Autotrader car interest - is this genuine?

SexyGreyFox

SexyGreyFox

SexyGreyFox

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Joined
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Posts
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Location
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I'm selling a car on Autotrader for my Father In Law because he's dying and I've received this email.
It looks a bit too formal to me - is it genuine?

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Please note this e-mail is from an interested customer not from Auto Trader.

Never reply to an e-mail that asks for personal information or copies of your vehicle documentation including the V5C. Keep vehicle documentation and details regarding your vehicle including your VIN number secure at all times.

If you are in doubt regarding an e-mail you have received, report it immediately to [email protected] or call us on 0845 345 3450.

The following customer is interested in the vehicle you are advertising on http://www.autotrader.co.uk

Received: 20 June 2009 12:40

Customer Details:
NAME: MR Dr.Scott Miller
TELEPHONE:
EMAIL: [email protected] (changed)

Vehicle Details:
MAKE: FORD
MODEL: FUSION
PRICE: £3700

Message:
Dear Seller,

I am interested in purchasing this vehicle ,it suits my requirements perfectly.

THESE ARE MY TERMS OF TRANSACTION IF CAR IS EXACTLY AS STATED IN ADVERT:

1) I AM OKAY WITH THE STATED ADVERT

2) I WILL BE PAYING WITH A BANKER'S DRAFT WHICH I WILL ALLOW TO CLEAR BEFORE THE PICKUP/SHIPMENT OF THE CAR.

3) I WILL INCLUDE FEES FOR SHIPMENT IN PAYMENT. THIS, MY SHIPPING AGENCY WILL USE FOR PICK-UP.

The excess funds will go towards covering costs for shipping, shippers fees,insurance,tax and any other expenses that might be incurred getting it down to the new owner. I will want you to get in touch with the following details if my terms are okay:

FULL NAME......................
FULL ADDRESS WITH POST CODE........................
TELEPHONE NUMBERS..............(Mobile and Land) FINAL PRICE....................

As soon as i have your details,i can have payment effected immediately,all things being equal,we should have this wrapped up by the end of this week. Pls note that you'll have to send on the balance on the funds that you'll get to my shipper so he can come attend to the pick up as soon as you make the car ready. I believe that most transactions are based on trust,so i look forward to a successful transaction with you.

Best Regards,
Scott Miller



This e-mail is sent on behalf of Trader Media Group Limited, registered office: Unit 6, Thatcham Business Village, Colthrop Lane, Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 4LW (Registered in England No. 4768840). This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

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This e-mail is sent on behalf of Trader Media Group Limited, registered office: Unit 6, Thatcham Business Village, Colthrop Lane, Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 4LW (Registered in England No.
4768833). This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be legally privileged, and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.
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Blatant scam.

As soon as i have your details,i can have payment effected immediately,all things being equal,we should have this wrapped up by the end of this week. Pls note that you'll have to send on the balance on the funds that you'll get to my shipper so he can come attend to the pick up as soon as you make the car ready. I believe that most transactions are based on trust,so i look forward to a successful transaction with you.
Click to expand...

Don't you think a Doctor could have strung a better sentence together? :p
 
Last edited:
dmpoole said:
I'm so sorry but I've never sold on Autotrader before.
I promise I won't bore you again.

Thanks to everybody else.
Click to expand...

You don't need to be a seller on AT to know a scam email. You are just being silly now.
 
One of the oldest scams in the book.

I'll pay you more than I need to and you pay the extra amount to the shipping company. Then he pulls his money back and youre down the amount you forwarded to the shipping company. I'll let you figure out who the 'shipping company' actually is.

Why would he not just pay the shipping company himself? It doesn't even make any sense which makes it all the more incredible people fall for it.

At no point when you are selling things should you need to give other parties money in such a way, especially other parties someone else has organised.
 
Anybody know what a genuine email will look like?
Is there a standard email format that comes through from Autotrader or would it be a 'normal' email staright from the interested party?

(obviously not like the one I posted because it did look too formal as I said in the OP)
 
Sorry to hear the circumstances behind the sale.

Things to look out for are any form of payment to-ing and fro-ing.

Bear in mind its a Ford Fusion not a supercar. There is no reason for people to want to bother shipping it around anywhere.

Avoid any deals "based on trust"

Avoid anyone who seems to be willing to throw the money at you without even seeing the car.

Hopefully you will get some proper enquiries and a quick sale soon.
 
lordrobs said:
Avoid anyone who seems to be willing to throw the money at you without even seeing the car.
Click to expand...

This was the bit that got me BUT I have bought stuff off Ebay without seeing it first so who knows?

Thanks for your reply because it's a good job I was in and caught the email because my wife would have acted on it.
 
a genuine email will be a person who wants to view it and pay cash or transfer it straight into your bank not someone who wants it shipped unless its a very special car! even then i would still expect them to view
 
Hey dmpoole, sorry to hear about the circumstances :(

I knew personally straight away as soon as i read:

Customer Details:
NAME: MR Dr.Scott Miller

After all, everyone knows doctors are clever and all scott's are dumbarses? :D ;)

But in all seriousness, its a standard scam letter as others have said but its ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry. I'd rather see 2-3 of these posts on here every day than see more people get scammed.
 
Jeez, I don't know why I bothered.
All I wanted was confirmation on what I thought was a scam letter since I'd never dealt with Autotrader before and my wife is actually dealing with it.
Now I know why I don't come in this elite forum.

Thanks to those with serious replies.
 
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