Too Good a Deal for a Used Car, or Fraud??

alakar on 08/02/2021 - 14:25

Hi Fellas,

I have just recently come across a 'car sale advertisement', It is a 2013 Toyota RAV4 AWD Cruiser, with Odometer of 77k kms, and listed for sale at $7800 only! (which I am confused as this would sell around 15-25k on the market)

I saw that sale initially on FB marketplace, which in turn led to an email address, with a lady name. And she says she is from Tasmania.

She also attached some pictures in the email, which seems to be a decent car.
She said the car is being sold as she is going abroad for a project, for 3 years, and need some cash for that.

I am in Qld, and the car will be delivered with RAAF truck, and will give 5 days inspection period - for mechanical testing and physical testing. And also will provide a roadworthy certificate and Qld Rego.

My question is :

  1. Is this too good to be true?
  2. What kind of fraud could be done through this?
  3. What would I need to look out / look for if I consider to buy?
  4. Should I buy?

I have zero knowledge, hence the question. Any help is appreciated.
TIA.

Automotive

closed Comments

  • FocusRider on 08/02/2021 - 14:26
    +13

    Lol

  • nerdycat on 08/02/2021 - 14:27
    +6

    Yes it is a scam. A very common one.

  • Bargain80 on 08/02/2021 - 14:27

    sounds like a scam

  • 87percent on 08/02/2021 - 14:28
    +3

    you sure she's not wanting payment in Itunes cards?

  • GG57 on 08/02/2021 - 14:31
    -2

    If you can get it delivered, inspected and certified before handing over any money, go for it.

  • PLA74 on 08/02/2021 - 14:32
    +1

    Scam - lot's of fake person/used car dealer accounts being setup on FB/Gumtree to list cars at a very low price

  • brendanm on 08/02/2021 - 14:34
    +12

    Proof that our education system is failing.

    • pharkurnell on 08/02/2021 - 14:45
      +1

      he probably hasnt been in AU for very long.

  • Hybroid on 08/02/2021 - 14:35
    +3

    She said the car is being sold as she is going abroad for a project, for 3 years, and need some cash for that.

    Stopped there. Common scam.

    • pharkurnell on 08/02/2021 - 14:46
      +2

      You got that far?
      I got to 'Too Good a Deal for a Used Car'….

  • bhubb18 on 08/02/2021 - 14:35
    +12

    Tell the 'lady' you have a friend in Tasmania who wants to inspect and watch you get no reply :)

    • inherentchoice on 08/02/2021 - 15:08
      +1

      Or go inspect yourself. If it's truly a great deal then the flights will be mere pocket change to get the bargain.

  • FocusRider on 08/02/2021 - 14:38
    +6

    How do people still fall for this? Doesn't make any sense

    • Cheeper on 08/02/2021 - 15:20
      +1

      The reason why scammers keep scamming. Plenty of victims out there.

  • pharkurnell on 08/02/2021 - 14:43
    +1

    You'll find the same photos on several forsale sites… More common than grass getting wet when it rains.

  • iDroid on 08/02/2021 - 14:46
    +1

    I saw that sale initially on FB marketplace, which in turn led to an email address, with a lady name

    Any FB marketplace ad that ends with an image with an email address is a scam.

    I see these daily for caravans, cars, etc.

    Just ignore them and move on :)

  • Blue Suby on 08/02/2021 - 14:47
    +1

    I usually see the one for defence personnel going O/S and needs money as nowhere to store car,

  • muckingfuppet on 08/02/2021 - 15:03

    There are phishing courses.

    Well done on recognising it enough to ask OzB. Now discern more heavily.

  • Baysew on 08/02/2021 - 15:07
    +2

    Thank you for contacting me and sorry for taking so long to reply, I've been messed around by one previous buyer for lack of funds, I can confirm that the car is still for sale and never been involved in an accident, Nobody has smoked in it, excellent condition without any damage or scratches at all, Mechanically A1, it's a fantastic car, I've attached some pictures so you can take a closer look at the car, only travelled 67000kms, all of which being said I expect to get $6,000 for it. The only reason for selling this car so cheaply is because I am involved in a project and i will move to New Zealand on August 28th and not come back for the next 3 years. It's the first time I've been to New Zealand and I'm a little nervous but excited at the same time. It would be a shame to keep the car in the garage for 3 years without being used and I also need some cash before leaving for New Zealand. Right now I am located in Devonport TAS, because our squad it's doing some special training, and in case you decide to buy the car, I will deliver it to your address with our RAAF truck (Transport insurance is included). Besides, it's free and I will give you a 7 days inspection period so you can take the car to a mechanic and test it before I receive your money. Also, It will come with a Roadworthy Certificate and QLD Rego, so you don't have to do the running around Registration paid until 15/09/2020.
    You’ll love the car, I can guarantee you that.

    Scam probably similar - This from Reverse Australia (phone Number Lookup site)

  • MS Paint on 08/02/2021 - 15:07
    +1

    Member since….

    Wait. What. Huh?

  • Drakesy on 08/02/2021 - 15:08
    +2

    Lol.
    These pop up all the time on Marketplace, the giveaways are
    1) the email in one of the pictures
    2) All images as slightly lower res (screenshotted and cropped)
    3) Deal is far below market value and profile generally is new or only has a couple of friends or something along the lines of "rav4 sales" or "4wd sales"

    What amazes me is that people have been caught up in it.

  • inherentchoice on 08/02/2021 - 15:08
    +3

    will be delivered with RAAF truck

    Umm, why would Air Force assets be used to deliver a private car??

    • MS Paint on 08/02/2021 - 15:11
      +4

      Our taxes at work. It's part of the community support budget.

    • Baysew on 08/02/2021 - 15:17
      +5

      Surely they would fly it in.

    • mubd1234 on 08/02/2021 - 15:25
      +2

      It conjures up images of them air dropping the RAV4 from a C-17 with a big parachute out the roof.

  • CC123 on 08/02/2021 - 15:13

    Similar scam from May last year - Whirlpool thread

  • SF3 on 08/02/2021 - 15:51

    🤣 🤣 🤣

    Seriously - one hell of a bargain, if it was real (not). Thanks for playing.

  • bitesized on 08/02/2021 - 16:04
    +2

    OP… I know everyone is taking the piss out of ya, but at least you checked here first.

    Better this than a "RAV4 not delivered from Tasmania - Help I Sent $7800" post.

  • Hithere on 08/02/2021 - 16:06

    Is this too good to be true?

    You think?

    /thread

  • steven6 on 08/02/2021 - 16:29

    I had heaps of those scam ads appear in my Facebook feed late last year.

  • TheBird on 08/02/2021 - 16:52
    -1

    Reminds me of the old Ferrari joke:

    A man sees an ad in the newspaper for a Ferrari for $5. He's like WOAH is this some kinda joke?

    He calls up the the Geoff who had placed the ad, and asks him if he's for real. The guy says yeah, come on over. 2007 ferrari, red in colour.

    Geoff gives the guy his address and the guy tells work that he's not going in that day, and rushes over.

    Out the front of the house is a basically brand new red ferrari. Not a dent or a chipped window.

    Geoff comes outside, and says, yup, it's yours if you want it for $5. The man asks what the catch is, and Geoff informs him that there is no catch, just a $5 ferrari.

    The guy hands over $5, and says, come on Geoff, what happened? Really?

    Geoff says.. Okay.. Well, my wife was gonna get half the money from the ferrari when I sold it. And the stupid cow was just using me for the money, so she'll get what's coming to her!!!

  • wildstallion on 08/02/2021 - 17:32

    It’s a very common scam, please stay away. I always make sure I report such ads to FB. Please report such ads, even it stops one poor soul loosing their money, it’s worth it.

  • Euphemistic on 08/02/2021 - 17:57

    Any vehicle that far below market value is a scam. There is no excuse for not knowing how much you car is worth in online sales.

  • Moderatorhamza23 on 08/02/2021 - 17:58

    OP has received the answers they were after and asked the thread to be closed.

    Thanks

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