Supposed e-mail from Bahrain. Internet PI's: Is it legit?
 

A friend of mine is selling a car, there is a supposed buyer in Bahrain. I normally would immediately think scam, but it does seem like a lot of cars get sold to there from the US.

And you'd think that if it was paid by wire, the seller's bank confirmed the wire was cleared, received and irrevocable, that no issues could arise (it's not possible to "reverse" a cleared wire transfer, as far as I know).

The guy supposedly in Bahrain first called, then sent an e-mail.

The e-mail is from [his name]@batelco.com.bh

batelco seems to be a provider serving Bahrain, according to a google search.

The header info from the e-mail:

Received: from batelco.com.bh (cgpfe1.batelco.com.bh [193.188.97.109])
by mx.perfora.net (node=mxus2) with ESMTP (Nemesis)
id 0MKobQ-1KXilU0POu-0003OB

Received: from [89.148.37.189] (account [his name]@batelco.com.bh HELO Bader)
by cgpfe1.batelco.com.bh (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.2.6)
with ESMTPA id 114772866

Does any of that info give any clues?

A search on whois of the IP shows:

Address: P.O. Box 10096
City: Amsterdam
StateProv:
PostalCode: 1001EB
Country: NL

ReferralServer: whois://whois.ripe.net:43

NetRange: 89.0.0.0 - 89.255.255.255
CIDR: 89.0.0.0/8
NetName: 89-RIPE
NetHandle: NET-89-0-0-0-1
Parent:
NetType: Allocated to RIPE NCC
NameServer: NS-PRI.RIPE.NET
NameServer: SEC1.APNIC.NET
NameServer: SEC3.APNIC.NET
NameServer: SUNIC.SUNET.SE
NameServer: TINNIE.ARIN.NET
NameServer: NS.LACNIC.NET
Comment: These addresses have been further assigned to users in
Comment: the RIPE NCC region. Contact information can be found in
Comment: the RIPE database at http://www.ripe.net/whois
RegDate: 2005-06-30
Updated: 2005-07-22

Why would it reference Amsterdam?

I would open an account at a bank other than my regular bank. Have the funds wired to the new, zero-balance account. Wait for the bank to give the "all clear" (preferably in writing), then ship.

Amsterdam could be the location of the host.

Thanks. Having Amsterdam be the location of the host would not be abnormal?

He seems legit. Googling his exact e-mail address shows that it appears to exist and be linked to someone in Bahrain with a name that is roughly similar to his (his name has the extra name "Baden" in it, but I don't know if that means "Mr." or something).

His e-mail also included a Bahrain telephone number, fax number and address, although the address is not exactly formated like ours, it has a "Villa" number, a "block" number and a "Road" number.

But there are so many scams these days, it's hard to ever be really sure.

Amsterdam is the nexus of many scams of all types and sizes, from small-time to ridiculous multi-billion dollar gold and currency "deals".

batelco.com.bh looks like it's just an email host where anyone could get an email account.

The really good scammers are remarkably good at appearing legit.

Looks like you're being skeptical, but it never hurts to be even more skeptical.

He's going to pass, just too risky. The Amsterdam thing is too weird.

batelco.com.bh does, though, appear to be what many people in Bahrain use. And it seems the risk can be limited by keeping to a couple simple rules: Wire transfer has to be received, and nothing, no car, no title, nothing, leaves until it is confirmed cleared by the bank. And no other "weirdness," no paying more than the amount and getting something back, etc.

But all in all, not worth the headache, IMO.

I lived in Bahrain for 5 years and Batelco is the local communications provider.

Doesn't the seller have any other details like address, phone number, anything??
Many addresses in Bahrain are P.O. Box numbers as street delivery and addresses aren't available (or at least they weren't when I was there..which was a while ago).

yeah, there's a p.o. box, a "villa" number, a "block" number and a "road" number.

there's also a telephone and fax number that he can be reached at. googling the numbers shows they are in the right format for Bahrain.

If I had to bet, I would bet that he is legit. I think odds in this instance are he's ok. But it isn't really necessary to do, there are buyers for cars in the US.