CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

oliverg · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 1:23 pm Post subject: WARNING SCAMMER ALERT

No this one isn't about ozsellingstuff/bigscreenrush/finedigital Smile

I was doing a google on "Sony G90" when one appeared for 900 sterling on a site called "Gumtree" - there was a picture of the unit (one I'd never seen before on other sites (haha not even one hotlinked from here Wink

I'm thinking .. hmm - what are the chances of me getting 3 X 90s for around the $3k mark and in this case, $1500 (US).

So I sent a 'PM' to the 'guy' - back comes an answer:

"I live in Oxford - if you want, I'll give you my address and you can come take a look - yes I have the boxes for it"

So I'm thinking - MAYBE ... but "boxes" got me a bit worried. So I asked him the usual (take some pictures of the unit cold with the lenses off yada yada)

An email comes back saying "OK, if you dont want to come and look at it I will organise a shipping company for you - you can pay them directly - I will pay for the shipping taxes"

Now I'm starting to get suspicious.. so I trace the guys header - it was sent to yahoo.uk site but via GERMANY.. and they had been proxied via AOL.

I did a little more digging - it turn out this is a really new type of fraud, at least - as far as PJs etc - these guys hunt down high ticket item 'types' and advertise them really cheap.

They've been doing it with cars for a while (here's an example below) - by the way, I reported him to the site and to abuse@yahoo.com and the ad and the email are now both dead.

Apparently - they will send a spoof email that says its from the shipping company.. that they have the item and could you please pay for it - click on the link and enter your bank details/credit card (LOL)

I'm only warning people here because I think they've cottoned onto the fact that CRT pjs are worth a lot of money and the market is still active. The same guy was apparently trying to offload computers/printers/cameras/TVs all with very 'legitimate' looking photos. I thought I'd seen just about every photo of every G90 on the internet (sort of) but this one looked 'new' - anyway, for all your enjoyment - here's one I found on their forum (same variant method):

STUPID SCAMMER:
Hello there,
The car is in excellent condition, no damage, never involved in any accidents, no scratches, garage kept .
The engine is also in great condition, no problem with it. The title is clear, the vehicle has 1 owner and come with full service history. I had to move to Hungary one month ago with my work and I took the car with me hoping to drive it here as well.
Here I had an unpleasant surprise because the car is an UK model and it is a right hand drive and in Hungary the steering wheel must be on the left,so i will have to send the car back in Uk to sell it.

You will not pay anything for delivery and the car will arrive to your place in 3-4days.
Email me asap so i can explain to you better how this deal will be closed.

Thank you,
Michael

ME (already knowing the scam deal):
Hey

Great to know that. Can you please tell me how many kilometres the car has run and also the year of registration ? Also, how would I pay you for the car ? Will cash be okay ?

Cheers

STUPID SCAMMER:

Hello there,

Year of reg 2000.Mileage 84000
Here is how we will go about delivery and payment for
the car which will be through 'popular shipping company) and will also give you the
chance to inspect the car before I receive the payment for it.

We will use TTN(one of the biggest shipment company in the world) and a third party wich will guarantee to both of us a secure transaction.
I will explain to you step by step how this will work.
A. First you have to send me your shipping information (your name and
address).
1. After I receive your shipping info, I'll go to a TTN Location
and leave the car onto your name and with your address as the
intended receiver.
2. TTN will check the car, also the legal papers to see that everything is OK with them.

B. You will receive a notification from TTN as a confirmation that the vehicle is in their custody.
1. After that, you will have to send the payment via bank transfer to one of the TTN Agent.
2. TTN will verify payment, and if everything is in order, they will bring the car to your place for inspection.
3. After you will receive the car and you will be completely
satisfied with it,then TTN pays me and the deal is closed.

You can go to your mechanic for inspection to confirm you that the car is OK and to Police so they can tell you that the car it's not stolen or something like that.
YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE oops! AGENT WHEN THEY WILL SEND YOU THE
CONFIRMATION THAT THE CAR IS IN THEIR CUSTODY
NOT WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE CAR IN YOUR HOME(in order to be both
protected,no offense),PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU
HAVE UNDERSTAND.

C. If by any reason, you will not be satisfied with
the car, you
will return the vehicle to TTN with no expense and the
TTN Agent will send all your money back.
I will pay for shipping which will take only 3-4 days.

Please give me a reply if you accept the deal in this way,and let
me know asap so i can stop talking with my other clients.

Thanks,
Michael

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 2:20 am Post subject:

What, no tire kickin' and test driving first? lol

Dave Lister · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 4:50 am Post subject:

The scammer says you can kick the tyres but how can you kick the tyres on a vapourcar? Wink

The all new Vapourcar:
Drives like a breeze
Fast as the wind
Aerodynamic
No fuel needed, runs on air
No nasty emissions
No cleaning necessary
No dealer delivery fee Wink

oliverg · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 11:02 am Post subject:

There's nothing like a bit of tyre kicking to ruin a scammers day.

I just encountered another one on the same site.

So I'm going to "scam bait" him.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:27 am Post subject: