Buying a car privately but owner is away, is it dodgy?

[Richard-390a0]

tighnamara said:

0161 5373709 / 0161 3373709 both come up as scam numbers (HMRC / Accident Claim)

BMW selling number on advert 0161 9373709 would point to a scam as others have stated.

You didn't read this bit next to the phone number then... (It's a phone number supplied via Autotrader) https://www.autotrader.co.uk/safety_and_security_c...

Not that I'm saying I'd still think it's suspect with what look like professional rather than private seller potato phone images of their thumb lol

[PurpleTurtle]

I'd run a hundred miles from this, then keep on running.

Am amazed that people will risk this amount of money on a private sale with even a whiff of dodginess.

[robscot]

He who dares Rodders…

I would do it. Too many overly cautious types about

[Muzzer79]

PurpleTurtle said:

Am amazed that people will risk this amount of money on a private sale with even a whiff of dodginess.

This

Especially when there's plenty of others available for similar money at reputable dealers.

[georgeyboy12345]

Petrus1983 said:

blue_haddock said:

I agree, they look pretty good pictures and it looks well cared for.

So why drop £2k straight off before the guy has viewed it.

I don't even think the car is in the UK -





The construction of the car park and buildings behind reminds me of certain parts of Italy - nothing in the UK. Happy to be told otherwise.

That first pic is the Kimpton Clocktower hotel and the second one looks like St James’s Building, both located on Oxford Road in Manchester. Also, it’s often warm and sunny in Manchester, contrary to popular opinion.

[Tiglon]

Just buy the almost identical one with lower mileage in Wrexham from the Toyota dealer and avoid months of worry.

[CheesecakeRunner]

georgeyboy12345 said:

That first pic is the Kimpton Clocktower hotel and the second one looks like St James’s Building, both located on Oxford Road in Manchester. Also, it’s often warm and sunny in Manchester, contrary to popular opinion.

Yeah. Photos have been taken on the roof of the Q-Park on First Street. I use that car park every week for work at the moment. There’s even signs in the lobbies and on all the doors to say photography is prohibited, and given even the Google maps satellite view shows a car being photographed, it’s obviously a regular spot for it.

Car satnav also says Manchester in one picture, and the maps shown is of the area. Lots of foreign residents in the tower blocks nearby.

I don’t think it’s a scam, but I still wouldn’t buy it, as it just screams hassle. Strong chance it’s been bought for a Saudi student to use whilst at uni, given the “KSA” plate, proximity to the unis, and owner leaving the country.

[Megaflow]

I was once told, if there is any doubt when buying a second hand car privately, then there is no doubt.

The only way this could get any shadier is if the car was in Keighley!

[swisstoni]

Personally I’d just say, ‘I’m not in any hurry, I’ll just wait until you get back to the UK’.

And see what the response is …

[K4sper]

Sir Bagalot said:

Last year I sold my Mum's car. A dealer bought it and I did explain who I was and all he asked for was a letter from the owner that gave me permission to sell it. I typed that letter myself and got one of my kids to sign it.

Fraud by false representation contrary to section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006, maximum sentence of 10 years

[parabolica]

mmm-five said:

parabolica said:

Responses here is why I can't sell my car at the moment; I'm currently living/working in Netherlands and my car is stored at my dad's where it is registered and insured. Looking at selling it on as it looks likely I'll be remaining here permanently and importing it isn't worth the hassle, so my dad would have to be my proxy with the seller.

But everyone thinks it is a scam.

Because most of the time it is.

You could change owners to your father so that he can sell it, and you'd no longer have the 'suspicious' out-of-the-country tale to explain.

True. But then it becomes a case of “why are you selling a car you just bought?”

[LayZ]

I would guess not a scam from the description, and the rich student theory is plausible. But as others have said, this is not a rare car, and this could me hassle.

[Road2Ruin]

How many of you would ask to see ID from a person you were buying a car from? In this case they could just of kept quiet and no one would ever have been the wiser. Whilst I am not saying it isn't a scam, why would they bother to make it more complicated?

[Petrus1983]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Petrus1983 said:

blue_haddock said:

I agree, they look pretty good pictures and it looks well cared for.

So why drop £2k straight off before the guy has viewed it.

I don't even think the car is in the UK -





The construction of the car park and buildings behind reminds me of certain parts of Italy - nothing in the UK. Happy to be told otherwise.

That first pic is the Kimpton Clocktower hotel and the second one looks like St James’s Building, both located on Oxford Road in Manchester. Also, it’s often warm and sunny in Manchester, contrary to popular opinion.

Yourself and andberg have both proven I'm incorrect - which is why I love this forum

I'd still walk.

[andburg]

Petrus1983 said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

Petrus1983 said:

blue_haddock said:

I agree, they look pretty good pictures and it looks well cared for.

So why drop £2k straight off before the guy has viewed it.

I don't even think the car is in the UK -





The construction of the car park and buildings behind reminds me of certain parts of Italy - nothing in the UK. Happy to be told otherwise.

That first pic is the Kimpton Clocktower hotel and the second one looks like St James’s Building, both located on Oxford Road in Manchester. Also, it’s often warm and sunny in Manchester, contrary to popular opinion.

Yourself and andberg have both proven I'm incorrect - which is why I love this forum

I'd still walk.

It’s amazing what a few years of Pistonheads secret Santa can do for your sleuthing skills

I’d walk too

[DaveCWK]

I think i'd go ahead OP. I mean if it is a scam I can only see it being a very elaborate way to sell you a stolen car, which seems incredibly unlikely all things considered & very risky for the seller.
There are cars on the roof of that building on google posing for a photoshoot (one looks like a McLaren with the doors up) so clearly a popular spot.

[fourstardan]

Sounds like too much aggro to me.

Also, arabian passport where's he from? Where's he got the car from originally.

Disabled badge yet drives round in this car, hardly easy to get in/out of.

Also, other permutations;

"Brother In Law" turns up, it's not his brother in law but someone car jacking you an hour later.

Edited by fourstardan on Tuesday 14th May 19:29

[Somewhatfoolish]

fourstardan said:

Also, arabian passport where's he from? Where's he got the car from originally.

The numberplate ends in KSA and has the Saudi logo on it.

On that basis I'd assume he's not a thief as he's from a society where that's a great way to get ones hand chopped off. But it's easy for me to say that when it's not my money.

[Pit Pony]

Megaflow said:

I was once told, if there is any doubt when buying a second hand car privately, then there is no doubt.

The only way this could get any shadier is if the car was in Keighley!

I worked in Keighley on the 90s. Has it improved ?

[georgeyboy12345]

Pit Pony said:

Megaflow said:

I was once told, if there is any doubt when buying a second hand car privately, then there is no doubt.

The only way this could get any shadier is if the car was in Keighley!

I worked in Keighley on the 90s. Has it improved ?

Gotten worse if anything