URGENT ATTENTION!
[17/July/2009]

Republic of Ireland

It has come to the attention of Sterling-Bond during the last week that one or more people are misrepresenting Sterling-Bond services for the private sale of motor cars, especially being advertised to private buyers in the Republic of Ireland.

Sterling-Bond does not presently offer a trading service for private sales and anyone representing such a service is doing so without the authority of Sterling-Bond.

If you are asked to make payments to any account without verifying the details directly with Sterling-Bond then you are recommended to IGNORE ALL SUCH REQUESTS.

If you wish to discuss this in more detail then you are welcome to contact Sterling-Bond through the normal enquiry form.

The Scam

The scam appears to involve an email sent by a woman, "Elaine Rogers" suggesting the prospective buyer uses Sterling-Bond to deposit the payment for the car.  While this is the accepted procedure for a standard Sterling-Bond Escrow transaction no seller has been registered with Sterling-Bond for this purpose, and Sterling-Bond does not use the terminology "in good standing".

It appears that the seller is making a claim that she has an Irish-registered car for sale, an Audi TT, at an absurdly low price and suggest the purchase price be deposited with Sterling-Bond.  The seller also suggests splitting the shipping costs.

How It Works

Typically in these attempted frauds the seller will give you the details of what they claim is a Sterling-Bond Escrow deposit account or ask you to forward money through such services as MoneyGram, Western Union or PayPal.  However, only Sterling-Bond issues account details, either through this web site or directly to nominated buyers.  No seller or agent issues the account details for any Sterling-Bond account.

Sterling-Bond does not use any of the above services for money transmission.

The account you are likely to be directed to will be one under the control of the so-called seller, and once you have deposited the funds the seller will withdraw the money and disappear.

The seller also appears to be asking buyers for half the shipping costs.  And this too may disappear while you wait for the delivery that never happens.

What To Do

IGNORE THESE ADVERTS and MESSAGES.

If Sterling-Bond offers such a service for private sales, then you would see details here on the web site with the full procedures for a safe transaction.

If you are more strongly concerned about this attempt to defraud you, you my wish to report this to your local police in the hope they can trace the email and other contact details you have received from the seller.

If you have any further information regarding this fraud then feel free to forward it through the standard enquiry form here on the site.

Up-Date [19/July/2009]

It's been drawn to the attention of Sterling-Bond that further advertisers found on AutoTrader are advising prospective buyers that they, the sellers, are using Sterling-Bond for the safe sale of cars throughout the UK.

Be advised that Sterling-Bond has no dealings with AutoTrader and that no one selling on any such service is currently a client with Sterling-Bond.

This warning applies to any private seller at this time (July 2009) - Sterling-Bond is not offering any form of escrow service for private trades.

 

Alerts

Any news or announcements about this can be found
HERE