Beware of a parts scammer with the name Godwill Fred! How did the scammer find the V8 Register member's email address? The scammer used the online link to the V8 Spares for Sale & Wanted webpage on the V8 website as the titlehe used for the email thread. That indicated where the V8 member's email address had been found by the scammer and then used. V8 website - open access to visitors The webpages on the V8 website can be seen by any visitor because the website is run on an "open to all" basis to provide a welcome to potential new members of the V8 Register and MG Car Club and a convenience to existing members as it avoids the tedium of logging-in to get into the website. V8 Bulletin Board - "closed" access The V8 Bulletin Board website is "technically a closed website" where access is only available to members who have applied for and have then been accepted for V8 Bulletin Board access. The V8 Bulletin Board is also carefully monitored and very occasionally moderation of the content of unwelcome posts is removed. In serious cases a member's V8BB access can be suspended or even removed by the moderator. Update Another report of Godwill Fred contacting a V8 member in the North of England In this case our member was seeking a spare part for an RV8 through an advert on the V8 Spares for Sale and wanted webpage on the V8 website and reported he had received emails from Godwill Fred offering RV8 spares. Posted: 220822 Scammer sending emails offering MGV8 parts Several V8 members with online "parts wanted adverts" have reported receiving emails from an individual offering the part from an MGV8 he is breaking. So be aware that this type of individual might contact you offering a part you are seeking and will ask you for prepayment. It's a scam. The online name of this scammer is Godwill Fred so if you see any communication from him delete it immediately and block further incoming emails from him if you can. As usual an early warning of a scam is the lack of accuracy of some of the English used in his communications and a name like Goodwill Fred. This is the RV8 the scammer claimed he was breaking! During the email exchanges the scammer Godwill Fred sent a link to this photo indicating it was the RV8 he was breaking for spares. In fact it's an Exceptional condition "RV8 with only 928 miles on the clock" which featured in a CARSCOOPS article written by Brad Anderson in October 2021 highlighting it was for sale with an asking price of £49,995. Who on earth would be breaking a car for spares with that value? Beware of a parts scammer with the name Godwill Fred. What did the email thread from the scammer Goodwill Fred to an MGV8 enthusiast look like? See copy below Email thread begins on 18th August 2022 with an email from Godwill Fred to a V8 Member in Australia who was the scammer's target Email thread ends on 22nd August 2022 when the scammer fails to reply when they are aware the scam is rumbled. From: Godwill Fred Sent: 18/08/22 1:55 am To: V8 Member (scammer's target) Subject: https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm Hello, Just want to let you know that I have, RV8 Heater Blower Fan parts What is the year of yours , if you are interested, email me back for more details. Thanks. What is the year of yours. Links: https://www.carscoops.com/2021/10/1995-mg-rv8-offers-a-taste-of-old-school-british-motoring/ https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm FROM: V8 Member (scammer's target) SENT: 17/08/2022 TO: <godwillfred54@gmail.com> SUBJECT: Re: https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm Hi, Thank you for replying to my advert on the register. My car is a July 1995 build. From my research there were some small changes to the fan and the mounting cover but all fans are interchangeable. How much are you asking for the fan you have? I'm located in Sydney Australia, would you be willing to arrange to post the fan to me? Thanks again for your email, Kind Regards V8 Member (scammer's target) From: Godwill Fred Sent: 18/08/2022 15:40 To: V8 Member (scammer's target) Subject: Re: https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm Hi, Here ,I attached the picture of my 1995 RV8 . I`m breaking the complete for parts , because of my surgery that is coming up soon . I want you to send me the list of parts that you need , along with your exact delivery address to know , how close you are to me. God Bless. FROM: V8 Member (scammer's target) SENT: 18/08/2022 TO: <godwillfred54@gmail.com> SUBJECT: Re: https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm Hi, We are after the heater fan assembly, a car jack and the right hand side lower body skirt. Our address is [Note: address details were given in the original email but are not revealed here for security reasons] Cheers V8 Member (scammer's target) From: Godwill Fred Sent: 20/8/22 2:24 am To: V8 Member (scammer's target) Subject: Re: https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm Alright there is no problem . The parts you listed will cost you $280 . Then shipping to your address will cost you $75 . As soon as you pay for them now , my mechanic will come get them removed . Regarding payment , Did you have PayPal or bank transfer ? As soon as I get your interest now , I`II send you my daughter's banking or PayPal email for the funds transfer . God Bless. FROM: V8 Member (scammer's target) SENT: 19/08/2022 TO: <godwillfred54@gmail.com> SUBJECT: Re: https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm Hi, You have not answered my question Where are you located? I only use PayPal for transactions with people I don't know. Thanks FROM: Godwill Fred <godwillfred54@gmail.com> SENT: 20/08/2022 16:13 TO: V8 Member (scammer's target) SUBJECT: Re: https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm I`m in Perth Australia . Regarding payment , if you prefers PayPal there is no problem , as soon as I get your interest now , I`II send you my daughter's PayPal email for the funds transfer . God Bless. FROM: V8 Member (scammer's target) SENT: 21/08/2022 10:08 TO: <godwillfred54@gmail.com> SUBJECT: Re: https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm Look something is not right. You say you are in Perth Australia but the MG you claim to be yours in the photo you sent me has a car in the background that has a UK number plate. In fact the photo you claim is of your car is taken from a website 'Carsscoops.com' and was part of an article written by Brad Anderson in October 9th 2021. You clearly do not understand the value of these cars as the car in the photo would be worth around $60,000 A$ or around GBP 30,000 English Pounds. If you did understand this then there is no way you would be breaking the car up for parts. Also you clearly do not understand the value of parts for these cars as the amount you asked me for the three items is about one third of their value. You have not identified yourself by name which is suspicious. So as far as I am concerned you are trying to scam money from me for parts you do not and could not have. FROM: V8 Member (scammer's target) SENT: 22/08/2022 08-22 00:45 TO: V8 Webmaster SUBJECT: Re: https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm Below is the email trail I have had with someone trying to sell me RV8 parts after seeing my advert on the V8 Register website. The subject line reads as a link to the parts page of the V8 Register website. (which I should have noticed on the first email I received). The photo that this scammer sent me of their car is attached and is the same photo on the Carscoops website: 1995 MG RV8 Offers A Taste Of Old-School British Motoring | Carscoops Links: [1] https://www.carscoops.com/2021/10/1995-mg-rv8-offers-a-taste-of-old-school-british-motoring/ [2] https://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8sparesforsale.htm It is disappointing that the simple act of trying to find a part for my car through the Club website is being monitored by others who are trying extract money through various scams. Anyhow, I just thought you might like to know of my experience. PS. I have not received a reply from the scammer since the last email to them challenging their honesty. Please understand I in no way put any blame on the Club for this, it is just the way the world is and we need to be vigilant at all times against these individuals. Please take care. Kind Regards V8 Member (scammer's target)