Tell me I'm right to be massively suspicious - more!

[carlosthejack...]

You know when something's just too good to be true, it usually is?

Last week I sent an email enquiry about a bike advertised on Bike Trader. Hear nothing back until I got an email back last night from the alleged seller which read as thus:

"Hi there,
I'm deeply sorry for the late reply but your message was flagged as spam.
My Honda CBr Fireblade is in excellent condition with no issues. I'm asking £1000 for a fast sale. The bike is currently located in Glasgow because I just finished the divorce with my wife and I have moved here. I will sell the bike only using eBay's services, this way you'll get access to the buyer protection service (refund policy available), 3 days to inspect the bike and I'll be sure that I have a genuine buyer that isn't going to mess me around. Where are you located? Please email me as soon as you see this message because I have few other people interested in this bike.
Delivery can be arranged.

Thank you,
Julian Brown

Photos:
I've attached here more pictures of the bike so you can see better what you are buying:
https://postimage.org/gallery/qg3p46m/

(The link will take you to Postimage, a free picture hosting site. There are plenty of full size pictures showing, in full, every aspect of this item. Click on any picture to see the full size image.)

Bike's description:
HONDA CBR 900 RR-Y FIRE BLADE , 2001, 23000 miles. Excellent condition."

This immediately hit me as extremely dodgy for a number of reasons.
1. Stock email, using some, what seems to me, very odd language.
2. Payment method. Why advertise on Bike Trader but want payment through eBay? I'd be happy to give him a grand in cash today in exchange for keys, but to send the full amount via eBay 'cos of some waffle about "buyer protection" sounds like he's trying to pull a bit of wool.
3. His name.
4. The email came "via zoho.com". Eh?
5. Delivery can be arranged?

So here's how I see it. He's advertised the bike at a stupidly low price, mining for interest. When he's had enough interest he sends out the stock email with the stuff about "buyer protection" on eBay so people will send the money prior to travelling to Glasgow (why Glasgow? Who moves to Glasgow?) to collect a bike that doesn't exist. He takes 20 grand from a recently set up eBay/bank account combination and eBay/Paypal are left to pick up the pieces when 20 people have no bike in return for their money. Or people are sat waiting for a delivery that's never going to happen.

Tell me I'm right or I'm passing up a bargain. The reg no's legit, it's in the insurers database, but that doesn't mean that the bike's in "Julian's" possession or that "Julian" isn't a figment of some eastern european gangster's imagination...
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[P.]

Utterly dodgy, that bike, 1k... nah, no way

[TheSmiler]

IF you are so worried get someone on here that you trust or that is willing to visit and get them to nip around to get it checked out.. sure someone on here could do it might have post in the scottish part of the forum though to get their attention.

If you can find someone willing to check it out send an email and see if you can arrange a viewing with someone you trust so you know its certain. Then say I'd rather pay in hard cash that way it is more convenient for me.

The person can then decide yes or no, if it's no then their is an extremely high chance of it being a scam and you can leave it alone. It depends if its worth a few beers. However if it's a yes then you get the potential viewing making sure its not a rigger and everything's gravy.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[Knightsy]

That's a scam mate. Avoid.
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[carlosthejack...]

[AladdinSane]

Definite scam, mate of mine got done for £2500 using exactly the same method.

[fox]

Probably a Nigerian scammer, after your cash prize moneys. Im surprised they haven't asked for western union money transfer!
As smiler suggested, you could get someone to check it out for you. If its legit, there won't be a problem. Also insist on cash only.
If he agrees, maybe run a vehicle check just to be safe.
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Sold: 2003 satin black Yamaha R6
Current rides: 2006 blue Triumph Sprint ST 1050, 2003 Yamaha WR450F

[pinkyfloyd]

Utterly legit. I am having a 2010 Honda Fireblade in great condition I am selling. I give you for £1000. Below are picturegraphs of the bike for your viewing:

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20B/Honda%20CBR1000%2010%20%20Repsol.jpg

https://www.huntsmotorcycles.co.uk/NewBikes/p7lsm_img_1/fullsize/2010_Fireblade-Black-White-1_fs.jpg

I forgot to tell you it is having speshal paint job that makes look like 2 different coloured bikes depends on which light you use.

If you are interest then I am expecting bank transfer to my mongolian account in africa, please pm me bank details and first born child for test ride.


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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Supermoto_Fan]

If it sounds too good to be true, It probably is.


And this is.
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Yamaha MT-09 - Triple powerrrr

[27cows]

One of the more obvious scams, for sure.
____________________
The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Julian Brown? Or should I say Julian Fleischer-Baum?

https://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120830010831/blackadder/images/d/dd/Nurse_Mary.jpg
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[weasley]

If it smells like a scam....

People like this clearly don't have the bike at hand, but they have pictures of it, so where do the pictures come from? Google Images gives you the option to search teh internets for matching pictures by uploading an image or by an image's url.

Anyhoo, using this investigative technique turns up this.

You will also find this unsuspecting fella, who is probably unaware that someone is selling his bike for less than half what he paid for it.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[_mjs_]

[Knightsy]

[pork6156]

I am coming across these scams all the time at the moment. I am a police officer and I am currently investigating many scams that sound exactly the same as this.
All vehicles seem to be in Scotland to. The scammer states Scotland in hope you live in South England, so the chances of you going there to view are slim.
They always state they will deliver, and always ask for payment through paypal or something similar.
They always have a sob story like divorce or death in the family,
many of them are now even stating they are in the Army, stationed in Scotland and are awaiting immediate deployment to Afganistan. Hence the cheap price. This in turn will give genuine forces people problems when they try and sell vehicles, as people are not going to believe them.

Its a scam avoid.

[pinkyfloyd]

[illuminateTHE...]

He will most likely transfer the funds via paypal. You will then have to ship the bike to him, he will then complain/file a dispute once he receives the bike saying it wasn't as described.
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Theory: PASSED Module 1: PASSED Module 2: PASSED 12/2012!!!

yzf r125 [SOLD] sv650 [CURRENT]

[Benson_JV]

[carlosthejack...]

From eBay:

Do not believe listings on other online sites that promise eBay purchase protection. Vehicles listed on other sites are not eBay transactions, and won't be covered by our purchase protection programs.

Buyer beware.
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[carlosthejack...]

Anyways, gimme some suggestions of how to reply, for the lulz. We'll see if we can freak this guy right out. I'm thinking of saying that I'm on my way to Glasgow as I type with a grand in cash, and where should I meet him?
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[jchu1988]

Its a scam, the pics were nicked from https://www.villagemotorcycles.co.uk/bikes/hon_cbr900rry_l.jpg

Same scenery and bike in back ground and asking for a lot more.
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SV650sk4

[Ariel Badger]

I just googled the first line........Google
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[fox]

[Rogerborg]

"I just finished the divorce with my wife and I have moved here" = 404 hits.

Seems to move from Inverness to Thurso to Glasgow... that's a lot of divorces and vehicles.

[UPDATE] 405 hits now. I wonder if it's this post?
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[pits]