CAUTION! SCAM listing on e_bay! There is a 2006 (56) RR VSE in black on an 03 plate, £7350. classified ad. I have done a little research and it would seem this is a scam could anyone confirm or deny this?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141777774972?_tr...EBIDX%3AIT

The eBay seller's score of 0 always makes me a little wary but the vehicle itself seems to check out ok from other aspects. What makes you think that it's a scam?

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Hi. I have not got a problem with the car, as my own research suggests that it is what it says it is, it's the seller.

Here is a reply I had.



Pleased to have your reply Andy.

In different circumstances i would have opted for a face to face selling but being offshore my options are limited. 

Dealing through Google you will get the chance of a pre-purchase inspection and I will be sure that you are a genuine buyer. 


Shortly described how it works: if we reach an agreement on the price and delivery conditions you should transfer the money to Google. 

Once it was transferred, they will inform me to organize the delivery to your address (I will charge you extra £150 for delivery). 

Starting the date you will receive the car, i will agree and sign for a 3 days inspection period. 

Within this period it is essential that you thoroughly inspect the car to ensure it is as described, check it is roadworthy, the mileage and all the documents. 

If you decide to keep the car upon the inspection period, we need to do all the paperwork. 

I will inform DVLA and the insurance company about the sale. 

If you don't want to keep it, you must inform Google and they will refund you the money. 

I will even support the delivery back expenses but I don't think this is going to happen since my car is in MINT condition, as described.


I just need the following details from you so i can register the deal. address, town, postcode and the name and number of the contact person.


Mark Watt
Subsea Technician
Pacific Drilling Services, Inc. 
Although my name, highlighted above looks the same as the rest of the main body of text here. In my original email, it is a slightly different font and also slightly smaller. This would appear to be due to the name being added separately from the main text. Usually this is only needed when auto replying to lots of people.
There are lots of stories online regarding the scam (mostly auto). Format is the same, car along way from buyer, no chance of face to face meeting, Price seems too low. (If it seems too good to be true then it probably is). I have just received a reply after challenging the seller about the scam. Here is his (very cold and clinical) reply.

Good Morning Andy,
I do understand your concerns and i would have opted for a face 2 face selling but since I cannot leave the platform for the sale i have decided to use google services. they have given me the opportunity to be third part of the transaction and being in charge of everything. The whole procedure will be managed by google for several reasons. buyer and seller protection, fast and safe transaction and under their policies. Google is my only option at the moment.
Here you may find more details regarding this google service:
http://google.co.uk/services/vehicle-purchase/index.html?hl=en#

While I am sure Google is a legitimate way to do a transaction, I don't think this is.

That's a scam. Classic symptoms, walk away Graham

____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey

SCAM SCAM SCAM all day long. Agueroooooooooo. 93-20
I swear you will never see anything like this ever again....watch it..drink it in.

being as he's offshore on a platform the longest he will be away will be three weeks if its a vessel he would be up to 6 weeks and if like a lot of others in the industry he's getting laid off it would explain the price you never know he might be telling the truth it looks like pacific owns a fleet a vessels so more likely 6 weeks why not ask him to put of the sale until he gets off the vessel L322 2008 vogue
R53 Cooper S Works tuned beyond the works SOLD
R33 Nissan Skyline in rebuild 400bhp atw

After a quick look it appears Pacific drilling have 8 drilling ships. According to their website, NONE are off the coast of Scotland (not even close. He (the seller) says he is on a platform. ???

Reason for selling cheap was given as divorce.
As others have said seems like a scam. I would like it to be genuine - and that's how I think these scams are successful, people losing sight of reality at the low price and convincing themselves it will be okay. I do not want to fall into that trap. Neither do I want others who may be tempted.
My original post was more to warn, but also to get support one way or another,

I think the idea of postponing the sale is a valid one, but my feeling is walk away.
Thanks
Andy.

It's with out doubt a scam. Google do not offer an Escrow service of this type and the link he has provided takes you nowhere. If it seems too good to be true then it usually is. Agueroooooooooo. 93-20
I swear you will never see anything like this ever again....watch it..drink it in.

Just to let all of you know, and those of you still actually considering this 'too good to be true deal'. I have contacted the genuine owner of this car and he is selling it on gumtree for double the price. I did my research and found him and he is shocked and has contacted ebay himself. The scam sellers email address is hidden behind another email address which is a known scam operator. I'm a cycber crime analyst and know how to check so please take my word for it, this is not a genuine deal! Shame 'cos I was really interested in the car

eBay listing now removed and I think this is the real advert for the car: https://www.gumtree.com/p/land-rover/stunn...1133589244

wow, just wow. FF RR Vogue 2003 TD6

I think the price would indicate that it's a scam straight away.