Can't get my head around this... Scam?

[pejay]

Hi,

I'm in the process of selling a motorbike (~£9k) and have been contacted by a Ducati dealership in Germany with 3000+ positive feed back on eBay.

The guy wants to pay now via IBAN and collect the bike in 2 weeks time - brilliant.
I contacted the bank, in terms of safety with IBAN apparently they can reclaim the funds up to 24hrs after it's shown up in the account - however this guy is paying me 2 weeks before collection so no problem there.

Before he pays, he wants an invoice with reg plate, frame number and... here's the kicker, the milage - except he wants me to lie about the milage on the invoice and put 4200miles instead of the correct 2400miles.

Should I be worried? I can't for the life of me work out why he'd want that.

Thanks!

[deveng]

My first thought was that 2400 is 4200km but 2400 miles is about 3800 km so not that....

I'd be very cautious.

[MrLou]

Knowing little about bikes, does that kind of mileage make much difference in £££ (or, rather €€€) ?

[texasjohn]

Possibly something to do with import tax or German VAT on 'nearly new' vehicles vs 'not quite nearly new' I would guess, but it's only a guess.

[hornetrider]

Is he avoiding some import taxes perhaps?

[pejay]

deveng said:

My first thought was that 2400 is 4200km but 2400 miles is about 3800 km so not that....

I'd be very cautious.

He specifically said 4200 miles, and even clarified miles.
He also said the invoice *must* say that, it's important.

[Quinten]

Could it be that, once in Germany he could then sue you for misrepresentation, and then somehow get the IBAN reversed? Sounds really, really, weird though

[balders118]

texasjohn said:

Possibly something to do with import tax or German VAT on 'nearly new' vehicles vs 'not quite nearly new' I would guess, but it's only a guess.

I'd have thought this too

[busta]

Maybe he's planning to ride it home and take in some of southern france on the way, then sell it as just traded in?

Sounds a bit dubious to me. Say you are uncomfortable with changing the milage and see how he responds.

[bozmandb9]

pejay said:

Hi,

I'm in the process of selling a motorbike (~£9k) and have been contacted by a Ducati dealership in Germany with 3000+ positive feed back on eBay.

The guy wants to pay now via IBAN and collect the bike in 2 weeks time - brilliant.
I contacted the bank, in terms of safety with IBAN apparently they can reclaim the funds up to 24hrs after it's shown up in the account - however this guy is paying me 2 weeks before collection so no problem there.

Before he pays, he wants an invoice with reg plate, frame number and... here's the kicker, the milage - except he wants me to lie about the milage on the invoice and put 4200miles instead of the correct 2400miles.

Should I be worried? I can't for the life of me work out why he'd want that.

Thanks!

Has he asked you in writing to lie about the mileage? If he's just asked you over the phone, it could be that he's going to subsequently claim for his money back against you on the basis that you lied about the mileage on the invoice?

It seems unlikely though, if he's such a highly rated ebay merchant. Is the transaction though e-bay? Will he explain to you why he wants you to to this?

[texasjohn]

Quinten said:

Could it be that, once in Germany he could then sue you for misrepresentation, and then somehow get the IBAN reversed? Sounds really, really, weird though

Good point, better to be cautious.

[Simond S]

ringer already in place?

[pejay]

My only thought was that he has no intention of buying my bike but rather wants the frame number etc to register a stolen bike (that has 4200 miles) in germany and once I send him this invoice i'll never hear back from him.

He has a *lot* of positive feedback on eBay though and seems very legit.

[LukeBird]

Ask him.
If he can't come up with a suitable response, walk.

If it's not for a 'nearly new' type import tax, then I have no idea!

[pejay]

bozmandb9 said:

Has he asked you in writing to lie about the mileage? If he's just asked you over the phone, it could be that he's going to subsequently claim for his money back against you on the basis that you lied about the mileage on the invoice?

He's asked me via SMS so I have a copy.
Also, my photos on the ebay advert clearly show 2400 miles.

[tim0409]

Not sure about the mileage bit but I sold my Street Triple to a dealership from Holland - thought it was a scam at first but they paid a week before collection (checked with bank so that it could not be reclaimed)then a driver turned up with a truck full of bikes all destined for Holland as bikes are much dearer there.

Why not suggest to him that you leave the mileage blank on the invoice.....

[pejay]

tim0409 said:

Not sure about the mileage bit but I sold my Street Triple to a dealership from Holland - thought it was a scam at first but they paid a week before collection (checked with bank so that it could not be reclaimed)then a driver turned up with a truck full of bikes all destined for Holland as bikes are much dearer there.

Oddly enough I sold a Triumph Speedtriple to a guy from Holland about a year ago!
He paid cash though so was a bit easier

[redstu]

A strange Request, as as
already posted I'd ask him why , preferably by email.
Also does anyone know how easy is it to import bikes to holland? I wouldn't mind a sideline business shipping them from North Shields!

[Steffan]

I have sold my last four kit cars Banham X21. Porsche RSK, Midas Gold, Porsche copy on Volks chassis to buyers from Europe.

I collect kit cars mainly unfinished, build em up, get bored, buy another currently seven cars in bits.

All paid absolutely top money all turned up all collected NO TROUBLE.

if you get the money before you release the car AND TAKE IT FROM THE BANK the transaction CANNOT be reversed.

There is something about the registration of cars in the UK and taxation of cars in Europe that is affecting the demand.

Better men than I may be able to explain it but I think its genuine.

[adamfogerty]

When I sold my 911 every step of the process screamed scam at me:

The guy was in Hong Kong and was interested in having it shipped over.

Said he would pay via bank transfer.

Wanted me to collect his son from the train station to come inspect the car.

Drew up a lengthy (5 pages!) contract of sale, including every conceivable detail about the car - and even my passport number.

Wanted the price in the contract to be less than the price we agreed (supposedly to avoid import duties).

I went ahead regardless of the warning signs.

Outcome: I got my money and he got his car. Both him and his son were thoroughly nice chaps too

(this was over a year ago now).

While you're right to be cautious, it may be legitimate.

Thanks,

Adam