Day 19 - Arrival in Sydney

We started even earlier than normal this morning, Doug was up and about by 7.30 and begrudgingly I got up too. Thankfully, the early hour meant that the crazy woman was nowhere to be seen - possibly this is why Doug was up and about so early. No breakfast, we just packed the tents after showering and scarpered out of there, having filled Doug in on the escapades of last night we joked for a while about the crazy lady. Doug had ingeniously 'locked' his tent using string and a penknife to ensure she couldn't get at him during the night. We knew we were within a days drive of Sydney, and that tonight we would be in beds again - bliss. Despite much experience between us of camping we were both very glad for it to be over, perhaps we're getting too old for it? I remember the days of camping 12 nights in a row at festivals with no hesitation or worry, and being perfectly refreshed from it. Now I was getting up and stretching out sore and stiff muscles every morning.

We hit main roads all day today, and I spent much of the journey communicating about the car. Last night I'd accepted an offer, and had advised the potential new owner that as soon as the money had arrived by paypal I would remove the advert from Gumtree, but until then I would actively try to sell it. In the morning, he had responded that he would need my help to pay the shipping agent, as he didn't have a credit card on his oil rig.... hmmm suspicious. However, I responded to say that as long as I was paid upfront I would have no problems doing this for him. The next email had both of our alarm bells ringing.

"Paypal said they will not release the fund until you email them the western union details for verification,and also to enable my pick up agent to come for pick up and inspection."

I have never heard of Paypal doing this before, and Paypal had not sent me any notification emails. Or had they? I checked my spam box - which Google happily sorts out for me.

Subject: Western Union Details Needed For Accreditation Of Your Account
From: service@paypal.com.au (onlinereviews@consultant.com)
Message:

Dear rob.kenefeck@gmail.com,

Hi my name is Mary and its my pleasure to assist you.

The buyer's account has been debited and your account has been scheduled to be credited.
You will receive a confirmation from PayPal after sending out the amount tagged 'PICK UP FEE.
You are 100% save and protected by PayPal,the total sum of $5,050AUD is scheduled and ready to be credited to your account.
This is also to notify you to go ahead with the transfer of $950AUD at post office and email us the details from western union.This is done to protect both buyers and sellers.
The whole fund has been debited from the buyer's account but was placed on hold and will be credited to your account as soon as you transfer the excess fund meant for the agent.
Get this done so that we can credit your account immediately.

Now this is stinking more and more of Paypal fraud. Especially when Google highlights for me the address the email has come from is not where it says it is. Thanks Google!

I reply to the anxious buyer, who has contacted me again. I warn him that I am waiting for Paypal to confirm authenticity, he replies:

i am getting worried here as my account has been debited and i have not heard anything from you after sending the payment.you can email paypal to confirm this as i emailed them and i was made to know that the money was placed on hold and your account will only be credited after transferring the money via western union and send the details to them for verification.i was also made to belief that it's done that way to protect both buyers and sellers.i'm sorry for any inconvenience this might have caused you.thanks always for your understanding.

At least it seems to be a real person typing these emails - which is handy. However, I am not convinced. especially as the official notification from Paypal is telling me their customer service team will not understand the payment number as it uses a different system and that to confirm everything I should reply to the email.... that I already know is fake!

We eventually stop for lunch, and I call Paypal. They are able to 100% confirm they don't provide this sort of service and I ask if it would be beneficial to forward the emails onto the fraud team for them to investigate. They agree this is a good idea and we're all done. The emails are forwarded, and immediately Paypal return telling me its a fake. I inform the buyer of my findings, and have heard nothing further from him.

With that buyer out the way, I move to the next - this time someone in Malaysia who will be shipping the car. Alert for a similar scam, I advise her when I agree to the sale that I will not be making any payments to shipping agents or spending any money of my own to do anything for her. She accepts this and understands, and then proceeds to use nearly the exact same scam! It comes from the same dodgy address, asks me to do the same sort of things and of course is complete rubbish. I give up on a overseas bidder - they offer the full amount for the car and would save of rego issues, but as we are now well versed in their scams it just isn't worth my time to let them get so far. I am almost tempted to send them a faked Western Union request, and get them to pay a fee for it, but once again - its not worth my time or effort and we get back to enjoying the drive. We've had a couple of calls and texts from people actually in Sydney who want to look at the car, so we will hold out for them, and arrange viewings for tomorrow afternoon.

As we reach Newcastle, I tell Doug to drive into the city and give us a chance to see it instead of just driving past. We still have plenty of time to drive the final 200km to Sydney, even if it is already 3.30pm. After parking up, we have a couple of options. I loved Newcastle when I was here before, and walked round it many times so suggest a few different routes. Picking one, we head along the inner harbour wall. I'm able to regale (read: bore) Doug with random facts and anecdotes from my time here and eventually we decide to stop from some refreshments at one of the harbourside pubs. With the sun starting to dip to the horizon, we force ourselves to move on, despite the allure of the barmaid asking if we want another round.

I take the wheel, and immediately ignore all signs and directions as I drive us along a cliff edge route out the city, avoiding the traffic surely heading for the big city and also giving us some great views of the coast line. The sunset promises to be breathtaking as we make our way toward Sydney, but much of it is blocked out by the big imposing rock cuttings the highway takes us through, its breathtaking to look at, knowing how much rock must have been blasted out to make way for this road. Certainly a very impressive entry to Sydney. Arriving in the suddenly confusing and narrow streets which still make up the main road in, we decide to ignore all signs again and head for the harbour bridge. It means paying a toll, but will at least give us the touristy joy of going over an iconic bridge. Somehow, Melbourne's Westgate Bridge just doesn't conjure up the same feelings.

We have decided to stay in the Kings Cross area of Sydney, despite being the infamous red light district, its a vibrant and busy place for backpackers and I'm able to recommend a really good hostel that I'd stayed at before. We drive in, only making 1 wrong turn from my memory which is easily corrected. Unfortunately the backpackers we wanted, The Jolly Swagman has no spaces (nor any parking spots nearby!) but they recommend their sister hotel just up the road. We decided on a parking spot first, and trawl the area, eventually squeezing into a multi-story which by our reckoning should be 2cm to small for us to fit in, but we still manage it anyway. Car parked securely we head over to the hostel - they have space. Just for 2 nights for the 2 of us and its the last spaces, so we take it - not considering at the time we actually have arrived a day earlier than scheduled and so need 3 nights before Doug leaves.  Once we've checked in and made our beds, we head down to the city centre - to a cinema. We've been deprived of technology for so long, and are too tired to go out and party or lose money in the hostel poker tournament - but can just about manage a walk into the city and some big comfy chairs with a good film. We arrive well after the film should have started, and have a few problems with buying tickets but make it in all the same and the trailers haven't even finished yet. The popcorn stand has closed, but I get some jelly snakes for dinner choosing them because we're so disappointed that there haven't been any snakes on the journey!

After the film, we return to the hostel, stopping in a lively Irish bar for a nightcap. Its full of revellers and great to watch all the interacting people - but definitely feeling old I call it a night and Doug follows. Either this travelling has messed up my party vibes or I'm getting too old. Its only 1am, but sleep comes very quickly.