Is this a Scam??

[AntB]

Hi All,

So as you know I am selling my 944 unfortunatly!!

Advertised it on PistonHeads and the next day got an email from a Woman with a hotmail account that said the following:

"Has it ever been painted?
Thanks."

So I replied and then I got this email within a few hrs of my reply:

"I am more than interested. Being a very busy person due to work commitments will keep this as straight forward as possible for both of us. I'm looking for a car for more than 2 weeks now and yours fits the bill. I would like to pay for a mechanical pre-purchase inspection (the mechanic will come to your address) and if the report comes out OK I'll be coming with cash and take it away the next day. Let me know if this is alright with you?"

I said I am happy for any professional inspection but would want to know the name of company etc etc and she then asked for just my Mobile number so that the company she chose could contact me. I gave this and got the following email:

"Just paid for the mechanical pre-purchase inspection. Now it's your turn to schedule the inspection when it suits you with the company. I have used www.a-z-autos.com and they should be sending you an email with your login details. Just log in to they're website and choose an inspection date. Keep me posted on the progress."

So - I get an email from a-z-autos about 1 hr later with a login where I have to authorise (via phone) the inspection and arrange a date. I sorted the date and then this went back to the buyer to complete payment of the inspection.

She then completed the payment and I got an email from a-z-autos.com to day that it had been all confirmed.

So I email her back saying all this and asking her her intentions on the Wednesday if the car is all I say as a result of the inspection...

For 5 days I have now heard nothing from her??????? I have sent a few emails now and nothing.

My a-z-autos login is still working and I can see the order confirmed for the inspection next Tue between 9 and 12, but nothing at all from her..

Somthing is telling me this is a little dodgy, but I just dont know??

Thoughts??

Cheers Anthony

 

[ukmastiff]

A-Z VEHICLE SERVICES LIMITED
1ST FLOOR
2 WOODBERRY GROVE
NORTH FINCHLEY
LONDON
ENGLAND
N12 0DR
Company No. 07231446

0207 855 9800

This is the company details and they have been registered as a ltd company in the U.K for 4 months. Personally I would have nothing whatsoever to do with registering on any website etc as you are then signing you to a contract in effect and accepting small print.
Also I would not accept calling any non geographic number ( which could have huge costs) you are not their customer and so why should you. What number did they get you to phone ?.
They 'may' be genuine , perhaps phone their Finchley office as its not premium rate, however the whole situation you describe makes my nose twitch and I dont like it when that happens. Like I said I'd sign up for nothing as I'm not the customer but that's just me.

Regards Mas

 

[AntB]

I am with you on your thoughts Mas, hence my concern.

Im trying to remember what the number was that I called - sure it was an 0845 - but not 100% TBH.. i need to check that!!!.

TBH, I bet thats it.. They get you to call the number and pocket money!... Need to check BT Bill online!.

Just tried calling the number you said above - and it diverts all over the place by the sound of the changing tone... Hmm!!

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Think I would be as concerned as the others - could be legit but...

 

[t5_monkey]

ee the order confirmed for the inspection next Tue between 9 and 12, but nothing at all from her..

Somthing is telling me this is a little dodgy, but I just dont know??

sounds like they'll take your car for a test drive and you'll never hear from them again...

 

[AntB]

ORIGINAL: t5_monkey

ee the order confirmed for the inspection next Tue between 9 and 12, but nothing at all from her..

Somthing is telling me this is a little dodgy, but I just dont know??

sounds like they'll take your car for a test drive and you'll never hear from them again...

Oh trust me - they wont!! Should anyone even turn up - if they think they will get the keys from me then they have another thing coming...

 

[Stu Alderson]

There is a further reason to be a little concerned about this, the supplier of the telephone number in that range is not one of your normal suppliers (BT, Virgin etc) as can be seen by the following:

0207852 MCI WorldCom
0207854 Cable and Wireless
0207855 FronTel
0207856 Telstra

0207 855 is from a relatively unknown company, FronTel. Further a quick Google search on FronTel reveals nothing.

I would suggest you err on the very strong side of caution.

Regards

Stuart

 

[Suffolk944]

I would suspect its a bit of sharp practice to get you to phone the number and get charged a hefty amount in the process and maybe collect some personal details to sell on to others....[]

 

[peugeot]

My brother in law had his 07 merc stolen yesterday in almost the exact same way , mechanic with Mercedes jacket and the name of a garage written on it . While he was inspecting the car , alleged mechanic asked could he start the engine to hear it running .As soon as he started the engine ,he closed the door and drove away ,never to be seen again. Brother in law was only standing 4 feet from the car .Be weary , Very weary!!

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Very sobering!

Thanks for the warning.

Mike

 

[jasonp]

hiya ant, walk away from this one mate! and dont look back, regards jason p

 

[Stu Alderson]

Ant, I belive you said you had arranged for a visit from these people during the week, one thing you may wish to consider is advising the Met Pol, I know from personal experience they do take this stuff seriously. It is possible they may be able to have someone at your location during the visit. and catch them red handed, thus doing everyone a favour.

I attach a link to their site which will provide you with more information if you are interested.

Regards

Stuart

http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/

 

[Christopher I Ralph]

There was discussion about this company on the 993 section of 911uk.com and the conclusion wasn't good but I cannot remember the details. If you do a search on the company on 911uk you should come up with the details.

I have just looked at the address on Google street maps and it appears to be an end of terrace residential house.

As others have suggested, keep hold of the keys although they will need them for their examination and at that point make sure that you have a car blocking your driveway.

Good luck with the sale

 

[jmelhuish]

All the testimonials are in the USA with one in french (Canadian). It could be a franchise........but probably not.

Here is the web info



Domain Name.......... a-z-autos.com
Creation Date........ 2006-08-28
Registration Date.... 2010-04-28
Expiry Date.......... 2016-08-28
Organisation Name.... MindPal LLC
Organisation Address. PO Box 61359
Organisation Address.
Organisation Address. Sunnyvale
Organisation Address. 94088
Organisation Address. CA
Organisation Address. US

Admin Name........... Admin PrivateRegContact
Admin Address........ PO Box 61359
Admin Address........ registered post accepted only
Admin Address........ Sunnyvale
Admin Address........ 94088
Admin Address........ CA
Admin Address........ US
Admin Email.......... contact@myprivateregistration.com
Admin Phone.......... +1.5105952002
Admin Fax............

Tech Name............ TECH PrivateRegContact
Tech Address......... PO Box 61359
Tech Address......... registered post accepted only
Tech Address......... Sunnyvale
Tech Address......... 94088
Tech Address......... CA
Tech Address......... US
Tech Email........... contact@myprivateregistration.com
Tech Phone........... +1.5105952002
Tech Fax.............
Name Server.......... ns2.vehicle-servers.com
Name Server.......... ns1.vehicle-servers.com

 

[AntB]

Thanks for all the info and warnings guys..

I cancelled the inspection late last week and funnly enough I have still heard nothing from the seller... No one turned up so I guess this suggests its a scam to make you call and be charged as you say...

Not nice hearing that cars are driven off from an inspection, it comes to something when you have to factor all this in when coming to honestly sell your car... I dont want to sell it anyway - lol...

 

[pauljmcnulty]

it comes to something when you have to factor all this in when coming to honestly sell your car...

This is the sort of thing that "we buy any car" companies prey on, and pay such low amounts. [:'(]

Did you inform Pistonheads?

 

[AntB]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty


Did you inform Pistonheads?

Very good point - no I didnt.. I will do so right now tho.

 

[sawood12]

Also, don't fall for these companies that ring up and say they will match a buyer for your car. My wife got stung to the tune of £90 by one when selling her Polo about 6 years ago. I had warned her against it but she'd had it up for sale for about 4 months without a sniff and reduced the price a few times and was desperate to get rid so she could get her new Mini. Their pitch was that they were a finance company that targeted cars for people on low incomes. They clear a value of a loan for them and provide them with a catalogue of cars for them to choose from within their cleared loan value. Obviously once the £90 had changed hands we never heard from them again!