Dubious Advert in Classifieds

[WarrenG]

Golf R32 low miles

I sent a mail to the contact details in the pictures as the advert suggested was essential - "For Availability of this car please contact seller directly. You will find contact details on photos"

and I got this as a reply;

gmailer said:

"Hello,

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. The car is still available for sale, it is in extremely good condition,100% HPI Clear, full service history. Currently I am on a business trip to Italy 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 Italian project ) .I left the car to a specialized car shipping company 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. They will deliver the car directly to your home address (is ready for shipping because the loan of my previous buyer didn't get approved) so there won't be any additional shipping costs. If you are interested in purchasing the car just let me know and I will inform you with all the details

Thank you

Sent from Emma iPhone"

so this looks like 1 step up from my rich Nigerian Uncle wants to deliver something to me and have me pay too much by cheque for cash back.
but it also looks like the trader st-focus.com don't care about their reputation with Pistonheads buyers either!!

Edited by WarrenG on Monday 28th August 13:48

[lucido grigio]

Anyone who falls for the overseas or offshore seller and the specialized shipping company are even more stupid

than me......

[Filibuster]

I didn't know the Golf IV R32 came in 5 door guise... Looks soooo much better as a 3 door car!!

Oh, and a obvious scam is obvious.

[datum77]

The VERY second that you physically ask to see the car, (and BEFORE you part with ANY money), you will find all sorts of excuses as to why you can't view it. (The truth, of course, is that it doesn't exist).

This type of scam has the self-same formula every time.

[ChocolateFrog]

Anything with the contact details in a photo is an obvious scam to get round any built in spam filters.

[Filibuster]

WarrenG said:

But it also looks like the trader st-focus.com don't care about their reputation with Pistonheads buyers either!!

All their stock is scam.

4k£ 595 Abarth Turismo??
5.6k£ 996 manual convertible??
4k£ E30 325i M Sport 2 door??
3.9k£ Defender 90 Td5??

[NitJay]

I wonder if his account has been hacked. I've been to his forecourt it's near my work and most of the stock is (in case you couldn't guess) made up of Focus ST's.

Seems odd to then try and run a scam on the side and under the same brand.

[OddCat]

....it has Aristo 18" wheels 'wrapped' in Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres....

I'm just off down to ATS. Do you think it will be okay if I say to the bloke "can you wrap some tyres round 'me wheels mate". Is there any chance at all he might think I'm a total c*ck ?

Maybe this is one for the other "annoying things people say in car ads" thread.....

[anonymous-user]

"Contact him directly"

Email address is a woman, run away, now!

[V8RX7]

Legitimate co. has had their account hacked.

[carinaman]

Good of you to Regulate PH classifieds.

[WarrenG]

V8RX7 said:

Legitimate co. has had their account hacked.

I noticed their actual website looks like the right products on an actual forecourt. I bet they don't know this!

I wouldn't have noticed except for looking for A3's and Golfs with 3.2 v6 currently.

[WarrenG]

carinaman said:

Good of you to Regulate PH classifieds.

I'm disappointed that this isn't randomly checked at PH Towers.

[anonymous-user]

Maybe it is, there are quite a few cars for sale in the classifieds, but I’m sure this lot will be sorted soon now you’ve presumably (?) notified the seller and PH about it.

[MTech535]

Saw the 996 Cabrio last night and assumed scam.

[SS2.]

Same car / ad was flagged as scammy a few months ago on R32OC.

[WarrenG]

charltjr said:

Maybe it is, there are quite a few cars for sale in the classifieds, but I’m sure this lot will be sorted soon now you’ve presumably (?) notified the seller and PH about it.

Yes, I've sent the st focus email a message, I will try to get to them outside of the web also.
For PH, I thought I'd post a warning up here and then contact PH directly as a separate action.

That R32oc posting is interesting, lots of history it seems.

[BenLowden]

Thanks for flagging this up, it has been reported to be dealt with.

[KatieM]

ST-Focus had their account compromised. They gave their password and email address to the fraudsters via a phishing email, similar ones which I'm sure you will all get from your "bank"

Their account was reset last night, so you shouldn't see anymore suspicious adverts.