Buying a car via msn money

[kimigonzales]

Hi guys!

I've come across a really good deal to buy a car on autotrader. However, the seller apparently lives in Switzerland but has a UK registered car. I have the registration details so will peform a HPI check.

Before I do this, the seller has stated that she would like to do the transaction via MSN money. I'm therefore wondering if it is secure to deal like this (i.e. will I be protected as a buyer if this person is a scammer)?

Any advice would be appreciated guys!

[River-Rat]

never heard of msn, says dodgy, pay pal or westen union is the only way i do it , or bank trans. but again check it all out

[alboking_uk]

dude dont be silly to do it plz if u have money to loose then go ahead if not then stay away from that scam

[Shark.]

I have heard of MSN money but pretty sure it doesnt give you any protection what so ever.

Dont risk it , thats all i can say.Always Use a familiar service.

Shark.

[rick1019]

Always use paypal.

[fj1200]

Don't know about msn money but this kind of scam is very common. Be very careful with your cash. If the price sounds a little to good or you get some sob story, walk away.

[unit14]

James Andrews, MSN Money, 11/02/2010 09:29
Warning: MSN Money transfer service scam - attempted FRAUD

People are being told by criminals that MSN Money will hold funds for them to transfer overseas. This is a lie. Do not send them money or any of your details.


Do not be fooled: MSN Money does not have a money transfer service



Criminals are mounting a concerted attempt to steal cash using the brand name MSN Money as a way to trick people into sending them money. There is no MSN Money transfer service. This is a scam.
The scam has so far involved people trying to buy a car from overseas. The 'seller' tells you that MSN will hold the funds until you get the car, then if you are happy with the car once it has arrived, MSN will transfer the funds to them.
They have created at least one fake e-mail address and even mocked-up a fake website that looks similar to the real MSN Money site (sample screen grab above). Do not be taken in.
This is a lie. MSN does not and has never offered such a service.
Users of Autotrader.co.uk, MSN Cars and MSN Autos have been hit so far. The criminals are also using other well-known internet brand names including Yahoo!, AOL and eBay to try and take people's money.
How the scam works
These people are advertising mostly premium cars at very cheap prices on Auto Trader whose listings also appear within MSN Cars (and other used car listings websites both in the UK, US, and other countries) - and when contacted via e-mail, claim that MSN Money offers a service that will hold the money until you receive the car (see sample text at the bottom of this page).
People offering this sort of scam will generally not want to talk to you on the phone (although they might if pressed to) and will never, ever want to meet you face-to-face or let you see the car in real life - offering every possible reason they can think of why this cannot happen.
They claim the car is on sale for less than its market value for many reasons, including that they are splitting up with their wives and need cash fast, they have a disease, are pregnant or even that they are an 'innocent girl' and don't know what it's worth.
They will tell you about the great condition the car is in: no scratches, never having been smoked in and so on. They can often supply a VIN number and/or registration number that matches a genuine car - this proves nothing.
Microsoft and MSN Money strenuously asserts the following:
THE "MSN Money transfer service" AND SIMILAR SYSTEMS DO NOT EXIST. THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH MSN MONEY, AUTO TRADER, MSN CARS or MSN AUTOS. IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD, NOTHING MORE. YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO DELETE THE E-MAIL AND NOT TO ENTER INTO ANY COMMUNCIATION WITH THE SENDER WHATSOEVER.
DO NOT SEND THEM ANY MONEY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES - YOU WILL NEVER SEE IT AGAIN, NOR A CAR.
Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
MSN Money and Microsoft are working hard to shut these people down. We take the welfare of our users extremely seriously and hate the idea that our name is being abused in this way - and we absolutely do not want anyone to lose money because of it.
Remember, if something looks cheap, you can check the make and model's price with other used car listings or price guides like Parkers.
Cars offered for significantly less than their market price are likely to have major issues including:

• The car may be stolen
• It may have outstanding payments due on it
• It may have major crash damage
• The car may not exist at all and is a pure invitation for you to send a fraudster money and for them to vanish without trace

Even if the car seems appropriately priced you should NEVER send money to people you haven't even talked to, or buy a car you have never even seen, driven and had checked by a mechanic, especially one supposedly located in another country or a distant part of your own country. There are an awful lot of people who are more than happy to take your money and disappear into the electronic ether - please do not keep them in work.
If you have heard from someone offering this sort of scheme, please forward all their e-mails with any additional information to:
msnmoney@live.co.uk
The Office of Fair Trading also has a "scambusting" scheme set up to send scam e-mails and websites to for investigation. More details can be seen here:
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty/
Advice for those who have become a victim of this scam
Our advice for UK customers who have been scammed is to contact the National Fraud Authority. They have set up a phone number (0300 123 2040) as a single point of contact for fraud victims. They have also launched a website, which should be your first port of call.
Please also file a report with your local police force.
Many thanks,
The MSN Money team
Words and phrases known to be used by fraudsters are used here so people contacted by them can quickly find this page using an internet search. MSN Money as an intermediary, Autotrader, MSN Money transaction, MSN Money transfer service, international transactions, MSN Autos protection exchange, payment to be handled by MSN Autos, Auto Protection service, MSN Autos escrow service, MSN Autos Buyer Protection, MSN Autos Used Cars Buying Program, YAHOO AUTO Shipping Center Program, Autotrader Vehicle Purchase.
Sample text:
At least four people have been sent the same e-mail from the scammers. So you are not caught out, this is the exact text the criminal sent them:
"Due to the fact that i am located outside UK and we can not deal in person,i`ve contacted MSN Money regarding this issue and they told me that they could offer to me a program that is created especially for international transactions that protects both of us.
"Regarding the transaction, you will send the funds to MSN Money and they will keep the money until you receive the vehicle and test it.In this way both buyer and seller are 100% covered during the steps of this transaction.MSN will hold and insure your money until receipt of the car in good condition. That is how their service is working. As far as the seller concerns, i will be glad to know that MSN is in possession of the funds during the delivery period.
"You will be given a 15 days inspection period from the day you receive the car at home( i will ship it to your address insured for full value to you ).
"If you decide to keep the car, then you will have to authorize MSN to release the funds to me, and the transaction is complete.If the vehicle is not as described ( perfect interior,exterior,mechanical condition ), you will be able to send the vehicle back through the same shipping company ( return postage at my expense ), and ask MSN to return the money to you.
"If you wish to purchase it and agree to these terms i will need you to provide your full name and address. I will then notify MSN and they will contact you to explain the entire procedure."

[kimigonzales]

Originally Posted by unit14

James Andrews, MSN Money, 11/02/2010 09:29
Warning: MSN Money transfer service scam - attempted FRAUD

People are being told by criminals that MSN Money will hold funds for them to transfer overseas. This is a lie. Do not send them money or any of your details.


Do not be fooled: MSN Money does not have a money transfer service



Criminals are mounting a concerted attempt to steal cash using the brand name MSN Money as a way to trick people into sending them money. There is no MSN Money transfer service. This is a scam.
The scam has so far involved people trying to buy a car from overseas. The 'seller' tells you that MSN will hold the funds until you get the car, then if you are happy with the car once it has arrived, MSN will transfer the funds to them.
They have created at least one fake e-mail address and even mocked-up a fake website that looks similar to the real MSN Money site (sample screen grab above). Do not be taken in.
This is a lie. MSN does not and has never offered such a service.
Users of Autotrader.co.uk, MSN Cars and MSN Autos have been hit so far. The criminals are also using other well-known internet brand names including Yahoo!, AOL and eBay to try and take people's money.
How the scam works
These people are advertising mostly premium cars at very cheap prices on Auto Trader whose listings also appear within MSN Cars (and other used car listings websites both in the UK, US, and other countries) - and when contacted via e-mail, claim that MSN Money offers a service that will hold the money until you receive the car (see sample text at the bottom of this page).
People offering this sort of scam will generally not want to talk to you on the phone (although they might if pressed to) and will never, ever want to meet you face-to-face or let you see the car in real life - offering every possible reason they can think of why this cannot happen.
They claim the car is on sale for less than its market value for many reasons, including that they are splitting up with their wives and need cash fast, they have a disease, are pregnant or even that they are an 'innocent girl' and don't know what it's worth.
They will tell you about the great condition the car is in: no scratches, never having been smoked in and so on. They can often supply a VIN number and/or registration number that matches a genuine car - this proves nothing.
Microsoft and MSN Money strenuously asserts the following:
THE "MSN Money transfer service" AND SIMILAR SYSTEMS DO NOT EXIST. THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH MSN MONEY, AUTO TRADER, MSN CARS or MSN AUTOS. IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD, NOTHING MORE. YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO DELETE THE E-MAIL AND NOT TO ENTER INTO ANY COMMUNCIATION WITH THE SENDER WHATSOEVER.
DO NOT SEND THEM ANY MONEY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES - YOU WILL NEVER SEE IT AGAIN, NOR A CAR.
Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
MSN Money and Microsoft are working hard to shut these people down. We take the welfare of our users extremely seriously and hate the idea that our name is being abused in this way - and we absolutely do not want anyone to lose money because of it.
Remember, if something looks cheap, you can check the make and model's price with other used car listings or price guides like Parkers.
Cars offered for significantly less than their market price are likely to have major issues including:

• The car may be stolen
• It may have outstanding payments due on it
• It may have major crash damage
• The car may not exist at all and is a pure invitation for you to send a fraudster money and for them to vanish without trace

Even if the car seems appropriately priced you should NEVER send money to people you haven't even talked to, or buy a car you have never even seen, driven and had checked by a mechanic, especially one supposedly located in another country or a distant part of your own country. There are an awful lot of people who are more than happy to take your money and disappear into the electronic ether - please do not keep them in work.
If you have heard from someone offering this sort of scheme, please forward all their e-mails with any additional information to:
msnmoney@live.co.uk
The Office of Fair Trading also has a "scambusting" scheme set up to send scam e-mails and websites to for investigation. More details can be seen here:
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty/
Advice for those who have become a victim of this scam
Our advice for UK customers who have been scammed is to contact the National Fraud Authority. They have set up a phone number (0300 123 2040) as a single point of contact for fraud victims. They have also launched a website, which should be your first port of call.
Please also file a report with your local police force.
Many thanks,
The MSN Money team
Words and phrases known to be used by fraudsters are used here so people contacted by them can quickly find this page using an internet search. MSN Money as an intermediary, Autotrader, MSN Money transaction, MSN Money transfer service, international transactions, MSN Autos protection exchange, payment to be handled by MSN Autos, Auto Protection service, MSN Autos escrow service, MSN Autos Buyer Protection, MSN Autos Used Cars Buying Program, YAHOO AUTO Shipping Center Program, Autotrader Vehicle Purchase.
Sample text:
At least four people have been sent the same e-mail from the scammers. So you are not caught out, this is the exact text the criminal sent them:
"Due to the fact that i am located outside UK and we can not deal in person,i`ve contacted MSN Money regarding this issue and they told me that they could offer to me a program that is created especially for international transactions that protects both of us.
"Regarding the transaction, you will send the funds to MSN Money and they will keep the money until you receive the vehicle and test it.In this way both buyer and seller are 100% covered during the steps of this transaction.MSN will hold and insure your money until receipt of the car in good condition. That is how their service is working. As far as the seller concerns, i will be glad to know that MSN is in possession of the funds during the delivery period.
"You will be given a 15 days inspection period from the day you receive the car at home( i will ship it to your address insured for full value to you ).
"If you decide to keep the car, then you will have to authorize MSN to release the funds to me, and the transaction is complete.If the vehicle is not as described ( perfect interior,exterior,mechanical condition ), you will be able to send the vehicle back through the same shipping company ( return postage at my expense ), and ask MSN to return the money to you.
"If you wish to purchase it and agree to these terms i will need you to provide your full name and address. I will then notify MSN and they will contact you to explain the entire procedure."

I saw that myself earlier tonight mate. I forwarded his emails to MSN and then emailed the guy saying I would like to do a deal through another 3rd party. I then attached the link to the above page. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be hearing from the guy again...

[Trusted Friend]

Since 1 November 2009, with the introduction in the UK of the Payment Services Regulations, escrow services finally come under the auspices of the FSA and HMRC.
You will find genuine escrow companies at the FSA online register at w w w dot fsa.gov.uk/register/psdFirmSearchForm.do (try searching there for 'escrow' as an example) and/or at fsa.gov.uk/register/psdFirmSearchForm.do (try searching there for 'tru' in the name box and 'NW11' in the postcode box for one such genuine example).

These new online escrow services may offer exactly the service you are looking for, and cost only £3 or so all-in to use.

Beware, there are many, many fraudulent escrow services which look real - even quoting UK addresses, phone numbers and fake FSA & HMRC registration numbers. They look extremely professional, and any money posted to them (or goods sent relying on them) will be lost forever. So only ever work with a firm on the FSA register and/or the HMRC register, which will be safe.

[jojolv_vm]

If only these scammers were doing things that are constructive i think they would be rich. Who has time to make a website so they can scam people, why dont they create the next youtube or google instead it would be more easy then this cr*p