Selling My Van - Offer from Someone Who Works in Remote Mine Site, Will Arrange Courier to Collect

Urin8or on 19/06/2018 - 06:58
Last edited 19/06/2018 - 10:26 by 1 other user

I’m selling my van and received this email:

Thanks for the prompt response,I'm fine with the price likewise the condition as described on the advert, I work on a remote mine site,Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) and the reception is terrible.We do not have access to phone at the moment,which is why I contacted you with internet messaging facility. Where is it located at the moment? and why are you selling if you don't mind my asking.I am already in talks with the courier that will handle the pick-up and delivery. As regards the payment, I can pay you through direct bank deposit (EFT),using paypal
instant bank wire transfer service, I will need your bank details and I will make the payment through paypal facility to your bank account,all I will need is your acct number,BSB number and acct name. With the issue of my details,transferring the name of ownership and signing of all paperwork will be done by the freight agent so you don't have to worry about that. Some photos will be appreciated.

Could this be a scam?

What protections should I put in place?

Thanks in advance

Automotive

Comments

  • TheBilly on 19/06/2018 - 07:06
    +26

    It's a scam

    What protections should I put in place?

    Stop entertaining it

  • hogwarts on 19/06/2018 - 07:09
    +6

    1. On PayPal, you can only transfer to registered emails and not bank details.

    2. Who writed "Ltd" on business name and abbreviation with full name

    3. What time did they message you, they say they don't have access to phone. If it is in work hours, that also might suggest its a scam

    4. Again who writes EFT for the deposits.

    I would not sell it if it were me - if I was selling a car, they need to inspect in first and be happy. Then, pay cash.

    • R-Man on 19/06/2018 - 07:39
      +12

      Any email that says "im away at a mining site" is always a scam. This one is just missing the classic 'God bless' at the end.

      • FireRunner on 19/06/2018 - 10:58
        +2

        Definitely. Only trust oil rig workers and Nigerian royalty.

  • steven6 on 19/06/2018 - 07:12

    Is their contact email [email protected] ? I've got a scammer who has contacted me using that email after I posted my car on Gumtree.
    Like TheBilly said, it's a scam, stop entertaining them, or you can bait them if you have the time, ask them how they have the net in a remote location when ppl in metro areas are struggling with the NBN?

    Edit: A brief explanation of how this scam works: Scammer offers to pay You full price for vehicle(lets say 80k) + shipping (lets says shipping is 1k). Scammer then sends you fake details of a payment 81k that they haven't actually made. Scammer then asks you to pay the 1k shipping out of the 81k you never receive. You are now 1k poorer.

    • RockyRaccoon on 19/06/2018 - 08:34
      +7

      Better still, tell the scammer you will give the $1000 direct to the courier when he picks up the van. Tell him all couriers will happily accept cash so they can save the GST.

      BTW give him a fake bank account, since its never going to be used by the scammer

      or even tell him after he has "deposited" the money, you have a better offer and he needs to wire another 4K otherwise you will refund his money less handling fee of 50% to cover your time etc

  • chumlee on 19/06/2018 - 07:23
    +3

    Tell em to do the money transfer, give them the address of your local police station as pick up address for freight company, then cut off all communication

  • vinni9284 on 19/06/2018 - 07:54
    +3

    Scam!
    The cliche always goes ….. Always buy or sell in person

  • Urin8or on 19/06/2018 - 07:56
    +1

    Thanks for the responses. I’ve emailed saying I’ll only sell in person.

    • stirlo on 19/06/2018 - 09:17
      +3

      Don't worry I'm sure he has a cousin that will meet you and then he'll do a deposit via western union for you but it might take a few days to clear but you don't mind loading it onto the truck for him so they can take it to be inspected and they'll hold it at the yard for you until the payment clears…

      Seriously don't even reply to scammers they'll just keep wasting your time and there is always the remote possibility they may come up with a scam you haven't though of yet. Just ignore, don't entertain them.

  • Cartman2530 on 19/06/2018 - 08:34

    Scam, always starts with the fact that you cannot contact them easily.

    Gumtree is for face to face and CASH ONLY. Anything else is an invitation for trouble.

  • holdenmg on 19/06/2018 - 08:41
    +3

    Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) Darwin,NT - tried to buy car - Scamalot
    https://www.scamalot.com/ScamTipReports/28435

  • Melb69 on 19/06/2018 - 08:43

    Scam as everyone says, unfortunately. Should be stopped by authorities, but suspect its just widespread and from Nigeria or the like.

    As soon as they say they are somewhere on a mining rig or the like, alarm bells should ring.

    You just have to ask them simple questions and they won't be able to answer it correctly without you finding holes in it, and they are always after your personal details. I hate gumtree for example as this is where I get scammers. Always saying I'm interested or is this item available. The dam thing is listed for sale. If it was sold or you weren't interested why would you say that question or statement. Baiting for a response. Facebook sales is the same.

    Also google the details of the scam and they should come up. Believe there is a government scammer watch page as well.

  • Ocker on 19/06/2018 - 10:21
    +1

    Ask for pre-payment via Western Union. That must work as that is the payment route scammers always use

    • Melb69 on 19/06/2018 - 11:02

      Funny you would mention WU. Someone just posted free first transaction with them. If you need to transfer money to relatives, believe this is the best way. It is also the best way for scammers to get money off people.

  • sw0rdy on 19/06/2018 - 10:40
    +3

    Internet messaging facility

    …LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

    • beeawwb on 19/06/2018 - 11:01

      'paypal instant bank wire transfer service' is my favourite method of online payment.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 19/06/2018 - 11:37
    +4

    As someone that's had a lot of time on their hands, I've messed around with these scammers quite a bit. For educational and entertainment purposes.

    (1) You'll be sent the agreed amount plus around $600 or so for the "shipping agent". Of course you'll receive an embarrassingly fake PayPal receipt.

    (2) The buyer will ask if you've received the receipt and ask for a Western Union transfer for the excess payment to the "shipping agent", who for some reason lives abroad, in my case Malaysia (normally the buyer is meant to be at "sea", not in a mine).

    (3) You'll receive a fake, threatening letter in poor English from "PayPal" asking you to pay the shipping agent ASAP.

    (4) You start having fun with them or you ignore them.

    • CMH on 19/06/2018 - 21:28

      Maybe you should take over correspondence, and post your efforts here.

  • jubs on 19/06/2018 - 11:59

    Ask if he knows the Nigerian Prince

    • tomsco on 22/06/2018 - 12:43

      You're the Nigerian prince.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/06/2018 - 16:43

    Sorry but while there are people around like Urin8or there will always be scammers.

    Who was it that said "there is one born every minute"?

  • PinzVidz on 22/06/2018 - 17:10

    It's just jv trolling you, OP. :)

  • Euphemistic on 22/06/2018 - 19:27

    Username checks out, surely taking the pi…

    • [Deactivated] on 22/06/2018 - 20:03

      You got it. Who the hell is jv?

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