Scams on CC classified ads

David2115

just by chance I looked at classified ads today and there was a series of ads for caravans that were too good to be true. The advertiser was using the site to scam people to buy caravans and motorhomes that did not exist. I did a live chat with CC and they gave me a link to a site pointing out what to look for with scams. It now appears the adverts have been removed. 

I emailed the seller and I will post the messages as a Warning to others 

David2115

This is a transcript of the messages between all parties. 

Buyer be aware 

Hi there.

I can confirm that the van is still for sale and that it's never been involved in an accident. Nobody has smoked in it, and I never carried pets in it either. Full history and V5 document are present, and the HPI is clear. My best price is £4000.

The only reason for selling this van so cheaply is because I am involved in a military project and move to South Africa on January 05 and don't come back for 12 months. It's the first time I've been to South Africa and I'm a little nervous but excited
at the same time.

It would be a shame to keep the van in the garage for 12 months without being used and I also need some cash before leaving for South South Africa.

Right now I am located in Redford Barracks in Edinburgh Scotland, because our squad is doing some special training here. The van is here with me in the base garage and in case you decide to buy it, I will deliver it to your address anywhere in the
UK at my own expense.

In case you are still interested in buying, please reply.

Thank you for your interest,

Gregory Declan

Reply 

Wow. Thanks for the pics. It looks fantastic. I'm very keen to support our armed forces. When can I come and see it. I am in Scotland in First week of January on business. Let me know asap.

Declan's response

As I've said in my previous e-mail I am currently located in Redford Barracks in Edinburgh doing daily training, waiting to be deployed to South Africa. I'm doing a special training programme each day and I am not allowed to get out of the unit or
make calls whenever I want. The delivery will take 2 to 3 days depending on your location and it's not a problem because I can do it at no cost to you. Because it is a large transaction, we will complete the deal only using an authorised third party such as
Amazon Payments because I have already pre-arranged the whole process with them, using their Amazon Safe Pay Solutions (bank-to-bank wire transfer) for vehicles.

The money will be sent to Amazon Payments, before you receive the vehicle. So, you will deposit the payment directly into the Amazon Payments agent's bank account in United Kingdom, either online or at most banks, and they will hold and secure your
money during the entire transaction. I repeat, they will hold and insure your money until receipt of the vehicle in good condition and will release the funds to us only after you decide to keep the vehicle and you register it, in your name. You will have an
inspection period of 7 days. In this time you can check, test and inspect the vehicle. If for any reason (the vehicle has any hidden damage or is not as I have described it) you can reject the deal. In this case Amazon Payments will refund you totally and
they will deliver the vehicle back. You can read more about Amazon Payments here:

http://payments.amazon.dlvcarp.com/uk/how-it-works.html?openid.pape.preferred_auth_policies=http://schemas.amazon.com

Please let me know your delivery details (your full name, full address and home phone number) so I can open a transaction case with Amazon Payments and declare you as buyer. They will contact you with further information regarding payment and delivery
but with no obligation to pay.

Regards,

Greg.

My response 

I completely understand. Security must be an issue. 

I am genuinely interested but worried about the transaction without viewing. If u would consider £3500 I would be happier to proceed. 

Declan's response

Hi again,

The transaction is legitimate and i am a genuine seller.

I promise you that first to see it and you will love it.

Yes i can take £3500 please send me your full names and full address.

Thanks!

Greg.

My response 

You think I am an idiot. Reported to police. 

Hopefully all your other adverts have been noticed and removed. 

rosieposie

Luckily you're a wise caravaner but a friend of mines daughter, who is only just 18, thought she would show her mum and dad she was grown up and could do things on her own, so bought a car online.  It was the same scam and the poor girl took out a large
loan to buy the car. Of course nothing was ever delivered and she is paying the loan off for 3 years! And the police? Nothing they can do apparentl!

Jigsaw

Within minutes of putting my caravan for sale in the classifieds on another forum I had a response from a `Benidorm` address asking for pictures of my `motorhome`. When I replied saying it wasn`t a motorhome but a caravan as clearly stated in the ad, I got
a response saying "sorry, must have pressed the wrong button" ???

 

Wildwood

If you use classified adds then you have to be aware that in any there will be scammers so you should check everything and trust no one. If buying pay when you get it and if selling get the money before parting with your property.

Helen Aaron

Thanks for sharing the transcript David2115. Its horrifying how convincing these people are and how they prey on vulnerable people. Having been on the phones at the Contact Centre for several years I have had the misfortune to speak to a small handful of
Members who have succumbed to these vile internet scams and lost money in the process.

As Wildwood states caution must always be used and we NEVER advise purchasing any outfit or accessory without firstly seeing it and meeting the owner.

For more information and the Caravan Club's official advice click
here.

 

carrie1

I had exactly the same scam. It is actually quite hard to find the right item to buy from looking at the ads unless you know the approx price you should expect to pay as there are literally loads of scams each day on this site aswell as other sites. I reported
to the police unit that deals with online scams and they said they are nearly always overseas and impossible to catch. They told me the same as above but via paypal payment. I think the caravan clubs advise "don't buy until you see it is the answer.

carrie1

Btw i didn't buy it i also emailed back and said pretty much the same as David 2115

DawnSimpson

Hi, I have put my caravan for sale on here and within a few hours had someone offering to buy it without seeing it, which, naturally, I thought was amazing and nearly got carried away! Same sort of story, worked in the Royal Marines, was buying it for their
daughter who was in school abroad, would I forward my paypal details, email address, phone number and the address of the secure lock-up! Alarm bells rang immediately - why would a school girl want a towing caravan? Why would this person have a 'mover' to take
it away? And why on earth would someone who worked for the Royal Marines have such dreadful Grammar and spelling mistakes??!! Needless to say I told them in no uncertain terms that I didn't trust them or the transaction. You have to be so very careful with
people which is such a shame because the majority of people are honest. The caravan is still in the secure lock-up, thank goodness!  

sirtom01

i too had a similar experience with a caravan  advert on Preloved. Same story about army barracks in Scotland and inability to see before putting money into "guaranteed" paypal scheme. Fortunately didnt fall for it and reported it. The ad was pulled very
quickly