The victim found a car on AutoScout24 and contacted the buyer on email. They agreed on the price and the buyer suggested an escrow company to deal with the transport. The escrow company was a fake one. The victim paid the requested amount - but there was no car to receive...
The nonexistent car costed few thousands Euros. The scammers asked for an additional 500 Euros as transport costs.
Fake character used in scam:
Fake name: Mikael Leskin
Claimed location: Caloniuksenkatu 8, 00101 Helsinki
Email address: mikael.leskin@gmail.com
Fake document used in scam:
Emails:
Mikael Leskin <mikael.leskin@gmail.com>
March 7, 2018
Hello and thank you for your interest,
still available, the car is in perfect condition, accident free. It is a German car. The car is in Germany registered in my name and has green plaque.
I worked in Germany (as a policeman in exchange for experience) and bought the car during that time. I am from Helsinki, Finland and I am working
now back in Helsinki and returned home and I took the car. Here in Helsinki I bought a new car and did not use this car anymore. Because I do not
want to pay taxes because I do not use the car, I decided to sell it.
So, the current place of the car is Helsinki, Finland. Due to my work, it is difficult for me to come to Germany by car.
If you want to buy the car, you can pick it up in person or, if that's too complicated, a third party business can do it.
Buying through the company is very easy. I write an order to the company and they handle everything. The company delivery the car to your address
and you have five days to try the car and check all the documents. If you do not like the car, you can refuse the order on your part without any
obligation. The company will return my car at my expense. Transport costs and the other project expenses will be paid by me. You will only pay the
price of the car and nothing extra.The transport takes about three days.
That method is the safest solution for an online business. The two parts (seller and buyer) are protected. The sale will be strictly in accordance with the rules
and regulations of The Federal Government.
Where are you?
I am waiting for your soon answer.
Professional Transport Auto LTD - office@pro-transportauto.com
To:
Date: March 13, 2018
Hello victim!
Payment details can also be found on the invoice ! I attached an image !
The payment information for transaction number #xxx :
Account Name: SERGIO Uxxx / AUTO PROTRANS
IBAN: IT40I034750160500032992xxxx
Account Number: 032992xxxx
BIC/SWIFT CODE: INGBITD1XXX
Bank Name: ING
Address: Via Arbe, 20125 Milano
Country: Italy
Type of money transfer: Bank t ransfer
Article price: 4.800.00 EUR
Amount to be transferred : 4.800.00 EUR
Please pay attention to the bank details: account holder, IBAN, BIC and country.
Use correct all payment data so we can check your transfer in no time.
To confirm the transaction and start the delivery, please send us a copy of the transfer.
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Henry Rosberg,
Professional Transport Auto LTD.