Am I about to do something stupid?
Discussion
I have seen threads of scams before from foreign buyer/shipping companies etc normally involving bank transfers or bankers drafts, but wanted to make sure I wasn't being stupid or missing something
I have agreed to sell my car to a man in Scandinavia.
A deposit for the car has been received.
A representative of the shipping company is coming to collect the car.
I was offered a bank transfer or cash. I chose cash.
The representative is paying cash.
I have advised the shipping company that I want them to put the cash into my account whilst i am at the bank with them, as I wouldn't be happy that i could confirm all the cash genuine on my own.
I have advised the car will only be released to them once the cash is in my account and confirmed by the bank.
I have written a receipt confirming the vehicle details, the buyer, the seller and that the vehicle has been collected and paid for by the shipping company on behalf of the buyer.
Anything I have missed?
I have agreed to sell my car to a man in Scandinavia.
A deposit for the car has been received.
A representative of the shipping company is coming to collect the car.
I was offered a bank transfer or cash. I chose cash.
The representative is paying cash.
I have advised the shipping company that I want them to put the cash into my account whilst i am at the bank with them, as I wouldn't be happy that i could confirm all the cash genuine on my own.
I have advised the car will only be released to them once the cash is in my account and confirmed by the bank.
I have written a receipt confirming the vehicle details, the buyer, the seller and that the vehicle has been collected and paid for by the shipping company on behalf of the buyer.
Anything I have missed?
Edited by Snails on Wednesday 23 July 00:22
What car is it? Or more importantly, does it stand out as something odd to be in demand in Sweden.
Most of the story isn't going to be too strange, but the "shipping agent" part is ringing alarm bells.
If the agent somehow forgets and accidentally brings a banker's draft, with the "well, I'm here now, might as well pay this into the bank and make sure they are happy" then you know it's a big scam.
Most of the story isn't going to be too strange, but the "shipping agent" part is ringing alarm bells.
If the agent somehow forgets and accidentally brings a banker's draft, with the "well, I'm here now, might as well pay this into the bank and make sure they are happy" then you know it's a big scam.
I live in Scandinavia and have got a few cars from home (UK) via RoRo boats but never used an agent..
Im suprised the buy is using cash, its a pretty much card / bank transfer economy over here (Finland).. but trust is a two way street.
Get the bank to validate the cash is real at the desk, it take them longer than just counting it in n check later.. but get it checked there n then.
Im suprised the buy is using cash, its a pretty much card / bank transfer economy over here (Finland).. but trust is a two way street.
Get the bank to validate the cash is real at the desk, it take them longer than just counting it in n check later.. but get it checked there n then.
TheEnd said:
What car is it? Or more importantly, does it stand out as something odd to be in demand in Sweden.
Most of the story isn't going to be too strange, but the "shipping agent" part is ringing alarm bells.
If the agent somehow forgets and accidentally brings a banker's draft, with the "well, I'm here now, might as well pay this into the bank and make sure they are happy" then you know it's a big scam.
It is a Clio V6, none of which were sold in Scandinavia. It was me that approached the seller. They placed a wanted advert. Most of the story isn't going to be too strange, but the "shipping agent" part is ringing alarm bells.
If the agent somehow forgets and accidentally brings a banker's draft, with the "well, I'm here now, might as well pay this into the bank and make sure they are happy" then you know it's a big scam.
I have made it clear to the company collecting that I will only accept cash at the bank and will only release the car when it is in my account. The company the buyer is using appear from their website to specialise in imports from Japan and the UK.
With regards to the use of cash, I was given the option of payment via bank transfer.
Edited by Snails on Wednesday 23 July 00:34
CampDavid said:
lamboman100 said:
Call or visit the Swedish Embassy in London and ask their thoughts.
Err, what?If the OP is polite / patient / persistent, the Swedish Embassy (or whatever country it is) should be able to give at least basic info on how cross-border car trades work and whether this might be a scam.
I don't think the Swedish Embassy is going to be much help. If it is a scam, the SFO would be a better bet.
Alternatively, if we knew the shipping company's website address we could unleash PH's crack sleuthers on the case. By tomorrow afternoon, we'll probably know what size shirts the director wears.
FWIW, given that a) the OP solicited the buyer, b) the buyer is interested in a particularly rare car - not exactly low-hanging fruit, c) the shipping agent has gone to the extent of making a website that presumably(?) looks legit and d) there's apparently no objection so far to a cash payment, I reckon it might actually be genuine (as in gfunk's case above).
If not, rather excitingly, the OP may be the first victim in a brand new highly-targetted low-production-car-enthusiast scam, run by a vicious Scandinavian rear-engined-hatchback-driving mafia cell
Alternatively, if we knew the shipping company's website address we could unleash PH's crack sleuthers on the case. By tomorrow afternoon, we'll probably know what size shirts the director wears.
FWIW, given that a) the OP solicited the buyer, b) the buyer is interested in a particularly rare car - not exactly low-hanging fruit, c) the shipping agent has gone to the extent of making a website that presumably(?) looks legit and d) there's apparently no objection so far to a cash payment, I reckon it might actually be genuine (as in gfunk's case above).
If not, rather excitingly, the OP may be the first victim in a brand new highly-targetted low-production-car-enthusiast scam, run by a vicious Scandinavian rear-engined-hatchback-driving mafia cell
Cunning Punt said:
Alternatively, if we knew the shipping company's website address we could unleash PH's crack sleuthers on the case. By tomorrow afternoon, we'll probably know what size shirts the director wears.
No-ones allowed to do any sleuthing anymore, amateur or professional......it's in the new t&csWe had this with an old jet ski. Some polish dude bought it from the advert on eBay. Payment terms were cash on collection only. His 'shipping agent' rocked up in a van with trailer with a whole load of s
t going to Poland. Apparently that's what he does - drive back and forth between the 2 countries with stuff. He unloaded everything from pots/pans to clothes and toys from his trailer into the yard. 4 of us manhandled the jet ski into the trailer after he gave me cash for it. Then he spent nearly an hour working out how to pack everything around the ski! Apparently the shipping agent carrying cash is quite common according to the chap there.
t going to Poland. Apparently that's what he does - drive back and forth between the 2 countries with stuff. He unloaded everything from pots/pans to clothes and toys from his trailer into the yard. 4 of us manhandled the jet ski into the trailer after he gave me cash for it. Then he spent nearly an hour working out how to pack everything around the ski! Apparently the shipping agent carrying cash is quite common according to the chap there.+1 for the above. I sold a Montessa Trials bike to a Polish guy on ebay, same terms. Cash and collection, only about £1000 though.
He rocked up about 11pm in a 3.5 T box van loaded with every man-toy you could think of. Quads, Motocross bikes, Trials Bikes, a few mountain bikes and bmxs.
Paid in 20s and went on his merry way. Told me in broken English there is a massive demand for this type of stuff on the continent and he has a shop in Poland.
Comes to the UK once a month to stock up!!
Not everyone is a Robbing Bast**d
He rocked up about 11pm in a 3.5 T box van loaded with every man-toy you could think of. Quads, Motocross bikes, Trials Bikes, a few mountain bikes and bmxs.
Paid in 20s and went on his merry way. Told me in broken English there is a massive demand for this type of stuff on the continent and he has a shop in Poland.
Comes to the UK once a month to stock up!!
Not everyone is a Robbing Bast**d
MrDan said:
+1 for the above. I sold a Montessa Trials bike to a Polish guy on ebay, same terms. Cash and collection, only about £1000 though.
He rocked up about 11pm in a 3.5 T box van loaded with every man-toy you could think of. Quads, Motocross bikes, Trials Bikes, a few mountain bikes and bmxs.
Paid in 20s and went on his merry way. Told me in broken English there is a massive demand for this type of stuff on the continent and he has a shop in Poland.
Comes to the UK once a month to stock up!!
Not everyone is a Robbing Bast**d
Lots of UK Trials Bikes end up in Europe. Market over there is more expensive than the UK and bikes aren't RHD!He rocked up about 11pm in a 3.5 T box van loaded with every man-toy you could think of. Quads, Motocross bikes, Trials Bikes, a few mountain bikes and bmxs.
Paid in 20s and went on his merry way. Told me in broken English there is a massive demand for this type of stuff on the continent and he has a shop in Poland.
Comes to the UK once a month to stock up!!
Not everyone is a Robbing Bast**d
My Integra got sold to a chap in the Cayman Islands. Emailed through PH, ended up chatting on the phone and got the money transferred directly into an old account of mine. Drove it to North Weald, signed some paperwork and got an email a couple of weeks later saying the car had arrived and he was thrilled to bits with it.
Strange sale mind, never felt right driving to an airfield to drop a car off and just assuming it would arrive somewhere else in the world sometime later!
Strange sale mind, never felt right driving to an airfield to drop a car off and just assuming it would arrive somewhere else in the world sometime later!
ikarl said:
Cunning Punt said:
Alternatively, if we knew the shipping company's website address we could unleash PH's crack sleuthers on the case. By tomorrow afternoon, we'll probably know what size shirts the director wears.
No-ones allowed to do any sleuthing anymore, amateur or professional......it's in the new t&csThanks ikarl, I hadn't noticed that.
Snails said:
Anything I have missed?
Don't be too surprised if the shipping agent wants the full V5, not just the buyer's slip. That's legit; some European licensing authorities need the whole thing for re-registration (the foreign authority is then supposed to send the other bit back to DVLA once re-registration is complete). Thanks for your assistance everybody, it has put my mind at rest. I will let you know how it all goes, they are due in the next 30 minutes. The buyer had given me a heads up about needing the full V5C. There is a small section on the form to send off if car is being permanently exported.
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