Cash4CarsGB - New Scam

[sash87]

I've got a car on autotrader at the moment and had a text come through from a car buying company called cash4carsgb.com

The car was listed at £3,700 (very fair price) and they offered me £3,650 and asked me to fill my details out online - I did and I had another valuation of £3,650 come through an hour later (they had to do some checks first apparently)

The site states that you book an appointment time and they will arrange for someone to come and collect and inspect the car and then pay cash and drive it away.

I did this and was then asked for a £50 booking deposit to ensure I would be there for a courier, however this could only be paid via uKash (get it at paypoints) and it asked me for a voucher code - credit cards could not be used.

This obviously sent alarm bells ringing and after a few searches I couldn't find their site through Google nor any reviews or testimonials, let alone a forum post from someone who had dealt with them.

So here it is, if you have a message come through from them and are looking for some information on the company they are a scam and should be avoided. The £50 fee will be pocketed and you won't see it again.

Thanks

[T7G]

These voucher scams are becoming increasingly prevalent. My cousin was emailed yesterday about a job offer. All he had to do was send a £50 Ukash voucher code to commence a CRB check.

[bigandclever]

sash87 said:

I've got a car on autotrader at the moment and had a text come through from a car buying company called cash4carsgb.com

The car was listed at £3,700 (very fair price) and they offered me £3,650 and asked me to fill my details out online - I did and I had another valuation of £3,650 come through an hour later (they had to do some checks first apparently)

The site states that you book an appointment time and they will arrange for someone to come and collect and inspect the car and then pay cash and drive it away.

I did this and was then asked for a £50 booking deposit to ensure I would be there for a courier, however this could only be paid via uKash (get it at paypoints) and it asked me for a voucher code - credit cards could not be used.

This obviously sent alarm bells ringing and after a few searches I couldn't find their site through Google nor any reviews or testimonials, let alone a forum post from someone who had dealt with them.

So here it is, if you have a message come through from them and are looking for some information on the company they are a scam and should be avoided. The £50 fee will be pocketed and you won't see it again.

Thanks

Do you not think it's a bit of a leap from 'I couldn't find any info on the internet and I haven't used them' to 'It's a scam'?

[vescaegg]

bigandclever said:

Do you not think it's a bit of a leap from 'I couldn't find any info on the internet and I haven't used them' to 'It's a scam'?

Not in the slightest.

[Deisel Weisel]

Domain registered to someone in Arizona The actual domain owner has chosen to keep their personal details anonymous by registering their domain via this company: https://www.domainsbyproxy.com

Registrant:
Domains By Proxy, LLC
DomainsByProxy.com
14747 N Northsight Blvd Suite 111, PMB 309
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, LLC (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: CASH4CARSGB.COM
Created on: 05-Jul-12
Expires on: 05-Jul-13
Last Updated on: 05-Jul-12

Administrative Contact:
Private, Registration [e-mail]
Domains By Proxy, LLC
DomainsByProxy.com
14747 N Northsight Blvd Suite 111, PMB 309
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
[phone] Fax -- [phone]

Technical Contact:
Private, Registration [e-mail]
Domains By Proxy, LLC
DomainsByProxy.com
14747 N Northsight Blvd Suite 111, PMB 309
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
[phone] Fax -- [phone]

Edited by Deisel Weisel on Monday 9th July 10:50

[mrmr96]

bigandclever said:

sash87 said:

I've got a car on autotrader at the moment and had a text come through from a car buying company called cash4carsgb.com

The car was listed at £3,700 (very fair price) and they offered me £3,650 and asked me to fill my details out online - I did and I had another valuation of £3,650 come through an hour later (they had to do some checks first apparently)

The site states that you book an appointment time and they will arrange for someone to come and collect and inspect the car and then pay cash and drive it away.

I did this and was then asked for a £50 booking deposit to ensure I would be there for a courier, however this could only be paid via uKash (get it at paypoints) and it asked me for a voucher code - credit cards could not be used.

This obviously sent alarm bells ringing and after a few searches I couldn't find their site through Google nor any reviews or testimonials, let alone a forum post from someone who had dealt with them.

So here it is, if you have a message come through from them and are looking for some information on the company they are a scam and should be avoided. The £50 fee will be pocketed and you won't see it again.

Thanks

Do you not think it's a bit of a leap from 'I couldn't find any info on the internet and I haven't used them' to 'It's a scam'?

Seems likely, BUT there's no proof at this point is there? Just circumstantial. Sash, I hope you're not called for Jury Service! lol!

[Alex@POD]

bigandclever said:

Do you not think it's a bit of a leap from 'I couldn't find any info on the internet and I haven't used them' to 'It's a scam'?

That is a bit of a leap, granted. But the fact that the only form of payment is some dodgy voucher method, what else could it be but a scam? If it was legit there would be a credit/debit card option.

Also, if you want them to give you money for your car, why do you have to pay them first?

[bigandclever]

Alex@POD said:

bigandclever said:

Do you not think it's a bit of a leap from 'I couldn't find any info on the internet and I haven't used them' to 'It's a scam'?

That is a bit of a leap, granted. But the fact that the only form of payment is some dodgy voucher method, what else could it be but a scam? If it was legit there would be a credit/debit card option.

Also, if you want them to give you money for your car, why do you have to pay them first?

I agree entirely. Well, up to a point

The 'dodgy voucher method' is a perfectly legitimate business, authorised and regulated by the FSA.

There are reasons PH has a no naming and shaming policy.

[sash87]

Forgot to add, they have badges for The Times, AA and RAC on the site as if to say they are recommended by them. Can find no mention of them on any of those sites.

[McHaggis]

Office address as a FREEPOST address - does not meet UK trading standards. Registered addresses should be shown in full.
Contact number: does not work

A quick google search brings up "scam" questions about this site.

Scam tiddly scam scam scam?

[ExPat2B]

bigandclever said:

Alex@POD said:

bigandclever said:

Do you not think it's a bit of a leap from 'I couldn't find any info on the internet and I haven't used them' to 'It's a scam'?

That is a bit of a leap, granted. But the fact that the only form of payment is some dodgy voucher method, what else could it be but a scam? If it was legit there would be a credit/debit card option.

Also, if you want them to give you money for your car, why do you have to pay them first?

I agree entirely. Well, up to a point

The 'dodgy voucher method' is a perfectly legitimate business, authorised and regulated by the FSA.

There are reasons PH has a no naming and shaming policy.

The voucher is dodgy. If it was a credit card or even debit card, you can open a disputed payment and get almost immediate clawback.

Anytime anyone wants you to pay out side of a credit or debit card it should set alarm bells ringing.

[Alex@POD]

bigandclever said:

I agree entirely. Well, up to a point

The 'dodgy voucher method' is a perfectly legitimate business, authorised and regulated by the FSA.

There are reasons PH has a no naming and shaming policy.

Of course, the method is legit in itself, however its use in this context is dodgy, a bit like western union transfers I guess.

[carl_w]

Address is a virtual office.

[s3fella]

Surely the fact you have your car up privately for 3700 and some traders want to buy it unseen for 50 quid less should have had the alarm bells ringing?

[Justin Cyder]

Got texted by this lot yesterday. They offered £50 below my Autotrader ad price. Logically, knowing that WBAC farm theirs out to auction less their profit, the price is massively unrealistic.

If it looks too good to be true...