Where is the scam here?
Discussion
My dad has found a car he wants to buy on our local gumtree.
Its a 2012 Audi worth about £20k. The advert is quite poorly written, and the only picture posted was from google, and appeared to be an image from a approved dealer, photoshopped onto a background to give the appearance it was parked outside a house. However, the price it was posted for sale at was £20k - so not like a normal scam where they attempt to draw you in with an attractive price.
A bit weird from the offset, but I knew nothing about it at this point and if I had been would've said to forget it if I had been.
Anyways, he has agreed on a part ex with his car with the seller via text and emailing photos etc. The only thing is, the total value of the part ex deal works out about £6 - 7k short of the audis value if sold for full price. Hence seeming too good to be true.
We have the reg, pictures of the car that were later sent via email. and will be HPI-ing later, and viewing this afternoon. But the concern is, where could the scam be? Swapped plates, so check VIN on chassis and documents?
The seller is also conveniently moving halfway across the country tomorrow, adding to concerns / pressurizing a sale.
Any advice appreciated.,
Its a 2012 Audi worth about £20k. The advert is quite poorly written, and the only picture posted was from google, and appeared to be an image from a approved dealer, photoshopped onto a background to give the appearance it was parked outside a house. However, the price it was posted for sale at was £20k - so not like a normal scam where they attempt to draw you in with an attractive price.
A bit weird from the offset, but I knew nothing about it at this point and if I had been would've said to forget it if I had been.
Anyways, he has agreed on a part ex with his car with the seller via text and emailing photos etc. The only thing is, the total value of the part ex deal works out about £6 - 7k short of the audis value if sold for full price. Hence seeming too good to be true.
We have the reg, pictures of the car that were later sent via email. and will be HPI-ing later, and viewing this afternoon. But the concern is, where could the scam be? Swapped plates, so check VIN on chassis and documents?
The seller is also conveniently moving halfway across the country tomorrow, adding to concerns / pressurizing a sale.
Any advice appreciated.,
All the usual checks apply.
Full, proper HPI needed, enter the doc numbers as well as the reg.
Car could be stolen, it is registered in the name and address of the seller, if not why not
Is the car, the car the reg suggests it is (as you suggested check the VIN)
Is the house/owner the type of house/owner to have a £20k Audi for sale
Both keys, old mots, full service pack (check vin number in service book matches)
Full name and address proofs of the seller, utility bills, passport etc, (of their new address as well as the existing)
It is very unlikely to bag a bargain these days in a private sale, as any private seller can just ring up we buy any car and pretty much get 90% of what they would achieve in a private sale. (A £20k Audi would be in the sweet spot for WBAC)
Don't pay CASH !!!! - bank transfer, draft cheque etc, at least gives you some traceability if all the above checks fail.
Good luck !!
Full, proper HPI needed, enter the doc numbers as well as the reg.
Car could be stolen, it is registered in the name and address of the seller, if not why not
Is the car, the car the reg suggests it is (as you suggested check the VIN)
Is the house/owner the type of house/owner to have a £20k Audi for sale
Both keys, old mots, full service pack (check vin number in service book matches)
Full name and address proofs of the seller, utility bills, passport etc, (of their new address as well as the existing)
It is very unlikely to bag a bargain these days in a private sale, as any private seller can just ring up we buy any car and pretty much get 90% of what they would achieve in a private sale. (A £20k Audi would be in the sweet spot for WBAC)
Don't pay CASH !!!! - bank transfer, draft cheque etc, at least gives you some traceability if all the above checks fail.
Good luck !!
paul1087 said:
the only picture posted was from google, and appeared to be an image from a approved dealer, photoshopped onto a background to give the appearance it was parked outside a house.
To go to all this trouble rather than take a photo with one's mobile should be all one needs to walk away, IMO.Sheesh.
There is no car.
They will ask you to pay a deposit to secure the car and arrange for an agent to do the deal with you. You pay deposit and they vanish. it's that easy.
They're not interested in your part ex. If they get a few quid out of you and a couple of hundred other people then it's not a bad pay day.
There is no car.
They will ask you to pay a deposit to secure the car and arrange for an agent to do the deal with you. You pay deposit and they vanish. it's that easy.
They're not interested in your part ex. If they get a few quid out of you and a couple of hundred other people then it's not a bad pay day.
Laurel Green said:
paul1087 said:
the only picture posted was from google, and appeared to be an image from a approved dealer, photoshopped onto a background to give the appearance it was parked outside a house.
To go to all this trouble rather than take a photo with one's mobile should be all one needs to walk away, IMO."Please text as work full time" eh? You are trying to sell a 20 grand car and you don't have any time to talk to sellers?
There is no description in the AD.
That's not the actual car, probably not the actual house. Chances are the address you go to won't be the address of the seller or registered keeper.
Who ever heard of private seller giving you part-ex , let alone over the odds part ex?
Looks highly suspect to me
There is no description in the AD.
That's not the actual car, probably not the actual house. Chances are the address you go to won't be the address of the seller or registered keeper.
Who ever heard of private seller giving you part-ex , let alone over the odds part ex?
Looks highly suspect to me
Save Ferris said:
A 'J' turn would be more appropriate!Appreciate all advise so far.
Clearly he wont be giving anyone any money, deposits or otherwise over the phone / internet e.t.c
I have seen plenty of car scams over the years and pretty familiar with the various types of con out there, this one just seemed different. Have googled the phone and email as suggested by others and nothing has come up.
The photos that have been emailed, apparently because he struggled to upload to gumtree seem genuine and a viewing is arranged for this afternoon.
It seems 80% dodgy, 20% possibly genuine.
My main concern or thinking was that.....
The seller (if real!) is not very good at using the computer, couldnt manage to upload his photos to the site and found a google image and used that instead.
He said he wants a part ex to downgrade his car and free up some cash
The emailed pictures all seem genuine and were dated by a time stamp from the camera for the time and date as requested from us showing interior, exterior and mileage and clocks.
We'll go check it out, and if we get kneecapped / our car stolen and left in the rain, I'll let you all know!
Clearly he wont be giving anyone any money, deposits or otherwise over the phone / internet e.t.c
I have seen plenty of car scams over the years and pretty familiar with the various types of con out there, this one just seemed different. Have googled the phone and email as suggested by others and nothing has come up.
The photos that have been emailed, apparently because he struggled to upload to gumtree seem genuine and a viewing is arranged for this afternoon.
It seems 80% dodgy, 20% possibly genuine.
My main concern or thinking was that.....
The seller (if real!) is not very good at using the computer, couldnt manage to upload his photos to the site and found a google image and used that instead.
He said he wants a part ex to downgrade his car and free up some cash
The emailed pictures all seem genuine and were dated by a time stamp from the camera for the time and date as requested from us showing interior, exterior and mileage and clocks.
We'll go check it out, and if we get kneecapped / our car stolen and left in the rain, I'll let you all know!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff