PaulC72

maybe he wants to check how a C5 can be worth 30k...

joking aside it sounds like all that information could be used to clone a vehcile or get a replacment V5 document, maybe once he gets it he'll pop up and trailer it back...

Boro

iTrader: (1)

Emails? Really? You're selling, sorry marketing a 30k car and communicating by email?

Get on the phone and you'll have a much better idea of whether he's scamming you or a genuinely geeky OCD buyer!

It's not rocket surgery!

Saxo Boy

He hasn't given me any contact information like that (in fairness I haven't asked). Personally, as a buyer I'd be well pissed off with someone that isn't content to communicate by email and whom demands to be phoned.

I hate talking about car things on the phone because I do not have enough time to process what I'm hearing and prepare my next line of questioning. Inevitably you come off the phone with a million unanswered questions.

You got to love the scoobynet critics. No matter what you do, you are doing it alllllllllllllllllllllllll wrong.

Leslie

I really could not be bothered to worry about it.

Just tell him what he wants to know about the car, can't see it doing any harm.

Les

Saxo Boy

Just thought I would provide an update on this thread.

As you all know, I ignored my first instinct and provided all the details (and then some) to the interested party. Never heard from him again

Yesterday, I got an email through the ad on Autotrader and noted this copy (which must be automatically added by AT):

Please note this e-mail is from an interested customer not from Auto Trader.

Never reply to an e-mail that asks for personal information or copies of your vehicle documentation including the V5C. Keep vehicle documentation and details regarding your vehicle including your VIN number secure at all times.

If you are in doubt regarding an e-mail you have received, report it immediately to enquiries@autotrader.co.uk or call us on 0845 345 3450.

The following customer is interested in the vehicle you are advertising on
http://www.autotrader.co.uk

Autotrader have obviously identified this as a serious enough issue that it merits warning customers. Interestingly, this new person that emailed me has launched into the same routine saying stuff like, "I am 90% coming to buy your car" followed by, "can you scan the V5 for me, the bank won't give me a loan without it", etc.

IMHO do NOT give out any V5 information to strangers.

I realise this is contrary to the general opinion in this thread. However, as far as I am concerned if someone is serious about buying a car from me then they will take the time to come and inspect it and carefully pour over the paperwork in person. Alternatively, they will at the very least take the time to develop a good relationship with me via email/telephone before asking for such details.

90% sure my uncles car is being cloned as we speak....heed these warnings

mart360

And ?? have you still got the car? then no loss has occured.

so i fail to see what your so concerned about.

if you think there going to pinch the car, and use the cloned data to dispute ownership, then welcome to what the rest of the world lives with.

At the end of the day, whether you give it or not, your details, data, etc, are all available if you know where to look.

What worries you so much about cloning?

I had a bike on incorrect plates before (dealers fault lol) the only loss i incurred was when it was pinched. but as it was on incorrect plates, it was seen and stopped, and recovered

Lets be honest, mateyboy could have rocked up, taken all the details from you face to face, fcked off, and you could never see him again!!!

Thats happened to me loads of times, and ive done the same on several cars ive seen. But when your talking about a 2 hour plus drive to view a sellers interpritaion of immaculate, or full service history (overnight lol), then it becomes a bit of a joke, hence obtaining as much info up front.

I got the same email from autotrader when selling a £500 diesel. lol


Mart

Saxo Boy

Did you not stop to wonder why an established market leading company like autotrader is warning every customer about such practices.

To be honest, I don't know which way the data is being misused, but it must be getting misused somehow. You can do what you like, but I'm not giving out such information freely any more. Further, based on this thread, my own findings, and thoughts and feelings, I would recommend that others are careful about what information they give to any old tom, dick or, harry that emails asking for it.

SiPie

Agree with Kenny on this one and surely even the thickos on here can appreciate that because Kenny is marketing the car for his uncle, he will be extra cautious and rightly paranoid.

Si

mart360

Agree what you like guys, anyone daft enough to scan and send the V5 is asking for trouble. lol


Then again, asking for

Reg No,
Mot Cert No,
Vin No,

Before viewing any car, is a must

lets say I drive for 3 hrs and rock up cash in hand to look at your car, and by obtaining an HPI check before hand based on the Reg No, find that the vin number of your car dosent match.

Apart from being well p*ssed off, im then 6 hours of my time and fuel down, would you offer to pay my fuel bill to get home, because your info was incorrect?

Yet if id had all this info up front, you could have corroborated it, from your docs, and potentially saved me a wasted journey,and spotted that there was a discrepancy on the vin.

At the end of the day its down to personel choice on what you give out, but dont be surprised if more and more people ask for this sort of info up front.

Mart