I know weve heard them all before, bit i just thought id share this one.

 

I put my M3 track car on ebay in a bid to save money. Cant be bothered now so its staying!

 

It was on for 10 days with a £4500 "buy it now" or best offer.

The day it ended, i had somebody click "buy it now" at £4500. Happy days im thinking. The buyer had 100% feedback although quite new to ebay with only 10 feedbacks.

I had no contact from him, so found the address and phone number on the page when i sent him the invoice.

Soemwhere in reading i think. I called the number and was told the buyer was from Egypt and they were a shipping company. What happens is, he pays me through paypal, i send them the item, and they send it to him. Easy enough, but i cant post a car!

They put me through to cargo department who say they can ship a car if i get it to the docks.

 

Still no contact from the buyer, but the shipping company gave me his email address and phone number.

I emailed him and he replied saying the shipping company couldn't sent a car, so could i get him a price for shipping.

I then spent a few hours shopping round for the best price to ship the car, prices were from £735, to over £3000!

 

He asked me to send him an invoice through paypal to include the shipping. I put £1300 in to cover the shipping and my costs to get it to the docks etc.

After a few days on none payment, i called him (on the international number!) and he said he had a broker that was sorting the funds.

 

At this point, im thinking is it a scam? But honestly, i didn't think it was. I wouldn't send anything without cleared funds etc, ive got all his details, he bought 10 things (15 now) on ebay, and all have left good feeback.

 

3-4 days later, ive still not got the money, and ive heard nothing fro him.

I emailed and text him, still nothing.

 

I went on holiday last week, came back and checked ebay and his feedback.

Somebody that had left good feedback, added the note...

 

****WARNING SCAMMER FROM EGYPT PAYING WITH STOLEN PAYPAL ACCOUNTS.****

 

Ive canceled the transaction, and got my fee back from ebay. Lost all that time getting him quotes, and the calls/texts to Egypt, but it could have been a lot worse!

 

Just thought id share incase anybody else got in that situation. Ive seen many scams, but didn't suspect this as one, just thought he was bad at communicating.

Cheers for info Jim, very helpfull. Had similar case few months ago when i tried to sell Focus ST

I dont know how he's bought so much already.

When money goes from your paypal, you get an email. you might not see that, but the money is out of your bank within 3-4 days.

He's been buying things since may 2011.

A work mate of mine just got a crappy scam emails today and during our laugh about it we found this:

 

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/help-disrupt-fraudsters-by-reporting-scam-emails-feb11

 

so from now on when you get one of these crappy emails just forward it to them.... :)

 

you never know something might even get done about it... (wishful thinking there :laugh: )

Very common Jim I had the same scam on my Audi I reported it to paypal but doubt if anything will come of it.

I good with seeing whats a scam normally, this honestly seemed Genuine.

I did some digging and got his address, email address, phone number... Maybe thats why he didn't send me the money, i should have been able to track him down!