Scam suspect
Recently, a relative posted an ad on a Malaysia website to sell his refurbished classic car. In the ad, he left his phone number as his only contact detail. He then received the following (in chronological order):
(1) An sms asking him to e-mail her information on the condition of the car and his price.
Observation: Price was already stated in the ad. Why did she ask again? Also, why doesn't she call? Outstation? Overseas?
(2) Consequently, after giving the requested details, the buyer revealed that she was in Europe and was getting the car for her husband who was working in the Middle East. She claimed to trust my relative's word that the car was in good condition and then said that she would transfer money to his bank, followed by asking an agent to claim the car. The agent would clear the paperwork with him and the government. She stressed that the whole process would be very simple for him.
Observation: She couldn't get such car at where she was? Or where her husband work? Perhaps it was hard to get such classic car? Also, wouldn't she be in great disadvantage buy paying the full price of the car and then only collect the car? She didn't even get someone to look at the condition of the car.
(3) The seller then received 3 e-mails. First e-mail purported from a European bank informing him of impending transfer of money to his bank account, subject to certain steps he should take in the subsequent e-mails pertaining to the delivery of the car. Included in the transferred amount was the transport fee of about Euro600. The e-mail subject heading was something like "******Abcdefgh*******Abcdefgh*******".Typo and grammatical errors here and there. There was also a Director's name at the bottom, with address of the bank.
Observation: It was strange to have the bank involved in the transportation arrangement when it comes to just a simple transfer of money. Also, normally such notification does not have any 'sign-off' at the bottom. The subject heading and errors were so unprofessional.Also, as I found out on the net, the bank appeared in a list compiled by an European regulator stating that the bank was not licensed by them.
(4) Second e-mail was from a the same bank asking the seller to firstly remit to the freight company 60% of the transport fee i.e. Euro360 to show commitment to the buyer, with the remainder to be paid (out of the to the freight company upon collection of the car. The full amount of the money, including the transport fee, would only be transferred to the seller's account upon successful remittance of the amount above. The formatting of the e-mail was haphazard.
Observation: So the first actual transfer of money in this whole sale/purchase transaction was to come from the seller first? It was strange for a bank to be involved in such a manner. The e-mail was unprofessional. Very fishy.
(5) Third e-mail was from the freight company, asking for details for them to collect the car. They also stated that the goods that they could transport were "Goods Accepted" and goods they couldn't transport were "Goods Not Accepted" (I'm not joking).
Observation: Strange.
Fortunately, my relative responded to the seller that he didn't want such convoluted process but he would happily pass the car over to her after money was transferred into his account without fuss (by now he already knew this was highly likely a scam). Since then, there was no reply whatsoever.
(1) An sms asking him to e-mail her information on the condition of the car and his price.
Observation: Price was already stated in the ad. Why did she ask again? Also, why doesn't she call? Outstation? Overseas?
(2) Consequently, after giving the requested details, the buyer revealed that she was in Europe and was getting the car for her husband who was working in the Middle East. She claimed to trust my relative's word that the car was in good condition and then said that she would transfer money to his bank, followed by asking an agent to claim the car. The agent would clear the paperwork with him and the government. She stressed that the whole process would be very simple for him.
Observation: She couldn't get such car at where she was? Or where her husband work? Perhaps it was hard to get such classic car? Also, wouldn't she be in great disadvantage buy paying the full price of the car and then only collect the car? She didn't even get someone to look at the condition of the car.
(3) The seller then received 3 e-mails. First e-mail purported from a European bank informing him of impending transfer of money to his bank account, subject to certain steps he should take in the subsequent e-mails pertaining to the delivery of the car. Included in the transferred amount was the transport fee of about Euro600. The e-mail subject heading was something like "******Abcdefgh*******Abcdefgh*******".Typo and grammatical errors here and there. There was also a Director's name at the bottom, with address of the bank.
Observation: It was strange to have the bank involved in the transportation arrangement when it comes to just a simple transfer of money. Also, normally such notification does not have any 'sign-off' at the bottom. The subject heading and errors were so unprofessional.Also, as I found out on the net, the bank appeared in a list compiled by an European regulator stating that the bank was not licensed by them.
(4) Second e-mail was from a the same bank asking the seller to firstly remit to the freight company 60% of the transport fee i.e. Euro360 to show commitment to the buyer, with the remainder to be paid (out of the to the freight company upon collection of the car. The full amount of the money, including the transport fee, would only be transferred to the seller's account upon successful remittance of the amount above. The formatting of the e-mail was haphazard.
Observation: So the first actual transfer of money in this whole sale/purchase transaction was to come from the seller first? It was strange for a bank to be involved in such a manner. The e-mail was unprofessional. Very fishy.
(5) Third e-mail was from the freight company, asking for details for them to collect the car. They also stated that the goods that they could transport were "Goods Accepted" and goods they couldn't transport were "Goods Not Accepted" (I'm not joking).
Observation: Strange.
Fortunately, my relative responded to the seller that he didn't want such convoluted process but he would happily pass the car over to her after money was transferred into his account without fuss (by now he already knew this was highly likely a scam). Since then, there was no reply whatsoever.
Comments
Yup yup.
Just a tad.
Yes, that's a dead giveaway.
Ya, better be careful.