Beware
of the spare parts scammer
This case study illustrates how a
scammer's activities are revealed - the style and accuracy of the use of English
in the emails, offering the item in dollars and lifting photos from the internet.
Had the email exchange proceeded to the stage of closing a deal then how the "seller"
might have tried to convince our fellow V8 member that the wheels really existed
and could be collected from a place in the UK would have been interesting to see.
The payment arrangements would have been the key stage of the scam too no doubt
involving concealing the scammer's identity and home location so he could vanish
without supplying the wheels! The story is a useful example of a scammer at work
on the Internet and a sobering caution for us too.
Posted:
171020 |  | A
scammer responded to a wanted advert on the V8 Spares for Sale webpage that
fellow member Mark Richardson had posted as he wanted some MGBGTV8 Dunlop composite
wheels requiring restoration. The advert brought an email response but the exchange
that followed soon revealed scam activity.
Scammer made contact
saying: "Hello, Please let me know if you are still in the market for Factory
V8 Dunlop composite wheels ,serious buyer only thanks".
Mark
responded: "Hi John, Still looking for factory V8 wheels. I'm only after
ones suitable for reconditioning. Chrome condition is completely irrelevant to
me but as long as the alloy centre is salvageable then I would have an interest.
If you can give me an indication of what you have and what sale price you need
then we may be able to deal. Your location would also be handy as they will | need
collecting - I'm based in Dorset".
Scammer
replied: "Find below , the attached photo of my Factory V8 Dunlop composite
wheels for sale asking price is $120 each , let me know if my price is fair enough
and i will also need your complete home address to enable me figure out the shipping
fees to your door step thanks. Hope to hear from you soon next". He
attached the photo above.
Mark
decided the response was doubtful saying: "Hi John, Unfortunately
not of interested to myself. Last set of four I purchased cost less than £100
for all four. Also, your price is in $ - this suggests non UK so definitely not
of interest".
Mark then did some Internet searching and found
the photo the scammer had sent was remarkably like a photo in an article on the
Internet on refurbishing a set of Scimitar Dunlop composites, so he ended the
exchange saying: "Nice scam effort by the way. "Your" wheels are
actually not your wheels, in fact they're not even for a Factory V8. They are
from a Reliant Scimitar and were used by another person on his V8 conversion many
many years ago. I will now forward this email thread to the V8 Register webmaster
so he can advise everyone else of your scam attempt. See ya!" |
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