13 replies to this topic

[cliffordmini]

Hi all UK friend,

I am from Malaysia and I am buying a Mini from an online advertisement. The Seller is from Manchester, UK. The seller told me that he decided to sell the car through Escrow service and the car right now is in Escrow custody and ready for shipping with all documents and keys in a sealed container.

The seller also mentioned that the car right now is in UK, and it was registered in Malaysia. He says he will just have to give Escrow the buyer details and Escrow will send me an email with transaction details (shipment and payment), I will have to pay Escrow advance 10% from the agreed price. After Escrow verify and confirm the payment, I will receive the car in maximum 10 days (From UK to Malaysia) and I will have 14 days to inspect the car in Malaysia.

After the 14 days if I decide no to keep the car, Escrow will send it back to the seller on his expenses.

Sorry for telling long story, this is my first time buying a Mini online from oversea and deal with Escrow, may I know what information I need to get from Seller to make sure the seller is not fake or not a fraud scam? I never see the real car but only pictures, the seller is in UK, and I am in Malaysia. The Seller says he work with the Escrow in UK at the website http://www.*removed*.co.cc.

Here I need some help from UK friends here to tell me the Escrow company WWS Shipping with the website http://www.*removed*.../contact_us.htm located at:
33, Castle Gate
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
NG1 7AR, United Kingdom
Phone: +44-(161)-408-1413
Fax: +44-(844)-774-2861

Is it a real legal company that having Escrow custody to keep seller's car and will sell the car to oversea, or it is just an online fraud scam.
Why I am concerning is because the seller did not have the intension to give me full details.
- I try to Google WWS Shipping and I could not find this website at all, and it is with .co.cc.
- Also, I Google the address above and it shows it is a tailor shop? Even some Nottingham town directory also shows the address is a Tailor shop: http://www.city-visi...nsclothing.html

Your help is very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Edited by Jordie, 13 December 2009 - 11:22 AM.

[cobblers]

Generally, if you have to ask "is this a scam", it is a scam. This "escrow" type of fraud is common.

No "genuine" company would use a .cc domain.

Don't send any money, you'll never see a car.


A google search shows how many websites share the exact same text (with mistakes)

http://www.google.co...ercial services

Edited by cobblers, 07 December 2009 - 05:33 PM.

[cliffordmini]

cobblers,

Thanks for your response. Do you know where can I report this scam?

[cobblers]

I'm afraid not. The people behind it are unlikely to be based in the UK - Nigeria is often behind this type of scam.

[Bungle]

just ask if a friend in the UK can inspect the car

if it's a scam you will never here from them again

[cobblers]

Just looked on google, that address is for "Roy Smith Tailors"

http://maps.google.c...eH4-OjAfNw52xBA

The phone number is an unlisted Manchester number, and the "fax" is an unlisted internet created 0844 number.

100% definitely a scam.

Edited by cobblers, 07 December 2009 - 06:30 PM.

[stevede]

That phone number is a Manchester based number not one from Nottingham

Edit: beat me to it!

Edited by stevede, 07 December 2009 - 06:33 PM.

[cliffordmini]

Hi Bungle,

The Seller said the car is sealed in a container at the Escrow custody, not able to re-open it.

I am sure this is a scam from too many information I get. The Escrow address is a tailor shop. I have ask some friend post to Malaysia Mini forum...

It is really scary to live in this world... just have to be more smarter.

[Guess-Works.com]

The website's all wrong...

Especially the contact details.... manchester number when the address is in Nottingham,

The email contacts are all wrong...

Well dodgy...

[shorty]

go on their live chat function and have a word with them

thats if it actually works that is

[Bungle]

go on their live chat function and have a word with them

hello are you a scammer ?

[shorty]

go on their live chat function and have a word with them

hello are you a scammer ?

well didn't mean be blunt about it aha

[Scallywag630]

One other point to remember is that anyone can get a "virtual" phone number. It may be a manchester number, but I bet it rings somewhere in Africa. Have a look at the Vonage website. It offers virtual numbers ....all perfectly legal.

[redhotminilewis]

Basiclly the same website just different name

http://line-ava.net/about_us.htm

http://www.wwssoluti...cc/en/index.htm

I'm sure its a scam.

I thought there was something you can do to check if it is a registered company and not a scam. Think i heard that before but not 100%