Follow Ups/Extra Information. Most recent is listed first.

I received this email after reply to a bmw x3 advert on gum tree. The car was priced too cheaply compared to the market & the following email is pretty much identical to the others in the thread
If it's too good to be true, it probably is!
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HI
I work on Rowan Gorilla platform (North Sea oil fields) so I cannot arrange for viewing/pick up but we can use Google's services. They offer 3 days for you to inspect the car before paying me and I will be sure that I have a genuine buyer who won't mess me around.
I have briefly described Google's transaction steps below:
1. Buyer, Seller reach an agreement (price and delivery conditions) ; 2. Buyer sends the money to Google and they inform the seller that the payment was received ; 3. Seller delivers the vehicle ; 4. Buyer accepts delivery and informs Google about the acceptance ; 5. Google releases the money to seller. You'll get the chance to inspect the car, test it and everything you like while your money are safely held into Google's account. ONLY after you confirm with Google that you agree to keep the car, they'll release your payment to me. In case you don't like the car you will get a full refund. You can read more about the official procedure on their website/help articles: "" If you're keen to buy it reply with your name and delivery address + email address so I can register the transaction and Google will send you all the info regarding payment and shipping.
P.S. My mobile says no network coverage but I do check emails regularly

advertised a mitsubishi l200 on gumtree,exactly same story as above,just divorced,moved to inverness,working on an oil rig etc,thank goodness for this site,just saved me from losing over £7000,and beware on his emails he puts a link to rowan companies,who have a website and seem to be genuine but their email address is @rowancompanies all one word and not hyphenated like this "mike loftus"

I seen a Audi A3 Convertible 2009 1.9 TDI for £6700 (to good to be true, I know) on gumtree and sent a message on there. I then received an text saying to contact him by email if still interest and asking for a mobile number. So I sent him a email and started receving email from him, which are as follows:-
Hi
Yeah I'm still interested in buying the Audi, what area are you? My phone number is
Thanks
*
Thank you for your email. This 2009 Audi A3 CABRIOLET is currently located in Inverness because I just finished the divorce with my wife and I have moved here. My car is in perfect condition, very well maintained with no issues. I'm asking a very good price for a fast sale + £100 for delivery. Due to my job (working on a oil rig) pick up is not possible but we can use eBay's services. Using their services you have 3 days to inspect it before paying me and I'll be sure that I have a genuine buyer who won't mess me around. You'll get the chance to inspect it, test it and everything you like while your money is safely held in eBay's account. ONLY after you confirm with eBay that you agree to keep it, they'll release the money to me. In case you don't like my vehicle you get a full refund. Email me back with your delivery address so i can register the transaction and eBay will send you all the info regarding payment and delivery.
Regards, Mark Jensen * I'm working in the North Sea oil fields (no phone signal here) so pick up is not possible but I can have the car delivered to you by a shipping company for £100. I have briefly described eBay transaction's steps below: 1. Buyer, Seller reach an agreement (price and delivery conditions) 2. Buyer sends the money to eBay and they inform the seller that the payment was received. 3. Seller delivers the vehicle. 4. Buyer accepts delivery and informs eBay about the acceptance. 5. eBay releases the money to seller.
As you can see, you'll receive the vehicle BEFORE any money is released to me. You'll get the chance to inspect it, test it and everything you like while your money is safely held in eBay's account. ONLY after you confirm with eBay that you agree to keep it, they'll release the money to me.
If for some reason, you won't keep it (I assure you that it is NOT going to happen since my vehicle is in IMMACULATE condition) I will take it back on MY EXPENSE and eBay will refund your money back.
From the moment you receive it, you will have 3 days to inspect it. If it's not like I said or something is not ok with it you can reject it and eBay will fully refund you and the vehicle will be delivered back to me on my expense.
In order to go ahead i need your full name & address for delivery. Once the transaction is registered eBay will send you all the info regarding payment and shipping.
Thank you, Mark Jensen *
I then asked for the reg and photos which he sent, so I did a HPI check and it all seemed above board, so sent him my name and address and asked hime when the tax and mot are due, he even came back with dates for them and when I asked for the VIN number he said he could due to being at the oil rigs, but the car will come with all the paper work. The next day I got emails that seems to be from ebay (be careful they look really real) saying about buy the car and throught their payment protection scheme, but when I went on my ebay there was nothing there. So I phoned ebay and they said there is nothing on there system about this and to sent the email to them, which I did. Then I got another email of him asking if the money will be sent today so he can arrange delivery. I told him that I will not send any money till the invoices appear in my ebay account and he even had to gall to say that they will only appear 24 hours after the transaction.....really. So I then googled his email and here I am. I sent him a lovely email saying he has been caught out. I have informed ebay, just need to inform gumtree. So glad I had the head on me to check my ebay and google before I got carried away and parted with my money. Dont know how he sleeps at night.

Please fid enclosed an email trail of this scam, I've obviously deleted some of my personal details, I'TS LUCKY i FOUND YOUR WEBSITE BEFORE PROCEDING ANY FURTHER, THANKS Hi Mark, Yes I’m happy to agree to these terms, please inform eBay to start the process.
Thanks, Mervyn
I'm working in the North Sea oil fields (no phone signal here) so pick up is not possible but I can have the car delivered to you by a shipping company for £100. The delivery can be done within 3-4 days. I have briefly described eBay transaction's steps below: 1. Buyer, Seller reach an agreement (price and delivery conditions) 2. Buyer sends the money to eBay by bank transfer and they inform the seller that the payment was received. Paypal will keep the money on hold for 21 days, I've been there before and don't want go through this again. 3. Seller delivers the vehicle. 4. Buyer accepts delivery and informs eBay about the acceptance. 5. eBay releases the money to seller.
As you can see, you'll receive the vehicle BEFORE any money is released to me. You'll get the chance to inspect it, test it and everything you like while your money is safely held in eBay's account. ONLY after you confirm with eBay that you agree to keep it, they'll release the money to me.
If for some reason, you won't keep it (I assure you that it is NOT going to happen since my vehicle is in IMMACULATE condition) I will take it back on MY EXPENSE and eBay will refund your money back.
From the moment you receive it, you will have 3 days to inspect it. If it's not like I said or something is not ok with it you can reject it and eBay will fully refund you and the vehicle will be delivered back to me on my expense.
If you agree with my terms, let me know and we can start from there. Once the transaction is registered eBay will send you all the info regarding payment and shipping.
Thank you, Mark Jensen On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 9:27 PM, Mervyn ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, wrote: Hi Mark, Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, My address is as follows ...................... ............ ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Please contact me evenings or weekend 019748???? Mobile during working hours 078163?????
I’ve got a paypal account and am registered on ebay and will gladly pay that way if you prefer, however I’d be happy to give you a cheque on delivery, you seem to be genuine enough to me. Please let me know when you intend to deliver I am happy to pay £100 delivery
Thanks
Mervyn From: Mark Jensen [mailto:jrmarkjensen@gmail.com] Sent: 02 February 2013 20:33 To: ................
Subject: Re: Mervyn replied to your ad: 2009 FORD FIESTA ECONETIC TDCI BLUE
Thank you for your email. This 2009 FORD FIESTA ECONETIC is currently located in Inverness because I just finished the divorce with my wife and I have moved here. My car is in perfect condition, very well maintained with no issues. I'm asking a very good price for a fast sale + £100 for delivery. Due to my job (working on a oil rig) pick up is not possible but we can use eBay's services. Using their services you have 3 days to inspect it before paying me and I'll be sure that I have a genuine buyer who won't mess me around. You'll get the chance to inspect it, test it and everything you like while your money is safely held in eBay's account. ONLY after you confirm with eBay that you agree to keep it, they'll release the money to me. In case you don't like my vehicle you get a full refund. Email me back with your delivery address so i can register the transaction and eBay will send you all the info regarding payment and delivery.
Regards, Mark Jensen On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 8:16 PM, Gumtree Mail wrote: Hi Can you tell me the reason you are selling the car? My email address is :- .............
I would appreciate some more pictures, it’s a long way for me to come and have a look at the car I live in west Wales postcode is SY25??? Thanks,
Mervyn ________________________________________
Just got your message. Yes, it's still on the market and I am ready to sell it to you. Can I have your email address in order
to send you more details and pics?
Cheers

Hi, I was almost another victim of this Michael Preston. He advertised a Seat Ibiza FR 1.4 TSI 2009 on gumtree. He had it up for £3,300. Luckily after a few emails to one another I started to doubt that this was turning out to be to good to be true. So I rang eBay and PayPal in which he said the payment would be processed through and they advised me to ring my bank and find if I would be coverd by scams etc..
They told me as I have a current account that I would be coverd by any fraudulent scams that may accrue if I was to buy the vehicle and then it turn out to be B**lshit. However just as I was about to get to the nitty gritty stuff about my address and bank details I stopped and decided to look him up on the Internet and came across this website which obviously states that he has scammed other people in the past using the same method as I was going to use.
This then gave me a shock to find out that my doubts where in fact TRUE! And that I almost lost £3300 of my own hard earnt money!
Be very aware of what you are buying especially of the vehicle side of things as its very easy to get sucked into thinking your buying a legit vehicle
He advertises on Gumtree, I am not sure if he uses other sites. I can only think he will use what ever possible to scam as many people as possible.
If you have been a victim or nearly fallen victim to this MICHAEL PRESTON then please review your statement on here to save others becoming another in the line of many.
ALWAYS VIEW THE VEHICLE YOUR ARE INTENDING TO BUY AND MEET THE PERSON SELLING IT. NEVER BUY OF SOMEONE WHO WILL NOT RING YOU OR ALLOW YOU TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE BUYING!!

hi , i stupidly lost 3200 pounds to this mike preston guy, he was selling a bobcat, same story inverness, rowan gorilla platform etc, recently divorced, i was outside the country so had no means of testing anything, i am so upset wth myself for having succumbed to this, i thought because it was all going through google it was secure , i'm not a fundi on the net and i was had. i cant believe they havent caught the guy from his bank account details, also used the R petru account .....one day justice will be done

Seller mike devlin Email mike.d7720@gmail.com Working on oil rig rowan gorilla platform Selling vehicles on various websites, amazon, gumtree Can arrange vehicle transportation for £100 Asks for funds to be transferred into what appears to be a legitimate Barclays account beneficiary ( R Petru ) Financial transaction takes place through what appears to be a secure eBay holding account
Take precautions what seems to be too good to be true, normally is