Beware of Scammers!!!

[skoyne]

Still at it, lorry advertised on a well known site, seemed too good to be true and it obviously was. These are just two of the several emails asking for payment upfront.

Fairly sophisticated in that they have gone to the trouble of knocking up a fake website, but the cover story was the one that's been in use for years:


Hi ,

I want a quick sale so if we conclude this deal in the next days I will accept £10,000.
I'm a private seller, reason for selling has nothing to do with the vehicle, I wanted to leave this work on the hands of specialists. I signed a contract with them and both me and the buyer are covered by contractual conditions.
This company has both financial and storage/delivery services. It was the right type of company that I was looking for to conclude my sale. They can deliver the vehicle and they will also guarantee for the money.

You can test drive the lorry at the warehouse otherwise the deal must be confirmed before the vehicle is delivered to your location.
About the payment you will pay in the company's account(they will issue an invoice). After the company will have the payment confirmation they will start the delivery procedure (it will take 2 or 3 days until you will receive the lorry). Your funds will be held by the company and I will get paid after you will inspect and test drive the lorry. After you'll receive the lorry you will have 5 days to inspect it. If you want to return it (I highly doubt it), they will take back the lorry and the company will send back your money.

If it's easier for you I will inform the company that you're a possible buyer and they will contact you in short time. You can also contact them,it's up to you.


Here you have the company details, Millhill Warehousing
email: movements@millhill-warehousing.co.uk
Website: www.millhill-warehousing.co.uk

I offered to go for a viewing (conveniently the lorry was stored in Cornwall a million miles from most people!)

Dear Mr. ,

The seller agreed for an auction on 12th June due to more interested parties regarding this vehicle so the vehicle will be sold that day.
If you agreed price with the seller you can avoid the auction by having it delivered before the auction. In this case you must pay at least a deposit upfront. The minimum deposit required for the delivery procedure is 50%.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs
PR Officer

MILLHILL WAREHOUSING LIMITED
Hill Farm Church Road
Abingdon OX13 6SW
Company number 04414856
Phone No. 01235886162




Fortunately I saw through it and reported it to the police but fear others may not have been so lucky...

I know it looks really obvious but the first few emails from the 'seller' including pictures, dimensions etc, everything I asked for were very convincing. If it looks too good to be true it nearly always is!

 

[dogatemysalad]

I'm confused. Isn't this a legitimate company registered with Companies House, why is it a scam ?

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I'm confused. Isn't this a legitimate company registered with Companies House, why is it a scam ?

An email asking for payment up front for any (especially a high value) item, from an email account that doesn't use very good english, because of a dubious seller story.. coupled with the fact that it's too good to be true price wise; I'd say everything about this screams scam.

 

[MrsMozart]

The way it's written would have me scurrying for the hills.

No payment up front. Simples.

 

[Winters100]

This form of scam is very common where I am, and it is well known so is no longer really successful. Well done for dodging the bullet!

 

[dogatemysalad]

An email asking for payment up front for any (especially a high value) item, from an email account that doesn't use very good english, because of a dubious seller story.. coupled with the fact that it's too good to be true price wise; I'd say everything about this screams scam.

I still don't get it. The sale still goes through the company, if sold prior to the auction. The buyer is dealing with the company, not the owner.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

It’s called an advanced fee fraud or 419 fraud. You pay up front and hear nothing in return.

 

[DragonSlayer]

In our local press, a couple have just been scammed out of £14,000 for a camper van. Apparently they had phone conversations and everything....and unfortunately paid before seeing it.

As you can imagine, when they went to collect it, there was no camper van, and a neighbour at the address said they were the third lot that week to turn up for a camper van that was never there.

We went to Glasgow to view ours, not a chance in hell would we have paid up front for something we haven't seen with our own eyes.

When we were searching for one before we got this one, there was one on ebay, for the van type the price was very low. A bit more investigating with ebay and yes, it was a scam, the listing was removed and the scammers banned off ebay, but I bet it wasn't long before they rejoined as someone else.

 

[skoyne]

I'm confused. Isn't this a legitimate company registered with Companies House, why is it a scam ?

I'm pretty sure if anyone knows the real directors of that company, they will have no idea what is going on. From what I can see online they were the owners of a tool company and have just retired after 40 years.

Here is another of the emails. Needless to say I haven't heard anything back since I sent this reply:

Hi "Clare"

I have forwarded all your correspondence to the police and the fraud investigation department.

I've also contacted Horesmart who have removed your ad and blocked your account. Find another sucker.

Trying to defraud people during a global pandemic. Disgusting behaviour.


Dear Mr. ,

Our client Mrs. Smart, informed us that you’re a potential buyer and asked us to contact you as soon as possible.
The vehicle Nissan NV400 SE DCI Horse Box 3.5T with the registration number LL61KMV is in our custody.
Our team has already inspected the vehicle and we guarantee that it's in excellent condition.
Be certain that all our vehicles have been HPI checked and passed our own 114-point safety check by our picky inspectors.
No imports! No vehicles sourced at auction! Be assured each vehicle comes from a good home and with a service history. It's just your ideal vehicle, your way.

We have verified the details of Mrs. Smart. Our verification's confirm seller's contact information and the ownership documents.
You can come and collect the vehicle from our warehouse in St. Austell ( Unit 10c-10d St Austell Bay Business Park Par Moor Rd, Cornwall PL25 3RF ).
If you decide to do so, you should know that our warehouse is normally closed for the public.
We are organizing a group viewing with all the potential buyers on 12th June, between 10.00 and 18.00.
There’s a good chance to have an auction in case there will be more than three interested parties.

We want to assure you that we follow all the government guidelines and take all necessary precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of our term.
Updated Government guidance clarifies that collection and home delivery services will become available to vehicle buyers.

If you agreed price with the seller you can avoid the auction by having it delivered before the auction.
If you want it delivered, you must first make the payment and we will send it to your location in the next 2-4 working days.

The payment will be sent to our company's account.
Payment method accepted: Bank transfer, Electronic transfer, CHAPS/BACS payments.

This is how the delivery procedure works:

- You pay the amount in our company’s account.
- Our company delivers the vehicle in maximum 2-4 days. You receive the vehicle and all the documents along with a blank bill of sale signed by the owner.
- You have 5 days to check it. You can do a test-drive, a RAC inspection, anything you want. The inspection period begins the day you receive the vehicle.
- During this time, your payment is held in our company’s account until you decide if you're going to keep the vehicle or not.
If your decision is to return the vehicle, you receive your payment back in 24 hours and our agent comes back to collect it. Payments received in our accounts are fully refundable.

As soon as we will start the delivery process you will receive the tracking number and our delivery agents will call you with a few hours prior to delivery. All the terms regarding Purchase Protection and Refund Policy will be stipulated in our payment invoice.

We take good care of our clients vehicles and we take good care of you because your peace of mind is our number one priority. We're so confident in our vehicles that we have introduced the 5-day Money back Guarantee.

If there's anything else that I can help you with, please do not hesitate to reply here and I will further assist you.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Clare Hubbard
PR Officer

MILLHILL WAREHOUSING LIMITED
Hill Farm Church Road
Abingdon OX13 6SW
Company number 04414856
Phone No. 01235886162


E-MAIL: movements@millhill-warehousing.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.millhill-warehousing.co.uk

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I still don't get it. The sale still goes through the company, if sold prior to the auction. The buyer is dealing with the company, not the owner.

Yes, but the bank details aren't supplied by the company so who's to say they are legitimate? It would also only take 10 minutes to make a mock up of a company website should the fraudsters want to. However, it seems that this is a legit company, but who's directors have just retired and so they likely know nothing about this deal, and they never will. It's so easy to also set up email addresses to mimic those of a legitimate company by their masking (that is layering what looks legitimate over an email address that is foreign) or by amending it slightly eg: xxx@hotmail.co.fr

There is no reason on this planet that anyone needs to pay up front for an item like this.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Yes, but the bank details aren't supplied by the company so who's to say they are legitimate? It would also only take 10 minutes to make a mock up of a company website should the fraudsters want to. However, it seems that this is a legit company, but who's directors have just retired and so they likely know nothing about this deal, and they never will. It's so easy to also set up email addresses to mimic those of a legitimate company by their masking (that is layering what looks legitimate over an email address that is foreign) or by amending it slightly eg: xxx@hotmail.co.fr

There is no reason on this planet that anyone needs to pay up front for an item like this.

Looking at the details on Companies House, nothing seemed out of order. I'm no expert on commerical vehicle auctions, but it seems there is an opportunity to view and purchase the lorry before it goes to auction. Isn't that standard ? Payment isn't made to the seller, it goes through the company.
I wouldn't buy a lorry (or even a puppy, as was suggested on another thread) without viewing, but many commerical traders do.
Perhaps someone with some legal expertise can explain to my befuddled brain, where the scam is here. It doesnt seem to be a 419 fraud.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Looks to me like the fraudsters are using that (legit) company name, but have nothing to do with the company. They just steal their name and website so it looks more legit.

Both sound dodgy as hell to me. Poor English, weirdly written, always sob stories or reasons why you can't view it. Your send the money and you won't hear a sausage.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Looks to me like the fraudsters are using that (legit) company name, but have nothing to do with the company. They just steal their name and website so it looks more legit.

Both sound dodgy as hell to me. Poor English, weirdly written, always sob stories or reasons why you can't view it. Your send the money and you won't hear a sausage.

Ah, I get it. So the victim is MillHill, whose company is being used without their knowledge and the payment doesn't actually go to them ?
I thought the OP had an issue with the legitimate company.

 

[The Jokers Girl]

Looking at the details on Companies House, nothing seemed out of order. I'm no expert on commerical vehicle auctions, but it seems there is an opportunity to view and purchase the lorry before it goes to auction. Isn't that standard ? Payment isn't made to the seller, it goes through the company.
I wouldn't buy a lorry (or even a puppy, as was suggested on another thread) without viewing, but many commerical traders do.
Perhaps someone with some legal expertise can explain to my befuddled brain, where the scam is here. It doesnt seem to be a 419 fraud.

You don't need to be a legal expert to see the scam.

1. They have spoofed a genuine website of a long standing legit business and used some of their details to make themselves look genuine.

2 They then make up fake adverts for items they are selling on behalf of other people and include a load of blurb about having safety checks done, only dealing with legit sellers whose vehicles have full service history blah blah.

3. They then only accept bank transfer, reason being once you hit send you cant claim your money back, as you can with card payments.

4. They make it sound legit by saying it is at a warehouse for inspection but the warehouse is in the arse-end of nowhere , knowing that 99% of the people interested will not drive to the depths of Cornwall to view.

5. They then use pressure selling tactics to make people panic and think they are missing out on a good deal by saying the vehicle is going for auction if some sucker doesn't stump up the cash in a bank transfer before 12th June.

These scams clearly work as you can see nothing suspicious in the tactics and wording used in the long waffley emails they have sent to the OP who is kindly drawing this to our attention.

And if anyone still falls for this, or any similar scam, after I've listed the 5 obvious signs to look out for above as have other posters,then more fool them.

 

[skoyne]

100% correct

 

[kennya999]

Same scam still going on . 3.5 t renault van. Genuine van obviously other sale. Same address of warehouse in Cornwall. Company now being used Change Delivery Solutions (who are registered at company's house) Same template emails and fake website . Reported this to Police today. Website link now gone. Surprise surprise. This seller was of to work in Germany hence van left with company. When asked about copy of V5 couldn't provide. Annoying thing is because we were not defrauded not sure the Police really taking it seriously. Truth is 3 or 4 people could each pay 12,000 for this.

 

[kennya999]

Looking at the details on Companies House, nothing seemed out of order. I'm no expert on commerical vehicle auctions, but it seems there is an opportunity to view and purchase the lorry before it goes to auction. Isn't that standard ? Payment isn't made to the seller, it goes through the company.
I wouldn't buy a lorry (or even a puppy, as was suggested on another thread) without viewing, but many commerical traders do.
Perhaps someone with some legal expertise can explain to my befuddled brain, where the scam is here. It doesnt seem to be a 419 fraud.

You ask to go and view and you would be told it is now sold. I Google mapped the Cornwall address it exists but that company does not have a warehouse there.

 

[Cowpony]

I've just seen a very sad message from somebody asking for advice on a car purchase. He bought the car a few months ago from a private seller, and a finance company has just turned up to repossess it as the previous owner had got it on finance and hadn't repaid the debt when they sold the car. Hadn't told the purchaser there was an outstanding loan on it either.

 

[cremedemonthe]

https://www.rapidcarcheck.co.uk/results?RegPlate=LL61KMV

mileage doesn't add up either!
On the site above it says:
Warning: The odometer reading reduced by 45555 miles between 23 Oct 2015 and 17 Oct 2016