainforth]

Hi Yes - yesterday nice Lotus Elise at around 1/2 retail - same story same car dealers site hacked

[jasondixon02]

Understand they want your money, but what I meant was how does it operate. I guess the car does exist, but isn't theirs to sell, and hope you will transfer the money without seeing the car, and then disappear. Does that sound about right ?

[lightfair]

Very often this involves a so-called "fake escrow" company (actually just a website) that is supposed to take the money from you and only release it to the "seller" once you have the car in your possession. Usually the story goes that the car is already with said company, or that the seller is out of the country (or on an oil rig) or that a family member has died and so on.
If you feel like it you could "play along" a bit to see if the "seller" gives you the link to that site. I specialize in killing such sites...

[BlueHave]

Should probably sort out their internet security if they can be hacked so easily.