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Interesting little online auction-related scam?

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Andrew Mace

Andrew Mace

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I suspect most of you know that I tend to follow Heralds pretty closely whenever and wherever I can, including watching eBay and other online sites for cars. I've been doing this for many years now, but I think I've encountered a first.

I just opened an e-mail sent directly to me quoting an eBay auction listing number. That number happens to be for this Herald. As it happens, I do have it marked as on my Watch List. But it is NOT my car! Nonetheless, that e-mailer is making <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">me</span></span> an offer of $1500 to sell him (her? whatever) the car. Seems just a bit odd to me.... :whistle:
 
If he/she/it offers to overpay and have you send he/she/it the change, it is most likely a reputable business person located somewhere in Africa...
grin.gif


I like the way you are brought up by name Andy. You are famous. That said, I could really use the hubcap on the passenger rear.
 
Is there anything salvageable on the car linked?
That engine compartment is a petrie dish for mutant rust.
 
tdskip said:
Once your direct email address is out there all sort of offers will happen.
Click to expand...

I agree - if you don't like it I think you can flag it on Ebay and they may pull the auction. Might be innocent originally, perhaps just a very inexperienced seller - but the direct info is not good I think.
 
TR4nut said:
I agree - if you don't like it I think you can flag it on Ebay and they may pull the auction. Might be innocent originally, perhaps just a very inexperienced seller - but the direct info is not good I think.
Click to expand...
Well, I have given some thought to contacting the eBay seller. Again, it is NOT my car, and I have no connection whatsoever to it other than the fact that it's on my eBay watch list. Yes, I did list the car -- by the commission number in the listing -- on my Database site. But most (all, I think) of the e-mail links on that site point to a different AOL e-mail account of mine! So I'm just really puzzled as to how the, er, <span style="text-decoration: line-through"><span style="color: #666666">scammer</span></span> inquirer managed to connect me -- in upstate NY -- with an eBay listing for a car and presumably its seller located in West Virginia!?

I don't blame any of this on eBay or the seller. In fact, I don't really blame anyone except for possibly a would-be scammer whose command of English leaves a bit to be desired!

Here's the message exactly as I received it (<span style="font-style: italic">italics</span> are mine):

<span style="font-style: italic">Hi!i will like to know the conditions of your car as i am interested in buying it,I am making an offer of $1,500.00USD for it,please let me know if you accept my offer.payment will be made through online paypal credit and i will arrange for the pick up.kindly get back to me your paypal email account.hope to read from you asap</span>
 
My guess is they person didn't read the add correctly and saw an email address. It is most likely a scam as well but if they pay through paypal I think that is the safest way at this point.

I would contact the seller and tell them to please remove your email address but they are welcome to point people to your website.
 
I read it that he originally had the car misrepresented as a Spitfire and people emailed him with correct information, including one person (Drew Kinum?) who went so far as to include your email address as a person to contact for accurate information about Heralds. The seller included all these emails in the description of the car, and someone who is either scamming or misread the ad contacted you about the car. I, too, would assume it's a scammer when someone in broken english offers you $1300 over what the current bid is, especially when there are a lot of heralds out there where the asking price is much lower, as are the rust levels.

...but go ahead and see if they'll wire you the $1500 from Nigeria anyway!
 
Is this car a Spitfire?
 
It couldn't hurt to give him your paypal info... could it? :devilgrin:
 
John_Mc said:
I read it that he originally had the car misrepresented as a Spitfire and people emailed him with correct information, including one person (Drew Kinum?) who went so far as to include your email address as a person to contact for accurate information about Heralds....
Click to expand...
Good eye; thanks for spotting that! I now remember seeing that in the original listing and not thinking much about it. I think I will contact the seller about deleting that little bit. I don't mind people contacting me, but I usually give out only the web site URL when I contact eBay sellers regarding things such as correcting bits of information. (Yes, I was one of several folks who saw the initial ad and wrote to point out that the car was a Herald! And Drew is a long-time friend and fellow local Triumph club member.)
 
... and all I have is a $2000 money order. Please wire the balance back to me...
 
Sounds similar to some of the Craigslist scammer mails I received from a few ads that I placed last year.

Scott
 
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