Scam? Seems like a good one if it is.

aayzof · 10 May 2009 at 18:04

doesn't look like a scam to me.

NathanE · 10 May 2009 at 19:04

Not a scam. Loads of Lotus are going to France recently due to the exchange rate. Surely as a SELOC member you should have seen the weekly threads where someone sells up to a Frenchman?

eidolon · 10 May 2009 at 19:21

I emailed him earlier and got this back.

Dear Steve,

Many thanks for your reply.
Do you have a phone number?
I think your car is in mint condition.
As mentioned on my first Email, You will receive payment on your account before I will come in Engand to pick up the car. You will be sure to have payment on your account and there is no risk for you.

If you want cash money, I must to command cash on my bank = 2/3 days. After I must go to change money (with tax change 3%). And after, I must declare money for french customer.

Bank transfert is really more easy, sure, and fast.

Regards,
Franck

I have to admit that I haven't been on SELOC for ages now so hadn't seen any of the threads. I'm starting to believe that he could well be genuine. I think I'll speak to my bank and ensure that the money can't be reversed though, just to be sure.

If the car is going abroad, what happens with the tax etc? I've just taxed it for 6 months, bit of a waste of £120 I think

The_Dark_Side · 10 May 2009 at 19:26

eidolon said:
I emailed him earlier and got this back.

I have to admit that I haven't been on SELOC for ages now so hadn't seen any of the threads. I'm starting to believe that he could well be genuine. I think I'll speak to my bank and ensure that the money can't be reversed though, just to be sure.

If the car is going abroad, what happens with the tax etc? I've just taxed it for 6 months, bit of a waste of £120 I think

If you're getting more than the going rate for it, that will make it easier to swallow the "loss" of £120, right?

eidolon · 10 May 2009 at 19:40

It's not that I'm bothered about the £120, just seems a waste don't you agree considering I only got the tax disc 3 days ago.

I wouldn't say I'm getting more than the going rate for it, simply what it's worth IMO. It's a fairly priced car which I'm confident is in much better condition than 99% of Elises out there.

The_Dark_Side · 10 May 2009 at 19:50

eidolon said:
I wouldn't say I'm getting more than the going rate for it, simply what it's worth IMO. It's a fairly priced car which I'm confident is in much better condition than 99% of Elises out there.

Given your reputation for looking after your cars, I think that's very fair to say.

Goksly · 10 May 2009 at 20:07

It sounds ok, but to be sure, as others have said, I'd phone up the bank and confirm transfers cannot be cancelled once they are in the account (including international ones, if they differ?). If not, then there is no need to worry. I'd certainly steer clear of the paypal option.

Just hope he doesn't get a speeding ticket on the way back to France

Pixie · 10 May 2009 at 20:16

When you replied to him did he answer all of your questions? I had a load of emails like this when selling my car a while back.When I replied they didn't answer any of my questions. They just kept on trying to give more information about how to pay.

Diggsy · 10 May 2009 at 20:25

As mentioned on my first Email, You will receive payment on your account before I will come in Engand to pick up the car. You will be sure to have payment on your account and there is no risk for you.

This one line worries me. Why on earth would anyone transfer money for a car they have not been to view?

Up until then it appeared genuine enough, but that statement would make very cautious.

mjt · 10 May 2009 at 20:27

Diggsy said:
This one line worries me. Why on earth would anyone transfer money for a car they have not been to view?

because they can't be arsed to come over to the UK searching for cars. the car looks mint.

also

wicksta said:
It's far easier to spot a legit seller that it is to spot a legit buyer

Fr0dders · 10 May 2009 at 20:43

Diggsy said:
This one line worries me. Why on earth would anyone transfer money for a car they have not been to view?

Up until then it appeared genuine enough, but that statement would make very cautious.

why ?

because theirs bargains to be had. Remember the hoardes of people who bought cars abroad when we were horribly expensive back in the 90s ?

rip off britain they called it, and all sorts of people were sourcing right hand drive models from dealers in germany etc..

Now the tables are turned, and they're looking for bargains over here. Not so hard to understand why somebody would take a punt.

Especially given the toyota engine in the 111R. Its quite a reliable engine isnt it ?

If you know what your doing, so what if it has some issues, can always fix them and still make a saving.

digisatman · 10 May 2009 at 20:53

looks very very scammish to me.

Think about it, I could setup a pistonheads ad with a lotus elise (i dont have a lotus elise), this guy sends me 16k for nothing.

You do realize the bank can freeze your bank account if its fraudulent money...

Fr0dders · 10 May 2009 at 21:00

digisatman said:
looks very very scammish to me.

Think about it, I could setup a pistonheads ad with a lotus elise (i dont have a lotus elise), this guy sends me 16k for nothing.

You do realize the bank can freeze your bank account if its fraudulent money...

what about all the instances on SELOC then ?

they all fraudulent too ?

The_Dark_Side · 10 May 2009 at 21:02

MrLOL said:
what about all the instances on SELOC then ?

they all fraudulent too ?

Does that mean if they're all legitimate then this one has to be by default?
No, of course it doesn't, therefore your point is moot.

Fr0dders · 10 May 2009 at 21:04

no his argument that it has to be fake as nobody would come over here and buy a car they havent seen is obviously flawed, as lots of others have.

The_Dark_Side · 10 May 2009 at 21:08

MrLOL said:
no his argument that it has to be fake as nobody would come over here and buy a car they havent seen is obviously flawed, as lots of others have.

He didn't say it had to be fake, he actually said that it looked scammish.
It does.
Everything in digisatman's post could be true, however the buyer may be bona fide we just don't know, which is why nobody in this thread can confidently state one way or another how authentic this offer is at this time.

Adam · 10 May 2009 at 21:10

I know how you feel, I created a similar thread when selling my Leon Cupra R. That turned out to be a scam.

Just don't give away anymore information than you need to (I.e. scanning documents etc)

digisatman · 10 May 2009 at 21:13

The_Dark_Side said:
He didn't say it had to be fake, he actually said that it looked scammish.
It does.
Everything in digisatman's post could be true, however the buyer may be bona fide we just don't know, which is why nobody in this thread can confidently state one way or another how authentic this offer is at this time.

+1, i didnt say its 'NOT POSSIBLE', OP title asks 'Scam? Seems like a good one if it is.' and i replied that it does look 'scammish'.

Basically, it was said a couple of times that the money should be 100% safe once it hits the bank account, but its definitely not.

s0ck · 10 May 2009 at 21:41

I did, immediately, think nigerian scam lol.

Although, the guy could also be a regular here or friend of a regular here, noticed you put it up for sale, knows your history of looking after cars and just knows he's picking up a minter.

eidolon said:
I'll speak to my bank and ensure that the money can't be reversed though, just to be sure.

You might want to get that in writing from them

Wicksta · 10 May 2009 at 21:44

The_Dark_Side said:
He didn't say it had to be fake, he actually said that it looked scammish.
It does.
Everything in digisatman's post could be true, however the buyer may be bona fide we just don't know, which is why nobody in this thread can confidently state one way or another how authentic this offer is at this time.

I think we get the message now that you think it's a scam.