I am an ocassional visitor to this site usually checking out the for sale section for an interesting project car.
I did find a Citroen Safari on ClassicCarsForSale.co.uk, it was scam, but I can't work out how the perpetrator intended make money!
I wasn't looking for a Citroen, I was looking for a Series 40 Landcruiser, but I fell in love with this Citroen. After a lot of research on Citroens I decided to go ahead and buy it.
The ad had half a dozen photos and a very brief description, basically saying it needed restoration, the advertiser had had it several years, had not done anything with it and was now selling it.
The ad didn't show the advertiser's email address just a link to "email the seller" and a mobile phone number. For two weeks I tried to contact the seller. He didn't reply to emails and the phone always went straight to voice mail. During this time I had done a lot more research on the Citroen and really wanted this particular model!
I did an internet search for the model to see if was advertised elsewhere with more contact details.
I found it!
On an Austrailian Citroen forum! Not only the same car but some of the photos from the ad were in a thread!
I joined the forum and posted on the thread asking if the car was in England and for sale. The Aussie owner must have been online, he sent me a private message within minutes! Saying the the car was not for sale, it was a scam. I tried to post to the thread with a link to the ad so people could be warned about it, but the thread had been taken off, I assume the owner didn't want any more photos stolen. I PM the owner with the link to the ad so he could see it and said I would report it as a scam to the ad website, but he beat me to it as the ad was gone the by the next day.
BUT - I cannot work out how the advertiser intended to make money out of his fake ad.
1. The asking price was £1,100 - not much return for a scam.
2. It needed picking up on a trailer - no need to transfer money or give bank details - just pay cash on pick up.
3. The car was an old Citroen needing restoration - very few potential victims.
4. It needed restoration - who is going to buy a car for restoration with going to look at it to check the condition. Difficult as the car was in Australia.
5. He never returned my messages - can't make money if you don't contact your victim - if scam had finished, why leave the ad on the site.
Any ideas on what this advertiser was up to?
The only info I have on the seller is a mobile number - 07767 834524, and that the car was supposed to be in Clun, Shropshire. I have contacted ClassiCarsForSale to see if they will give me the email address. It would be good to somehow track this guy down - anybody any ideas how?
The main result of this - I now want a classic Citroen - no more Landcruiser!
Steve
I did find a Citroen Safari on ClassicCarsForSale.co.uk, it was scam, but I can't work out how the perpetrator intended make money!
I wasn't looking for a Citroen, I was looking for a Series 40 Landcruiser, but I fell in love with this Citroen. After a lot of research on Citroens I decided to go ahead and buy it.
The ad had half a dozen photos and a very brief description, basically saying it needed restoration, the advertiser had had it several years, had not done anything with it and was now selling it.
The ad didn't show the advertiser's email address just a link to "email the seller" and a mobile phone number. For two weeks I tried to contact the seller. He didn't reply to emails and the phone always went straight to voice mail. During this time I had done a lot more research on the Citroen and really wanted this particular model!
I did an internet search for the model to see if was advertised elsewhere with more contact details.
I found it!
On an Austrailian Citroen forum! Not only the same car but some of the photos from the ad were in a thread!
I joined the forum and posted on the thread asking if the car was in England and for sale. The Aussie owner must have been online, he sent me a private message within minutes! Saying the the car was not for sale, it was a scam. I tried to post to the thread with a link to the ad so people could be warned about it, but the thread had been taken off, I assume the owner didn't want any more photos stolen. I PM the owner with the link to the ad so he could see it and said I would report it as a scam to the ad website, but he beat me to it as the ad was gone the by the next day.
BUT - I cannot work out how the advertiser intended to make money out of his fake ad.
1. The asking price was £1,100 - not much return for a scam.
2. It needed picking up on a trailer - no need to transfer money or give bank details - just pay cash on pick up.
3. The car was an old Citroen needing restoration - very few potential victims.
4. It needed restoration - who is going to buy a car for restoration with going to look at it to check the condition. Difficult as the car was in Australia.
5. He never returned my messages - can't make money if you don't contact your victim - if scam had finished, why leave the ad on the site.
Any ideas on what this advertiser was up to?
The only info I have on the seller is a mobile number - 07767 834524, and that the car was supposed to be in Clun, Shropshire. I have contacted ClassiCarsForSale to see if they will give me the email address. It would be good to somehow track this guy down - anybody any ideas how?
The main result of this - I now want a classic Citroen - no more Landcruiser!
Steve
