Query about a private car sale (something fishy).....
12 December 2013, 10:31 AM
#1
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Query about a private car sale (something fishy).....
Need some advice as I've not come across this before.
Wifey is selling her car on Pistonheads.
We've had a prospective purchaser agree the price (without testdrive - not unheard of, but certainly weird imho).
She's said that a "pick up agent" will collect the car on her behalf......
WTF is this? Never heard of it.
She's also asked to pay by Paypal - which I'm not prepared to entertain. BACS transfer or cash to bank and deposit. I've replied, giving her the option to pay via my preferred methods, so we'll see if its a scam of some sort.
I've got my suspicions tbh, but I don't know whether or not they're founded yet....
Advice?
Wifey is selling her car on Pistonheads.
We've had a prospective purchaser agree the price (without testdrive - not unheard of, but certainly weird imho).
She's said that a "pick up agent" will collect the car on her behalf......
WTF is this? Never heard of it.
She's also asked to pay by Paypal - which I'm not prepared to entertain. BACS transfer or cash to bank and deposit. I've replied, giving her the option to pay via my preferred methods, so we'll see if its a scam of some sort.
I've got my suspicions tbh, but I don't know whether or not they're founded yet....
Advice?
Last edited by ScoobyDoo555; 12 December 2013 at 10:35 AM.
12 December 2013, 10:45 AM
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You will never hear from 'her' again if you won't go the PayPal route. 'She' wants to pay via PayPal so 'she' can recall the transaction after collecting your car saying that the goods were never sent. PayPal will only honour the transaction if you sent the goods recorded to the address on the PayPal account hence they refund them.
Sometimes they don't even collect the car they just scam you for the incidentals like transport costs!
Typical scam and happens over and over!
Never release a car without the money being safely and irreversibly in your bank!!
Sometimes they don't even collect the car they just scam you for the incidentals like transport costs!
Typical scam and happens over and over!
Never release a car without the money being safely and irreversibly in your bank!!
Last edited by f1_fan; 12 December 2013 at 01:01 PM.
12 December 2013, 10:48 AM
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Is the 'buyer' abroad or working somewhere they can't get out of.Oil rig,ship etc?
If so.................................SCAM!!!
If so.................................SCAM!!!
12 December 2013, 10:51 AM
#4
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You've confirmed my suspicions tbh.
And exactly the reason why I won't use paypal.
I'd given "her" the option of cash on collection or BACS transfer.....
As you say, I'll be surprised if I hear from "her" again.
The story is "recovering from surgery"....
Thanks
Dan
And exactly the reason why I won't use paypal.
I'd given "her" the option of cash on collection or BACS transfer.....
As you say, I'll be surprised if I hear from "her" again.
The story is "recovering from surgery"....
Thanks
Dan
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12 December 2013, 12:59 PM
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I've had someone agree a price before seeing my car (Discovery), that travelled a long way to see it. But insisted on cash on collection subject to test drive.
Had lots of similar offers to have the car 'collected' too!
Had lots of similar offers to have the car 'collected' too!
tempting though it is
12 December 2013, 02:53 PM
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I went through with one of these to the point of the paypal payment. Guess what? It was a fake paypal email! They didn't even actually send me the money!!
12 December 2013, 03:37 PM
#12
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i tried to sell a car early last year (pistonheads autotrader) and every (and I mean every) response were variations on the same theme, as described above
Last edited by hodgy0_2; 12 December 2013 at 06:41 PM. Reason: Spelling etc
12 December 2013, 08:08 PM
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Selling a car is easy providing you accept direct payments or cash on collection....it's finding an honest buyer thats the issue.
I sold cars through Gumtree and never had any scams but never used Pistonheads.
I sold cars through Gumtree and never had any scams but never used Pistonheads.
12 December 2013, 08:16 PM
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I've gone further with this kind of scam before and it usually ends with them wanting you to send money to the 'collection agent' and them saying they'll add it to the paypal payment.
12 December 2013, 10:35 PM
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It isn't just cars either. A few years ago my wife was selling our sailboat and had someone contact her saying they were an oceanographer and currently at sea. They wanted to buy the boat as a surprise for their father.
They said they could only do paypal as they did not have internet banking.
Umm, yeah, right. You are going to buy a sailboat, sight unseen, and want to pay by PayPal. Good luck with that!
They said they could only do paypal as they did not have internet banking.
Umm, yeah, right. You are going to buy a sailboat, sight unseen, and want to pay by PayPal. Good luck with that!
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