[imported_admin]

There is a scam involving people from overseas targeting car owners with a view to shipping it across to their country. You will lose out on this, if you get someone contact you just ignore it. You have to ask why would they want to buy my car and pay for the shipping too! Here are details of what happened to one car owner

I am writing this letter to all webmasters who are hosting online classifieds for cars, boats, etc. I was the victim of a Nigerian scam where I listed a classic car for sale on one of these types of sites. And I was approached by several different international buyers (probably all the same guy). Offering to buy my car for my asking price. They would take care of shipping of course. They sent me a cashiers check for the car plus the cost of shipping. The check was drafted from a wells fargo bank in the US. They have you wire the balance to a "shipper". The cashiers check will turn out to be a phony even though the bank verifies it while you are standing at the counter. You think you get your money, and you send the funds for shipping. A few days later I had to pay the bank back $4000.00.



Please add a notice or a warning to your sellers. NOT TO SELL INTERNATIONAL AT ALL!. ESPECIALLY TO NIGERIA These people have counter-parts working in the UK and around the world. It is a very elaborate scam. And it will trap even honest intelligent people just trying to sell a car. reply to me for more details. I am trying to make people aware so that they are not victimized by these financial terrorist. Awareness is the only protection. Please reply and let me know that you have read this. It might make me feel better about the whole thing. Thanks

Daryl

[Anonymous]

Having placed a car advertisement onto various sites, within hours I have received telephone calls from overseas.

The caller has stated that I have (apparently) the same bank account and they have been informed that I would be willing to invest money into some form of financial concern.

Obviously confused, I have asked the caller how they have obtained the telephone number? I am told that it is probable that a bank or credit card company have forwarded my details? I don't think so, this would contravene data protection legislation!!

More like someone is accessing car ads for contact details or the web site itself has forwarded information.

Again this is a scam, do not fall for it, hang up....

Jackie

[imported_admin]

There seems no end to the desperate measures these people will take to try to scam people! You were right to be suspicious = but just think how many others will fall for it?

Iain
www.cheap-finance.co.uk
as it says cheap Uk finance

[Anonymous]

I was nearly taken in with this exact scam, but instead I waited for the cheque to actually clear. Menwhile this guy, calling himself Daniel Sylvestre, kept on calling me and hassling me me for the money trying to make me feel guilty. The more he phoned, the more suspicious I became. Eventually the bank took out what they had put in and I told Daniel this, I have not heard from him since. I think all the people who were victims or near victims should gather all of the email addresses together and help catch this toe rag who has done this.

[Anonymous]

Still despite me adding warnings to the reply page they try to rip off users of usedcarmart!

for your interest they follow these lines. I would mention it to Yahoo.com but they would rather you got ripped off than delete the guilty account!

Hello,

I just came across the advert of your vehicle on the web and could not help but be interested in it.

I will want the photos sent to me via e mail so I can verify the present condition by myself.

I will also want a discount on the vehicle because I will handle the freight/shipping of the vehicle down to West Africa where it will be resold.

I look forward to your soonest response.

Thanks

Sincerely,

David Johnson

C.E.O Johnson Enterprises

And this one from smithbruce_dre@yahoo.com

Heloo Mpattel,
I am an american business man who is presently in south africa.i saw you advert for the sales of your Focus Ghia 2.0i.i am well pleased with the price £8500 .let me know if you accept a Euro cahiers check for payment. Thanks, Carpo

This one from smithbruce_dre@yahoo.com see same email but he has forgotton his name is carpo

Hello Lofty,
I am an american business man who is presently in south africa.i saw you advert for the sales of your FORD PUMA METALIC GREEN.i am well plesaced with the price £9000 .let me know if you accept a Euro cahiers check for payment. Thanks, Dr

They have a template with

ENTER CAR MAKE - IN CAPITALS

I really am fed up with these muppets any suggestions?

Iain

[Anonymous]

Hi there
I have been sent this E. Does it look familiar? Think it is a scam? kuma4love@yahoo.com

Hello
i am a dealer from west african and i have a client that own me some money in london so that i can used the advantage bto bye the yamaha and my shippingagent with come and pick it up,
thanks


HELLO,
>I AM A AFRICAN DEALE,AND I AM INTRETSED IN YOURYamaha AND
>I WANT TO KNOW THE CONDITION OF IT AND I WILL LIKE TO PAY YOU
>BY CASHIER CHECK SO
>REGARD


Have told him to send the cheque, and when I have cashed it the bike can be collected. Also it his hir responsibility to sort out all dealings with any other party, Eg the shipper. So if he sends the money Great.
If not #%”!*/|` or words to that effect.

[jmarshall0]

I've received the following enquiry today after placing an ad yesterday. I shall not be replying.


8O

HELLO
I AM INTRESTED IN BUYING THIS(mazda of 1, 800 pounds) FOR MY
CLIENT , BUT MY CLIENT CAN ONLY PAY WITH CERTIFIED CASHIES CHECK AND I
ALSO HAVE A SHIPPING AGENT FOR THE GOODS, SO PLEASE MAIL ME BACK IF YOU ARE
INTRESTED IN SELLING THE CAR AND FORWARD YOUR
CONTACT NAME
CONTACT ADDRESS
AND CONSTANT PHONE NUMBER FOR CONSTANT CONTACT

THANKS

JONESMIKE

-----------------------------
WARNING SCAM ALERT.... DO NOT sell or negotiate selling your car with
anyone from overseas!
There is a scam going around, with certain countries (mainly Nigeria)
expressing an urgent need to buy your car. They want to send you a
check/cheque, if you agree they send you a cheque for more than the amount.
In the USA they will express clear the cheque, you then wire the money over
the price of the car to his shipping agent, who will supposedly come to
pick the car up & ship back.

The cheque is fake & bounces you are then in debt to the bank.
Deal only with people in your country that actually come to see the car.
Ask yourself the simple question - why when there are so many cars all over
the world would someone want to buy your car and then add ££££s to ship it
overseas? - crazy this may be but people are getting stung to the tune of a
few grand!

Please be warned is all I can say
For your interest see http://www.usedcarmart.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=15

P.S If you do think someone is genuine but wants to pay by cheque make sure
it clears, do not wire them money - send them a cheque!

-----------------------------
Reply From jonesmike

Email address jonesmike@mail.com

Sent by http://www.usedcarmart.co.uk - please let us know if you get a
result!

[Anonymous]

i recently had an e-mail from someone in ireland wishing to purchase my car, he told me he was currently in the uk. He asked for more information and pictures, i sent these back via e-mail and lo and behold the following day received an e-mail back saying he had to rush to the usa because his daughter was in an accitdent but someone in the uk owed him money and would send me a check, could i forward the rest to the shipping agent etc;. i replied to him that the car was cheap anyway, i wanted a quick sale so i wouldn't get involved in lengthy money transactions.
beware not just from nigeria!!!!

[Anonymous]

I have also been contacted by this guy in Ireland and his daughter was also in car crash must be the same guy. Shane McMullin apparently.

This was the message:

Hello,
Thanks for your rapid response. The CAR condition suits me very much is
your price is also okay with me. I however want you to that i had to travel over
to the states because i reieved a phone call that my only daughter was involved
in car crash and she has been admitted in a hospital in the states. So i am now
presently in the states. I want you to know that i am still very interested in
purchasing the CAR from you. But since i am not presently In Ireland i have
instructed a business partner in U.K who is owing me £2700 to issue you a check
for that amount.

What i will like you to do after recieving the check is to cash it and
then take the amount for the CAR, and then send the balance to my shipping agent
VIA MONEY GRAM or WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER so that he can arrange to come to
your house and pick the from you. If this is okay by you, I will like you to
provide me with your contact address so that payment can be made out to you
ASAP. I will require your contact info as thus:

FULL NAME...............

ADDRESS..........

CITY..............

STATE...............

ZIP CODE...............

COUNTRY.............

HOME/ CELL PHONE NUMBER.............

I hope to read from you soonest,

Thanks,

Yours sincerely,

Shane Mullin.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Katja Fenton" <katjafenton@>
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2003 13:21:48 +0100
To: shane.mullin_01@graffiti.net
Subject: Re: Used Car Mart - Reply to AD#6823 (Citroen AX Jazz)

> Hi Shane,
>
> Thanks for your email. I haven't sold the car yet. Only advertised it a few
> days ago and you're the first to reply!
>
> I've attached some pictures for you to see it. I'm asking for £500 for it.
> Everything works except the heater fan makes a noise so i never use it. As
> long as the vents are open and the car moves the windscreen won't mist up in
> the winter.
>
> It also needs regular water as it seems to use quite a lot and i check the
> oil about every month now. I've had new brake pads put on last month and
> exhaust pipe. Apart from that, I've never replaced anything in the 4 1/2
> years I've owned it (except the tyres as they had worn).
>
> It's very economical. Does about 220 miles on a tank and costs about £24 to
> fil.
>
> It's got an MOT until 26th October and taxed til 31st October.
>
> There is no rust on the car, it is missing the back 2 hubcaps but these
> could easily be replaced from a junk yard. It also needs a new seat cover on
> the driver seat.
>
> It has a sunroof and tape deck. I've actually replaced the stereo with a CD
> player but that's not included in the sale.
>
> At the moment i'm finishinh my exams in Nottingham but i live in London
> (east finchley) so either place would be convenient to meet.
>
> I hope that answers all your questions. If you have any others, please don't
> hesitate to ask.
>
> Thanks for your interest,
>
> Katja Fenton
> >From: "shane" <shane.mullin_01@graffiti.net>
> >To: katjafenton@
> >Subject: Used Car Mart - Reply to AD#6823 (Citroen AX Jazz)
> >Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 20:06:40 -0400
> >
> >hello mate,
> >
> > I came across your ad for your vehicle and i was hoping that it
> >will
> >still be up for sale . I have been searching for what you have for sale for
> >a long time because of my sons birthday coming up soon. If it is, i will
> >like to know what your last price is and also i will also like to have a
> >detailed and up-to date description on the present condition of the car and
> >also i will like you to forward any available pictures to me in your reply.
> >I will also like to know where you are located presently. I am presently
> >based in the U.K. My personal email address is
> >shane.mullin_01@graffiti.net. I am also located in Dublin 2, Ireland
> >
> > I hope to read from you soonest,
> >
> > cheerio,
> >
> >Shane Mullin...

[Anonymous]

:roll: Almost had me too!

These were the e-mails I had:
hello iam intrested in buying your BMW 320i Coupe Auto for my daugther who is getting married in southafrica soon,i live in the us but iam presently in spain with my wife,so you will e mail me the total cost with shipping cost to south africa and the payment is going to be made in america personal check,so please mail me if this will be acceptable because it is going to be send to you by my personal assistance presently in the us.it is needed as soon as possible. from terry smith [terrysmithbest2003@yahoo.com]

Then:

hello thanks for your response,the check will be made in american dollars but it seems you said it will take upto 6 to 8 weeks for it to clear over there,no problem on this but i want you to assist me in paying the shipper by nextweek when i send the check to you so that they can start arrangement from thier end immediately so as to meet up with the purpose of buying the car,so you can contact them on medlinkworldwideshippingagency@yahoo.com for discussion with them

Dodgy shipping company too!

Response from them was by far the most 'african':

GOOD DAY MR *****,THE NAME OF OUR COMPANY IS MEDLINKWORLDWIDESHIPPINGAGENCY,WE ARE LOCATED IN SIX AFRICAN COUNTRIES WHICH INCLUDE NIGERIA, CAMEROUN, SOUTH AFRICA,TUNISIA AND MORROCCO,OUR HEAD OFFICE IS BASE IN NIGERIA,PRESENTLY OUR WEBSITE IS UNDER CONSRUCTION WHICH WILL SOON SEE THE LIGHT OF THE DAY.
MR TERRY CONTACTED OUR SOUTH AFRICA BRANCH TO HANDLE THE SHIPPING OF THE CAR TO SOUTH AFRICA AND DUE TO THE URGENCY AND TIME IT WAS REFERED TO US FROM SOUTH AFRICA IN WHICH WE WILL DO THE HANDLING FROM A NEAREST PORT FROM YOUR HOUSE DOWN HERE IN NIGERIA PORT IN LAGOS SO OUR SOUTH AFRICA COUNTERPERT WILL DO THE HANDLING FROM THE PORT HERE IN LAGOS TO SOUTH AFRICA.
SO ALL THESE WILL BE DONE IN A SHORTEST PERIOD OF TIME WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT GIVEN TO US BY MR TERRY BECAUSE WILL ARE USING OUR PERSONAL CARGO OPERATOR.
OUR CONTACT HEAD OFFICE ADDRESS IS AT NO 21 MARCONI DRIVE ANTHONY LAGOS NIGERIA
PHONE.2341,8023416414 SO YOU CAN CONTACT US ON MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8AM TO 7.PM AND ON SATURDAY 9AM TO 4 PM.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR $5000 FROM HIM,WHICH INCLUDE THE PAYMENT FOR US AND OUR SOUTH AFRICA BRANCH,THIS WILL BE USE FOR THE SPEEDY HANDLING OF THE CAR AND HE HAS AGREED TO PAY THAT THE CAR IS NEEDED FOR AN IMPORTANT PROGRAMME AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.SO WE ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT THE ONLY WAY WHICH COULD MAKE THE HANDLING AND SHIPPING POSSIBLE IS TO MAKE OUR PAYMENT POSSIBLE BEFORE THE END OF NEXT WEEK.
WE SHALL BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
MR AJIBOLA DAVIES
FOR MEDLINK .

Suddenly his daughter has become a son and his bank were the best named bank in the USA...... The Chevy Chase Bank! They phoned me from the 'USA' but with loads of african voices in the background. Could not answer a straight forward question without conferring. It was a laugh by this stage as my girlfriend was threatening to kill me if I had sold to them..... so 2 lucky escapes there then!!!

hello thanks for your response,please you have to bear with considering the fact it is a bank so i have to be patient with them and moreso i will try my possible best that they give you the call today so please bear with me,also please i have dovoted my time and mind on the car for my son so please i have no other place to get the car from now and i have little time towards the day so please kindly assist me.i will make sure you are call by my bank today

Also had e-mails from:

edward carey [carey_edwardsauto@yahoo.com]

mike law [mike_law2004@yahoo.com]

tolu williams [transbikeltd@yahoo.com]

Can't Yahoo kick them off?!?!?!?!