Very low priced Esprit on eBay

[cschriks]

Check out this auction. Too good to be true???

http://cgi.ebay.com/1988-LOTUS-ESPRIT-TURB...1QQcmdZViewItem

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Either it's a non-runner / has something terminal lurking beneath the surface, or someone's about to make a killing!

[Mark Blanchard]

Saw this this morning. There's no information about it. In the immortal words of Iron Maiden . . . "Run to the Hills."

[Splashout]

pictures seem very familiar could this be one that was sold recently and being used as a scam??

[lottylotus]

yes it was sold the other week ,keep clear of this one.

[oneshot]

Hmm

Seller in the US - item in the UK

Currently registered as SORN

Something doesn't seem right there.

[cschriks]

I send the owner an e-mail through the eBay e-mailing system, asking him some questions about the car. Got an e-mail from eBay warning me to be cautious because some sellers try to get round eBay regulations and protection. Just checked, listing is now removed! But what about the car.

Feels like somebody kidnapped an Esprit!

[Jonathan]

More than likely a scam.

Not sur if I'm right here but the car was obviously way underpriced, so taking into account the high probablility of it being problematic the seller was obviously hiding something which is fraud ?

Looked like a perfectly good project to me

[Kimbers]

This is a classic case of "e-bay Account hijacking" It happened to me when I was new to it. What happens is the fraudster sends e-mails to sellers. They look genuine and have al the right logo's and they ask for confirmation of account details by pressing just one button, or else your account will be suspended.

When you press the button it gives them access to your computer and they access e-bay via your e-mail account (normally sending a request to e-bay for password details). You never see any of this. They then look at the account, if you are a regular user they will put an item on for 1 hour or 1 day. If you are not they will try for longer. The items are all bogus and they always target high value desireable items.

By sending the e-mail to the account holder he will have received your e-mail in his own e-mail address (as it is still his account...the fraudster just has the logins and normally switches off the e-mail option in e-bay) and it alerted him to the fraud going on.

E bay then suspend the account and normally help you re-set up and relist your items, changing all logins in the process.

Simple and effective unless you know how to spot the original request for info. E-bay never ask you to confirm details and also watch for a request for info on an item you aren't selling. Just delete them.

Hope that explains things.

[cschriks]

Just received this reply on the question I asked the owner. Who are we kidding?

----

Hello,

Sorry for the late answer.

I have received your email regarding my car 1988 LOTUS ESPRIT TURBO YELLOW.

First you have to know bidding is restricted since I am carefully with my auction,so none will press the button until I have the assurance that he will buy it.

This car is in perfect condition,with no damage,no scratches.

The price for the car with shipping included, is

[Jonathan]

What a prat, do people actually fall for this stuff ?!?

Might be worth stringing along just for the fun of it....all in the name of sport !

Edited June 19, 2006 by Jonathan

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Hahaha!

"Declare as a gift to avoid customs" PMSL

You should e-mail him back and say that you are going to be in Rome in a week on business for a month and will be able to pick it up in person

[david]

I got this sent through from our local community police warden warning of a similar scam.....

Basically, look on Ebay at one of the 'motors' sections, prestige cars are

usually the best. This particular one was an Audi A4 cabriolet, but there

was also a TT coupe, and an A6.

The listing will show the vehicle, and the subtitle will show a "Buy it

now"

price of around GBP4400 or GBP4200, in short way too low for the type of

car. The listing will show an email address that potential buyers must

contact prior to bidding. When you place a bid, it will instantly be

bettered by a small amount.

When you get a reply from the seller, he'll describe how he's moved to

Italy

and must sell the car because they drive on the left over there. If you

agree to buy, you will be able to send payment directly to his bank.

Needless to say, that's the last you'll ever hear from him.

After my friend had contacted the seller, before we decided it was a scam,

we

also got a spoof email from eBay stating that the seller was genuine and

had

deposited GBP20,000 in a special account with them which could be used if

anything went wrong.

Moral of the story is 'if it looks to good to be true, it probably is'. I

did read on the eBay forums of someone who actually sent money, the posting

was headed "where's my car????". Luckily they were able to halt the bank

transfer and get the money back. eBay have confirmed that it's a fake and

pulled the listing, but in five minutes I was able to find at least four

other cars that were clearly examples of the same scam.

[Guest Chelsea Martyn]

This listing has been removed at some point DTI.. 2130- 21.06.06