Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 04:20 PM

There is a scam currently doing the rounds which has left a number of people feeling slightly embarrassed and more than slightly out of pocket.

It starts when you advertise a car for sale and an interested party, usually via e-mail, contacts you. A price is agreed and then comes the twist. The purchaser wants the car shipped to Scotland or Ireland or some other part of the world.

In order for this to be done the purchaser sends a cheque for an amount far in excess of the sale value of the car, with instructions to pay the cheque into your own bank account. You are then instructed to deduct the sale value of the car and forward the remainder to the purchaser's agent who will arrange the shipping of the car. That is the last you will see of thousands of pounds of your own money, and it is your money if you have not waited for the cheque to clear, which is just what they were hoping you would do.

The warning signs are usually there, no one comes to look at the car. The value of the car does not justify the alleged shipping costs. All contact is via e-mail, the grammar and spelling of which would indicate it originated outside of the UK. Those cheques which I have seen have telltale signs, different sort codes and cheque numbers on the same cheque, no account holders details printed on the cheque or in the wrong position.

The cheque is false, it will not clear but by the time you find that out its too late and you have already sent off your own money to cover the alleged shipping costs.
Be aware, don't get caught out and remember - never part with your own money if it is reliant on another cheque clearing. That money is not in your account until the cheque has cleared.

Antony Wiles PC8024