I am in touch with a guy who is selling his mercedes s320 diesel cdi for £8,000 ( a price which sounds too good to be true)! as it has only done 25,000 miles and was first reg. in 2004. he says, although the car is registered in the UK where he formerly lived, he moved to the Czech Rep.not long ago and is looking to downsize as the road tax for right hand drive cars there is high etc. He said, when i asked about security, that i should send the 8,000 to eBay's Square Trade , which is an escrow compnay (not too sure what one is?!) which will hold my money until i ree the car and am totally satisfied. At that point i contact the service and they send the money through to him. If i am not happy, i will be able to claim my money back and send the car back. He also said the shipping charge and delivery charge from Czech Rep. is included in the £8,000. i checked the reg. and the car is registered here so that adds up and all the details he said are right and pictures look fine! Please help!
2006-10-07 23:04:59 · 18 answers · asked by Zna 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
This sounds like a scam to me. Unfortunately you rarely get anything for nothing in this world so you have to think 'why would a total stranger offer you such a good deal on a car?' What does he get out of it? Unless he gets to keep your cash and the car....
2006-10-07 23:34:21 · answer #1 · answered by Rachel N 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Did you win the auction through E-bay? Because if not, how can E-bay's escrow company hold the money? They only deal with e-bay auctions!
An escrow company holds both the money AND the goods until all parties are satisfied. If the company is a scam site, they have your money but you don't have the car.
If you are in contact with this person outside of e-bay, you are not covered by any insurance.
Plus I hope you haven't given them any personal details such as your name, address or phone number. You need to be really cautious about this kind of thing.
2006-10-08 06:22:52 · answer #2 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It seems it is a fairly typical scam, though it looked genuine enough to me when I first read your question:
"SquareTrade does not do "deals". If someone says they're using SquareTrade as a "third party" so that you can get your money back if the deal somehow sours or if you're dissatisfied, it's a SCAM! I repeat: SquareTrade does not accept cash, store goods, or work as a "third party" for deals that have not yet gone through. Furthermore: if the person you're dealing with has emailed you repeatedly "on the side" and says that they prefer you to wire the money directly to them, it's a SCAM!"
2006-10-08 06:08:52 · answer #3 · answered by SteveT 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like a scam to me but check with ebay, there are aware of any scams like this.
My friend was selling a mobile phone on ebay recently and got an email apparantly from paypal to say the money was pending waiting to go into his account once he had sent the phone and provided a tracking number for parcel. He contacted ebay and it was a scam.
Your situation sounds very similar, DON'T BUY IT and report this to ebay!!!
2006-10-08 06:14:42 · answer #4 · answered by Mizz Julie 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You can check the legitimacy of the car - ie, if there's any finance outstanding on it, if it's stolen, has been written off etc at www.hpicheck.com. You have to pay a small charge for it, but I'd do it if you've got any doubts...Be very wary when buying/selling cars. There are a lot of scamsters out there...
2006-10-08 06:10:03 · answer #5 · answered by cjhophop 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it sounds too good to be true, probably is! I have received letters from Africa and England. Saying Some distant relative, left me over $100,000. And for me to send a Little over a couple of thousands of dollars, to cover the money shippment!
Who guarantees me that I'll get that money. Don't be a sucker!!
2006-10-08 06:14:40 · answer #6 · answered by alfonso 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a scam. The escrow company link is fake, it is to a site that will just take your money and pass it on to the seller who can run away with it.
Check this page from eBay on the Square Trade Scam:
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=200082658&tstart=0&mod=1117771286778
2006-10-08 06:10:12 · answer #7 · answered by SeveralTimesWrong 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You have to accept a confidence trickster looks for victims who want something for nothing and in your case you fit the bill.
However you check he will have it covered.
Think of the millions of fake passports, and India selling any one's details for a few quid?
If you are feeling this generous why not give your money to a deserving charity?
2006-10-08 06:25:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No-one sells a 2004 s320 for £8k. Walk away!
2006-10-08 06:06:53 · answer #9 · answered by GS1 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds "OK "
If the money WILL be in a real escrow account until you release it, then have at it. He wont be able to touch it until you say so if thats how the service works.
2006-10-08 06:07:37 · answer #10 · answered by rktavi 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋