WARNING - scammer on the prowl on UK forums

needmorespeed · 13 Feb 2007 at 10:54

Theres a guy doing a scam at the moment He posts up saying he has a garage full of car parts to shift, all very rare, desirable stuff. ANd great prices. Only accepts Paypal and if anyone wants to collect he goesa bit quiet on them. Usually claims to be rebuilding a V8 Landrover but whatever the forum is (Opel Manta, Mk1 Astra, Ford Escort) he's got piles of stuff for them from an old project.

Needless to say people get excited, pay him hods of cahs by Paypal and then he dissappears...

Examples of him in action

http://www.escortevolution.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=74748

http://www.mantaclub.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11186&whichpage=1

http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=19749&highlight=

http://www.mk1oc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5219

he took the Escort guys for well over a grand before he was busted.

Please keep it in mind that forums are no more trustworthy than the local rag and probably far less safe thean eBay.

Be wary out there. If it seems to good to be true it probably is and if someone won't play ball with cash on collection then run a mile.

Sirrel Squirrel · 13 Feb 2007 at 10:59

I don't think he could fool many people on this forum!

Firestar_3x · 13 Feb 2007 at 11:04

Yep, i would request a loaf of bread on my car part before parting with any cash.

Failing that i would send My personal Pi 'Team Merlin' in to investigate first.

needmorespeed · 13 Feb 2007 at 11:04

Sirrel Squirrel said:
I don't think he could fool many people on this forum!

probably not but it's worth posting to as many forums as possible so he can't do it again

divine` · 13 Feb 2007 at 11:13

Links all broked when copy and pasted

full of '...'

Sirrel Squirrel · 13 Feb 2007 at 11:17

needmorespeed said:
probably not but it's worth posting to as many forums as possible so he can't do it again

yeah I agree with you, just saying this forum would ask for a loaf of bread in every picture with today's paper behind the windscreen and a portable sun in the background before they believe it's real

Dead Dog · 13 Feb 2007 at 11:20

good heads up, i've just stuck it up at another forum (vzi)

needmorespeed · 13 Feb 2007 at 12:14

Sirrel Squirrel said:
yeah I agree with you, just saying this forum would ask for a loaf of bread in every picture with today's paper behind the windscreen and a portable sun in the background before they believe it's real

rofl thats very true

ElRazur · 13 Feb 2007 at 12:16

Sirrel Squirrel said:
I don't think he could fool many people on this forum!

Never underestimate the power of foolishness and stupidity!

needmorespeed · 13 Feb 2007 at 12:16

divine_madness said:
Links all broked when copy and pasted

full of '...'

Links now fixed

Guigsy · 13 Feb 2007 at 13:06

The rule that you need 100 posts before you can use the sales boards is a good thing then.

ElRazur · 13 Feb 2007 at 13:10

Guigsy said:
The rule that you need 100 posts before you can use the sales boards is a good thing then.

Really? it still dosent stop someone who is determined.......I can easily pass that in a day or two the most.

james.miller · 13 Feb 2007 at 13:12

ElRazur said:
Really? it still dosent stop someone who is determined.......I can easily pass that in a day or two the most.

at which point the mods would pick up on it and ban your access?

iCraig · 13 Feb 2007 at 13:13

ElRazur said:
Really? it still dosent stop someone who is determined.......I can easily pass that in a day or two the most.

It doesn't stop them no, but it certainly deters them. Why spend a day or two building posts up (which need to be genuine posts otherwise they would likely be banned for spamming or whatever) when you can simply move on to a different forum that doesn't have a minimum post level.