Elaborate Buying Scam?

[chris_c201]

Selling my bike, got it advertised on gumtree and piston heads and received the following email with various genuine looking documents including v5, scanned license and vat certificate -

Hi There, Thanks for your email. I really want to buy your bike as i need it on my arrival to the UK. Will be travelling from France and will be there in the next few days. If you can wait a few days i will pay your asking price in cash. I can pay 15% deposit by PayPal or Bank transfer so that you can hold it for me as i love it in all aspects. My bank here in France will lend me the funds and they are requesting for two separate documents to get the money cleared to me.

I will be needing :
- a copy of the registration certificate or Receipts/Invoices
and front and back copy of your driver's license, or ID
Plus documents such as MOT, Road tax disc, insurance certificate, receipt or anything similar showing your name and address same as on the v5
I need the documents for my bank. (they need the requested documents to lend me the cash).

The loan has been approved but bank needs to see what i am paying for because with all this scams in the UK now they are careful when giving loan as most of the times people are loosing the funds shortly after.

P.S : See attached my documents just to prove that i am a genuine buyer and want to purchase.

On arrival of the requested documents i can do 15% by PayPal or Bank transfer at your convenience. I have a farm & garden machinery export firm in Bristol myself but had a few months holiday in France and its easier for us to get a loan for a bike here.

Thank you,
Mr x

I've sent a polite response saying I wouldn't be willing to share any documents until we'd met / agreed a deal.

Know that selling cars and bikes regularly result in attempted scams but this is a new one on me, familiar to others?

[neil]

I don't know what the scam is but it looks like one to me.

[chris_c201]

Ye I'm the same, can't see the angle but requesting documents before even seeing the bike just doesn't seem right!

[neil]

Plus he's got a business in Bristol but is getting a loan in France where he's on holiday. I can't imagine that's easier

[mxvx]

There is no way on earth the bank would ask for those docs.

[robin]

Correct, unless French banks are very different, this loan would be an unsecured loan - thus they don't care if he spends the money on a bike or a good weekend in Amsterdam.

If the banks there will only do a secured loan, he would be better off borrowing here where interest rates are low and loans of this type are unsecured.

So I think you're right to be suspicious.

It's possible he's trying to pull together enough documentation to pull off either some form of identity scam or maybe to clone the bike for some purpose or other.

Cheers,
Robin

[tut]

Nigerian's spelling and grammar have certainly improved.

tut

[pete]

"I love it in all aspects" is an unusual phrase but otehrwise the grammar has improved. I've bought sight unseen but never without a couple of phone calls - surely he can let you call his company?

Actually what am i saying. It's a scam.

Watch on YouTube

[tut]

Unlike your spelling and grammar Pete, not like you.

tut

[chris_c201]

Ye the initial text was from a French number.

Outside possibility it's a genuine request but certainly not a risk I'm willing to take for the sake of selling a bike for under £3k.

If he'd called to discuss and tried to barter on price, ask detail on service history etc maybe I'd feel different but definitely doesn't smell right!

[pete]

He can send 15% of the price to me if he wants and I'll keep it safe.

[campbell]

Scam.

He has no reason to ask for full copy of your driver's license. Burying a small detail in amongst a lot of other credible stuff is a very intelligent way of scamming in this fashion. ie, you feel the rest is kosher so fall for the confidence trick and reveal the one bit of data they really need.

Avoid.

Oh and well done for spotting.

I've been delivering a workshop on Information Security Awareness of late. You'd go straight to the top of the class

[pete]

Scam.

He has no reason to ask for full copy of your driver's license. Burying a small detail in amongst a lot of other credible stuff is a very intelligent way of scamming in this fashion. ie, you feel the rest is kosher so fall for the confidence trick and reveal the one bit of data they really need.

Avoid.

Oh and well done for spotting.

I've been delivering a workshop on Information Security Awareness of late. You'd go straight to the top of the class

I'll give you 20% of the take if you give me the list of those that attend your course who you feel may be, errm, less strong, in the "spotting scams" area.

We are going to make sooo much money...

[campbell]

Lol

[tenkfeet]

A quick google search.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topi ... t+level%3F

Selling my Panda at the moment and getting a few interesting emails and time wasters, almost fell for one scam.