Auto Trader Scammer - [email protected]

From: martin muller <[email protected]>
Date:
To: Michelle Banks
Subject: Re: Q7

Good day,

I am writing you regarding the: Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Quattro SE 5dr Tip Auto [8] SAT NAV FULL LEATHER.
It is in perfect condition inside and outside as well,never been implicated in accidents. Never smoke in it and i want to sell it to a serious person. The car is located in Luton/United Kingdom.
The price that i'm asking for is: £8700.The car is registed in UK and have MOT,TAX and full service history.
Now i am located in Germany with my bussines and i have nobody in United Kingdom that could show you the car. I need to come personal to meet you and present the car.
Feew weeks ago a buyer told me that he'll buy the car, so we must meet in United Kingdom.I came to United Kingdom because I trusted his word, but when I arrived i call him and no answer, so I lost money and precious time on his promise.I don't want to ask you to send me any money in advance, I just want to see that you are a serious buyer.I will come only for a serious deal. If you don't want to buy it after you will inspect it, no problem, but I need to be sure that you will be there.
To be sure that you are real and serious, here is what I propose:

A. We can use a third party company (Escrow).
Here you have how this third company works:

Step 1 – Buyer and Seller agree to terms of transaction
Buyer and Seller register with Escrow Limited. Either party can initiate a new transaction and an email is sent to the other party prompting them to sign in and agree to transaction terms. Terms include description of goods or service, purchase price, length of inspection period.

Step 2 – Buyer pays purchase funds to Escrow Limited
Buyer then transfers the purchase funds to Escrow Limited’s trust account held under the secure custody of National United Kingdom Trustees, part of United Kingdom largest commercial bank (by assets). Escrow Limited then alerts the parties when the funds are cleared.

Step 3 – Seller provides goods or services to Buyer
Once Escrow Limited verifies that the funds are cleared, the Seller provides the goods or performs the agreed service.

Step 4 – Buyer confirms satisfaction with goods or services
The Buyer has a set number of days to inspect the goods or services and the option to accept or reject. If the Buyer rejects the goods or services, the Buyer raises a dispute. The funds in escrow remain in safe custody until the dispute is resolved.

Step 5 – Escrow Limited releases funds to the Seller
Escrow Limited transfers the funds to the Seller’s nominated bank account. Transaction complete.

B. In the same day I will buy the flight ticket and I will email you the scanned ticket.(We will verify the car with a mechanical service and at police to. I also accept any test.
C. We will meet in Luton and we will finish the deal.
If you don't want to buy the car I will pay for your transport.I assure you that you will love this car and you will buy it. It is in perfect conditions.
I repeat: You must understand that you will not send the money to me.You will deposit the money and only you can release to me or refund to you, if you don`t want to buy the car.
If you are still interested to make the deal with me please reply me or call me.
Please don't spend my time with endless disscutions,or pure curiosity.
Thank you for contacting me and hope you understand my point of view!!!

My Name is: Martin Muller
My UK phone number is: +44 07866166107

Also using [email protected]

[AlanJones]

Hi again,
Ok, great.
First off all you have to register with the Escrow: http://www.secureescrowlimited.co.uk/
Please register with them, and after that send me an email.
Thank you, and i will wait for your reply

The domain secureescrowlimited.co.uk has been reported for fraud.

Hello again,

OK, i will start the transaction now trough them and then i will inform you.

Thank you

Hello again,

I just start the transaction trough escrow.
Did you received the invoice from them?
I wait for your kind reply.

Thank you

[AlanJones]

Email from [email protected] Escrow Angel Ltd

Payment instructions

Vehicle transaction
Transaction #: 23699
Transaction title: MERCEDES-BENZ VIANO 2.2 CDI AMBIENTE 5DR
Buyer: XXX
Seller: Martin Muller
Item transaction
I would like to pay via:
Bank Transfer
Payment method details
Payment instructions
Beneficiary / Account Name : F I CERBU
Account Address : 290 MOSTON LANE MANCHESTER M40 9WB, United Kingdom
Account Number : 83122468
Sort Code : 20-80-14
Swiftbic : BARCGB22
Bank Name : Barclays
Bank Address : 290 MOSTON LANE MANCHESTER M40 9WB, United Kingdom
Reference No : 258759


Amount: GBP 5,000.00
Shipping Cost: GBP 1.00
Escrow Angel Ltd. fee: GBP 24.95
Total: GBP 5025.95

When transfering the funds, please follow these instructions:
1. Ensure that the amount to be transferred is in GBP - (British Pound)
2. Ensure that all bank fees are charged to the REMITTER (NOT the Beneficiary)
3. Ensure that you enter the Ref number in the "Description" field (or similar field provided by your bank) so that we can identify your payment

Now [email protected] .

Now using [email protected]

Change of script - might even be a different scammer:

Hello there,

I am the seller of the {make and model} - listed on
Autotrader . I am very glad you have interest in buying my car.

The car is still available, MOT and Road Tax till May 2014, very good
condition and all in perfect working order, HPI clear, the interior and
exterior look great, no accidents. I had to move to Germany due to my
company's decision. I already received a new car from the company and i
don't need a right handed car here. Besides, there are a lot of things
which have priority now, so, this car has to go. The price would be
{price} .

Due to the fact that I am very busy with my work and I don’t stay too much
at home, I left the car to a shipping company so it can be delivered to the
new owner. If you are interested, I need the post code of your delivery
address so I can calculate the shipping cost ( I agree to support the
transportation charges 50-50 if that is suitable for you). or you can come
and collect the car.I am ready to deduct 100 GBP ( from the car price) for
the plane ticket .

Cheers

hi,
im a new user and had cold feet about an add on autotrader which i got a reply too so decided to research this!

I have been in contact with a man by the name of martin muller under the email address [email protected] about a VW Scirocco 2009 advertised on donedeal on 16th of January. this is the email i wrote regarding the add:
On Thu, Jan 16, 2014 at 4:37 PM, I wrote: to [email protected]

hi,
i am inquiring about the VW Scirocco 2009 and Audi A4 2008 you have advertised in the Autotrader on AM cars website.
few queries in regards to the cars advertised:
1: is there any service history with vehicles
2: Have the cars any damage or crash history
3 Is there anything wrong with them as they are priced reasonably below average prices.

I am interested in purchasing both vehicles considering how reasonably priced they are. can you get back to me regarding my queries.
regards.
END OF EMAIL.

On the 17th jan 2014 i recieved a reply from this email address: [email protected]

On 17 Jan 2014, at 12:37, muller martin <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hello there,
> I am the seller of the VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO 2.0 TDI GT 3DR - listed on Autotrader . I am very glad you have interest in buying my car.
> The car is still available, MOT and Road Tax till May 2014, very good condition and all in perfect working order, HPI clear, the interior and exterior look great, no accidents. I had to move to Germany due to my company's decision. I already received a new car from the company and i don't need a right handed car here. Besides, there are a lot of things which have priority now, so, this car has to go. The price would be £4,500.00 .
> Due to the fact that I am very busy with my work and I don’t stay too much at home, I left the car to a shipping company so it can be delivered to the new owner. If you are interested, I need the post code of your delivery address so I can calculate the shipping cost ( I agree to support the transportation charges 50-50 if that is suitable for you). or you can come and collect the car.I am ready to deduct 100 GBP ( from the car price) for the plane ticket .

the add is now gone from autotrader.co.uk

My computer is very laggy and slow ever since ive sent this mail. Is there a possibility this man could have hack my computer? Can anyone give me information on this man? mainly photo, or house address, area he operates from, or were anyone has met him? he must have some paper trail on how i can meet him face to face. Rodents belong in the sewers. any information will be gratefully appreciated

Regards

Hello phautosIreland.
Did you open an attached file sent by a someone or follow a link to an unfamiliar website?
If not, there is no reason to think that you have just been infected. But it is always a good idea to have up-to-date antivirus and operating systems.
As to meeting the scammer, they go to considerable lengths to make sure that doesn't happen.

Hello again,

I just made a quote with the shipping company and total costs of
delivery will be {price} , like i said i will pay half from this, and the
total price for the car including delivery will be {price} .
I`ve contacted the HARGREAVES TRANSPORT LIMITED regarding this issue
and they told me that they could offer to me a program that is created
especially for online transactions that protects both of us. They agreed to
supervise this deal. You will send the funds to the HARGREAVES TRANSPORT
LIMITED and they will keep the money until you receive the vehicle and test
it. In this way both buyer and seller are 100% covered during the steps of
this transaction. They will hold and secure your money until receipt of the
car in good condition.That is how their service is working. As far as the
seller concerns, i will be glad to know that HARGREAVES TRANSPORT LIMITED
is in possession of the funds during the delivery period.

You will be given a 5 days inspection period from the day you
receive the car at home ( i will ship it to your address insured for full
value to you ). If you decide to keep the car, then you will have to
authorize HARGREAVES TRANSPORT LIMITED to release the funds to me, and the
transaction is complete. If the vehicle is not as describe perfect
interior,exterior,mechanical condition ), you will be able to send the
vehicle back through the same shipping company ( return postage at my
expense ), and ask HARGREAVES TRANSPORT LIMITED to return the money to you.

If you wish to purchase it and agree to these terms i will need
you to provide your full name and address. I will then notify HARGREAVES
TRANSPORT LIMITED and they will contact you to explain the entire procedure.

Kind regards

We can close the deal with this shipping company.

This is their Facebook page :
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hargreav ... 1462773736
This is their website : http://har-greaves.com/
I have checked the company here:

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ - Company No. 02996297

Name & Registered Office:
HARGREAVES TRANSPORT LIMITED
WEST TERRACE
ESH WINNING
COUNTY DURHAM
DH7 9PT
Company No. 02996297

Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 29/11/1994

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC):
49410 - Freight transport by road
Accounting Reference Date: 31/05
Last Accounts Made Up To: 31/05/2012 (FULL)
Next Accounts Due: 28/02/2014
Last Return Made Up To: 29/11/2013
Next Return Due: 27/12/2014
Mortgage: Number of charges: 5 ( 0 outstanding / 5 satisfied / 0 part
satisfied )

Those company details are of a LEGITIMATE COMPANY - they are the victim of corporate identity theft here.
The website however is fake - and I'm not convinved by the Facebook page either.

Hello Corsages,
many thanks for the reply. i received the email to my i-phone but when i sent the mail from my laptop last night, on other websites there was unusual activity on my laptop, eg: transferring data to ....... i cant remember it exactly as i only became suspicious when i received the email back from the acc:[email protected]
Ive a friend who exports cranes and machinery globally and when i read the email from martin muller, with the punch line, "Due to the fact that I am very busy with my work and I don’t stay too much at home, I left the car to a shipping company so it can be delivered to the new owner", that just confirmed to me this lad thinks i was born yesterday. unbelievable carry on.
Unfortunately this rodent may have scammed many innocent people as he seems to be around a while so he must be benefiting from it. Are these forums monitored by fraud police or can you give me a link to send on the email Ive received, sooner the better this piece of stool is caught. final note: Regardless how smart he is, he must be lucky everyday, fraud squad only need to be lucky 1 day my friend.

many thanks phautos

There is ActionFraud, but frankly the police are unlikely to take an interest unless you have lost money - they have too much to do already. That's why sites like this one exist.

In the last hour I have also been contact by 'Martin Muller' ([email protected]) after enquiring about a Passat CC I saw advertised on AutoTrader. I have received the exact emails as shown on previous posts. Immediately we were suspicious when he refused to allow us to see the car as he was supposedly out of the country. Knowing now, that this was obviously a scam after a bit of digging on the internet, I asked Marting for more details about the Escrow company he uses. He did not send a telephone number as I requested but did say the company name was Finance Vision. Obviously this man is still at it after all this time, and still able to have his cars shown on AutoTrader!

Thanks for taking the trouble to post your experience here at SW Crunch.

I concentrate/specialise on Autotrader UK car sales but this group of scammers operate on every ad site in the UK and indeed the world, and I simply don't have the time to cover them all, though I do know that other sites like eBay are covered by others looking out for scam ads.

Over the past year Autotrader UK have improved their ability to detect and delete fraudulent adverts and, over the past week, they have been red hot. I don't detect every scam and there are a hundred ways a buyer can be duped aside from buying a car that the seller doesn't own, and the first step any buyer should take is never to buy a car they haven't seen and inspected, irrespective of any excuse.

If the seller says you can't see and inspect his car - walk away.

Usually the car has to be a massive bargain to make a buyer take a risk, but that's the area of the market in which the 'sharks' (scammers) operate. My intention is to report all scam ads and get them removed as quickly as possible and I also post up details of the cars involved as they're often using the same photos again and again. Anyone making a Google search can then be warned if they search on the scammer's email address, the car reg or other details.

Hello everyone, unfortunately I have just been scammed by the same company, I sent just under £3000 via a bank transfer. Did any of you guys get your money back?

Hello Helena786,
I am sorry to hear that you lost money to this scam. It is highly unlikely anyone has recovered their money. The scammer probably transferred the money to another account as soon as possible.
Please post the email asking for the money to be wired to a bank account and include the email address used and any telephone numbers given to you.