23 replies to this topic

[MotorBoatMyGoat]

I had a similar situation when selling a car on auto trader. The email started the same and asked for further info, photos etc but said they were working On an offshore oil rig. A few emails were exchanged and he told me that he would need to pay by bank transfer and needed all my details as he wanted to buy the car. I was concerned at this point as who the hell pays for a car without viewing it first (sorry if anyone reading this has). I asked how would the car be collected, he replied that his friend would collect it. I asked why couldn't his friend bring cash to which his response was that wasn't possible. I knew at this point it was very fishy and did a little research on the net....turns out that It was a scam and people had fell for it and been robbed blind.

cash on collection my friend eveytime

[Ben_O]

I recently bought a car blind and actually gave the seller a very similar story.

 

I was away, looked on line and saw a car going cheap so i phoned and asked if i could send someone along with a deposit which i did and then paid the rest and collected it when i got back.

 

However, that was a cheap car, there is no way i would buy a more expensive car without personally driving it, checking it over thoroughly and having a cup of tea and a chat with the owner before parting with any cash. 

 

Same goes for when i sell a car. I do hate it when people ask to test drive my car and then get arsey when i ask to see proof of cover. I have lost a few sales doing that but rather that than loosing the car after an uninsured driver crashes it.

[MotorBoatMyGoat]

True, but you phoned and sent someone with a cash deposit. When I asked about cash with the person collecting I was told it wasn't possible. Also the email responses I got very generic and didn't answer my questions properly.

Most are genuine buyers, but if it seems dodgy better to be safe than out of pocket.

[Jedi Master]

It really annoys me that there are still soooo many people around trying to rip people off through scams like this. Am glad your savvy stopped you getting caught, shame that there are those that fall foul of this sort of thing!

[jerrum]

i had some one try to do this to me before but when i was looking to buy

[jon_barnes77]

Well, she's now sold, but I felt terrible!!

 

Back story:

Last June in the MOT, i had a big fall out with my local garage for doing sloppy work, I'd spent an hour in there fixing my own car!!??

So, they'd fit a new exhaust manifold, and smothered it, where it joins to the back section, in exhaust sealant. it was a mess, so i refused to pay them for any of the work.

 

So, last friday night, this guy seems happy with the car. When he came to drive her away, he stalled (as I think everyone does when drive a new car for the first time).  And as he did, the exhaust fell off!!! ARGHH!!!

 

Luckily it was right outside my house, but it was chucking it down with rain, I managed to get the car into the garage and re-attached the clamps, all sorted. I gave him a bit of money back to get it checked over by his local garage to make sure it doesn't happen again. 

 

I don't think I'd have bought a car who's exhaust fell off.

 

She's a good car, bit's have never fallen off her. I'm so angry, again, with that incompetent mechanic!!

 

Anyway, I told him he should join the forum as you're a good bunch. 

[Jase71]

Terrible when things like that happen, I was once selling an American dayvan, the buyer turned up cash in hand, I started it up and the water pump promptly failed dumping water everywhere..... the buyer walked away.

[Jamie1991]

still for sale?

[jon_barnes77]

Yep it's sold now.