Potential text scam for car sellers... anyone else?
Discussion
Has anybody else who is selling their car received a text message similar to the below? I put my car for sale on PH and Autotrader.
Today, I received a text which said:
"Is your Audi A6 3. ... still for sale? I can offer £9745.00 GBP cash and will collect! Visit www.sold-autotrader.com enter PURCHASE ID 668987527 - OFFER ENDS TODAY"
Out of curiosity I visited the web site, which offers a little blurb as to why they are able to offer close to the asking price, because they can make their money on the finance etc. Sure enough, if you enter the above reference, it gives details of your car and asks for a suitable day to collect etc. But then comes the sting... a £60 fee to pay upfront (which is apparently refundable when they come to collect the vehicle and hand over the cash). That is, if they ever turn up to collect the vehicle!
I'm of the frame of mind, that if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. I e-emailed them, so say that I would accept their offer, but was unwilling to make any electronic transactions and asked them to call. I doubt very much this will happen. No limited company details, no VAT number and a PO Box address.
Be warned!
Today, I received a text which said:
"Is your Audi A6 3. ... still for sale? I can offer £9745.00 GBP cash and will collect! Visit www.sold-autotrader.com enter PURCHASE ID 668987527 - OFFER ENDS TODAY"
Out of curiosity I visited the web site, which offers a little blurb as to why they are able to offer close to the asking price, because they can make their money on the finance etc. Sure enough, if you enter the above reference, it gives details of your car and asks for a suitable day to collect etc. But then comes the sting... a £60 fee to pay upfront (which is apparently refundable when they come to collect the vehicle and hand over the cash). That is, if they ever turn up to collect the vehicle!
I'm of the frame of mind, that if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. I e-emailed them, so say that I would accept their offer, but was unwilling to make any electronic transactions and asked them to call. I doubt very much this will happen. No limited company details, no VAT number and a PO Box address.
Be warned!
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