[email protected] AutoTrader Paypal Scam

This is yet another of the same thing. I guess they don't realize that it's searchable to find the email and scam easily online but wanted to share.

[email protected]

Good, Do you have the extra keys, Do you have the spare tire, Where did you get your car serviced, Have you ever had any transmission repairs and Is there any rust on the vehicle? I'm ready to pay your asking price but not cash in person because I am serving in the US army and currently been deploy to NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany and calls are restricted at the moment and my only quickest payment option is PayPal, its safe fast and secure and i will be responsible for the PayPal transaction charges so you can get your expected amount. If you don't have an account with PayPal, its pretty easy to open one, Just log onto http://www.paypal.com and sign up. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? As I am buying the vehicle for my dad and I'm very sure he will love this vehicle, his a mechanic and a handy man, so if there is anything that need to be fixed in it just let me know he will handle it. I have a mover that will come for the pick up once payment clears in your account and he will handle the title for me. I look forward to hear from you with the information below.


Your PayPal e-Mail Address :
Full name:
Firm Price:
Zip code for pickup:


Cheers,

Gary

[email protected]

I got exactly the email that is shown. I did not respond to it and I contacted PayPal but they seemed to be interested only in telling me how secure PayPal is and told me I had no liability if I took the money immediately and got a letter sighed by the trucker that picks up the car certifying that the car is in perfect condition.

I am very skeptical and I think this is a scam but I am curious as to how it works,. Anyone want to clew me in?

Larry

[AlanJones]

It is a scam - you will get a spoofed email claiming to be from PayPal telling you that the buyer has paid, but that the payment is on hold until the car is picked up by the trucker and will not show in your balance.

PayPal do not work like that - any money received will show in your balance, but if it is on hold for any legitimate reason (awaiting collection is not one) then you will not be able to withdraw it.

Welcome to Scamwarners LarryL,

In this scam the scammer is not interested in your vehicle. He wants you to launder stolen money for him. In the original post the poster posted the email. It stated "once payment clears in your account ".

The scammer will send you money using a stolen credit card or from a hacked Paypal account. He will tell you that he has sent an over payment. With this over payment he will tell you to pay the mover or pick up agent. The mover/pick up agent is part of the scammers criminal organization. No one will ever come to pick up the vehicle.

After the payment has been made to you. The owner of the credit card or hacked Paypal account will realize what has happened. They will reverse the payment and notify Paypal. Paypal then will take any money in your account to re-pay the victim. If you do not have enough money in your account to cover it. Paypal will put your account in a negative balance. You will have to re-pay Paypal with your own money. If you do not Paypal will place your account with a Collection Agency and/or sue you.

In most Paypal scams the scammer will send you a fake but believable email. These emails are generated by the scammer using another free email account. It will appear as if the scammer has sent you money. In reality no money has been sent. You will need to always log into Paypal directly and check your account or call Paypal.

I received a similar email today.
Yesterday I posted my car on Autotrader and KBB website. I received 4 text messages that looked similar with different phone numbers and emails addresses. All wanting me to send them an email if the car is still available. I was glad that my $60 investment in advertising is working and the websites are good way to find customers.
I replied to all the text messages. I got a reply via email and responded quickly with extra pictures as requested. After receiving the second reply to my email, I noticed too many similarities in the other email. I looked for scams online related to autotrader and paypal and came to this forum. Here is a sample of email:

Thanks for writing back. Do you have the extra keys, Do you have the spare tire, Where did you get your car serviced, Have you ever had any transmission repairs and Is there any rust on the vehicle? I'm ready to pay your asking price but not cash in person because I'm a Sailor and currently on board right now, personal calls are also restricted at the moment. My preferred payment option is PayPal, its safe fast and secure and i will be responsible for the PayPal transaction charges so you can get your expected amount. If you don't have an account with PayPal, its pretty easy to open one,Just log onto http://www.paypal.com and sign up. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? As it's my son's favorite and am buying it for him as His graduation gift from College. I have a mover that will come for the pick up once payment clears in your account and he will handle the title for me. I look forward to hear from you with the information below;

Your PayPal e-Mail Address :
Full name:
Firm Price:

Thanks,
Robert

Here is another one:

I wanna know the full condition of the vehicle and how much are you willing to let it go because am buying it for my Son as a gift for his graduation. He lives in PA, Am a sailor and am currently on board. I want to be sure if the vehicle is still in good condition ,I really love the pictures and i will not be able to come for inspection now all i really need from you is the exact details of the Vehicle. Due to the nature of my work i am a very busy man working all day . I will pay with the fastest payment. i will be sending my mover to come and pick it up and make a personal delivery for my Son in PA after have sorted out with the payment.

I await your response.
Best regards,
Rodriguez.

Here are the mail addresses and phone numbers:
214-612-2238 [email protected]
719-343-7171 [email protected]
919-578-9255 [email protected]
215-710-1407 [email protected]

Welcome to Scamwarners rahi_m,

Thank you for the update with email addresses and text numbers. This will surely help others avoid being scammed.

Hi! I wanted to share something similar.
I've posted my car in AutoTrader, I received a text message from +1 919 578 9255 asking for it, together with an email address to contact this person: [email protected].
I wrote back and this was the answer I got:

Thanks for writing back. Do you have the extra keys, Do you have the spare tire, Where did you get your car serviced, Have you ever had any transmission repairs and Is there any rust on the vehicle? I'm ready to pay your asking price but not cash in person because I'm a Sailor and currently on board right now, personal calls are also restricted at the moment. My preferred payment option is PayPal, its safe fast and secure and i will be responsible for the PayPal transaction charges so you can get your expected amount. If you don't have an account with PayPal, its pretty easy to open one,Just log onto http://www.paypal.com and sign up. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? As it's my son's favorite and am buying it for him as His graduation gift from College. I have a mover that will come for the pick up once payment clears in your account and he will handle the title for me. I look forward to hear from you with the information below;
Your PayPal e-Mail Address :
Full name:
Firm Price:

Thanks,
Robert Hamilton

After that I received a couple of emails insisting on me giving him my PayPal account, because he was really interested in buying the car. Although the entire email was weird to me at first, the main reason why I suspected it's because I found it hard to believe that a 2007 Dodge Caliber could be a just-graduated-boy favorite car

[AlanJones]

[email protected] - 570-281-2619

I got a similar email after posting a car for sale today (6-28-14). He must have a lot of soss graduating from college!

"Thanks for writing back. One quick question, Where did you get your vehicle serviced and have you ever had any transmission repairs? I'm ready to pay your asking price but not cash in person because am in the marine and currently stationed in Black Sea of Mediterranean. Personal calls are also restricted at the moment. My preferred payment option is PayPal, its safe fast and secure and i will be responsible for the PayPal transaction charges so you can get your expected amount. If you don't have an account with PayPal, its pretty easy to open one,Just log onto http://www.paypal.com and sign up. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? As it's my son's favorite and am buying it for him as His graduation gift from College. I have a mover that will come for the pick up once payment clears in your account and he will handle the title for me. I look forward to hear from you with the information below;

Your PayPal e-Mail Address :
Full name:
Firm Price:

Thanks,
Robert"

Same email address: [email protected] , different phone number: 512-566-7296

Thanks for writing back. One quick question, Where did you get your vehicle serviced and have you ever had any transmission repairs? I'm ready to pay your asking price but not cash in person because am in the marine and currently stationed in Black Sea of Mediterranean. Personal calls are also restricted at the moment. My preferred payment option is PayPal, its safe fast and secure and i will be responsible for the PayPal transaction charges so you can get your expected amount. If you don't have an account with PayPal, its pretty easy to open one,Just log onto http://www.paypal.com and sign up. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? As it's my son's favorite and am buying it for him as His graduation gift from College. I have a mover that will come for the pick up once payment clears in your account and he will handle the title for me. I look forward to hear from you with the information below;

Your PayPal e-Mail Address :
Full name:
Firm Price:


Thanks,
Robert

[AlanJones]

Also using phone numbers: +12156647201 and +16175280582 (may be spoofed).