Ford Galaxy Fraud

On the 14th May 2010 I was looking to buy a Ford Galaxy for my increasing size family. I looked at various locations including e-bay, local sellers, auto trader etc. After a few weeks of looking, an advert came onto auto trader stating that a 2008 Ford Diesel Galaxy required a quick sale of £3000. I contacted the seller and ask to confirm that they were selling the vehicle for listed price. After a few e-mails asking for the vehicles details, I undertook an HPI check on the vehicle which stated that the vehicle was not stolen, no HP owed on it etc etc.

I then became very interested. The seller stated that she wanted a guarantee that I could come up with the fund s and she stated that I should send a said amount to YAHOO FINANCE. I e-mailed YAHOO FINANCE. Asking them for there terms conditions which came back very favorable. I spoke to my bank (HSBC) who set up the priority transaction to send to the stated account of Yahoo Finance. Once I sent this to this account needed to take a photo copy of the transaction and send a copy to the seller. The seller would then send the vehicle from Spain to England which would take a maximum of 10 days. The money was being held in the holding account in Spain by Yahoo Finance. The seller sent me a shipping tracking number, which we could track the progress of our vehicle. This went fine stating that the vehicle had been received and was on a ship heading for the UK.  On the 21st May I then received an e-mail from person called "Rudi" who stated that this was a scam. I re-contacted Rudi and he gave me very little information back, other that they would only speak to the authorities as they stated that I could be part of the scam?  I immediately contacted the HSBC who could not help my as the department i required was closed until Monday Morning.

I then contacted Auto trader who took various details from me. I contacted the police and also HSBC again on Monday. HSBC who was not interested in the slightest, all they were interested was to sell me a loan to pay back my parents the two thousand that I borrowed from them.

Since then I have contacted the seller who still contacted us until the desired date of delivery.

I have asked the bank to speak to the bank in Spain to see if we could get our money back or at least if it’s held in this account still but they will not speak to the bank as they stated it was not ethical. I also instructed my bank to ensure that they mark on there system about this fraudulent activity and stop others with HSBC doing the same mistake I made, HSBC was not interested in the slightest. The fraudster according to the internet, using the same name etc every time they undertake this scam.

I have had contacted from the fraud squad and they unfortunately cannot do anything due to the fact this is a fraudulent activity outside this country.

I have found out from the police that some scammers also use Yahoo Finance which does not exist and they would not underwrite this type of finance in any shape or form.

As you can imagine I’m at my wits end and cannot afford to pay back monies to the bank especially for a car which I did not receive.

If  you can highlight this problem on national TV and stop others making the same mistake that I made this would be a mistake with a silver lining.

Many Thanks