Is this a SCAM?
Discussion
So, I am currently selling my Alpina Roadster S. I have advertised it in couple of obvious places in the UK.
However, in the middle of last week, I also advertised on Mobile.de which is Germany’s equivalent of Autotrader.
I did this because I have a close affiliation with Germany, being a dual national, and because I saw how much more these cars are worth there. Nearly DOUBLE….but I still kept the price the same as my UK price i.e. £23500 = c. 27500€.
I got an immediate and massive load of interest with a big number of advert views.
Now, comes the question:
I had a couple of plainly dodgy inquiries which I didn’t even bother to answer. I could just tell by the nature of the ‘German’ being used that these weren’t with genuine intent to buy the car.
However, today and yesterday, I have exchanged a couple of emails with a guy saying he definitely wants to buy it, that he is a car dealer who buys and sells, is prepared to pay the full price without any problem.
He says he also has an agent who can collect the car (once the money has been transferred) and that he will arrange all shipping through Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
I have not spoken to him on the phone.
He wants me to send him my IBAN so that he can “arrange payment with his bank without delay”.
Below is the full transcript of the last emai.
Is this some sort of scam?
Thanks
“ Thank you for your mail. As you can see I'm very ok with the asking price. I buy any type of vehicle from any private individual and resell. You don't have to worry about shipping at all. I have commissioned a freight forwarder who will contact you and pick up the vehicle from you after payment.
Once the total amount has been credited to your account, the transport company Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) will contact you and collect the vehicle from your home or garage and sign the sales contracts on my behalf, without you having to worry about any risk to take care of.
Please send me your IBAN so I can forward it to my bank and make the payment without delay.
Thank you “
However, in the middle of last week, I also advertised on Mobile.de which is Germany’s equivalent of Autotrader.
I did this because I have a close affiliation with Germany, being a dual national, and because I saw how much more these cars are worth there. Nearly DOUBLE….but I still kept the price the same as my UK price i.e. £23500 = c. 27500€.
I got an immediate and massive load of interest with a big number of advert views.
Now, comes the question:
I had a couple of plainly dodgy inquiries which I didn’t even bother to answer. I could just tell by the nature of the ‘German’ being used that these weren’t with genuine intent to buy the car.
However, today and yesterday, I have exchanged a couple of emails with a guy saying he definitely wants to buy it, that he is a car dealer who buys and sells, is prepared to pay the full price without any problem.
He says he also has an agent who can collect the car (once the money has been transferred) and that he will arrange all shipping through Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
I have not spoken to him on the phone.
He wants me to send him my IBAN so that he can “arrange payment with his bank without delay”.
Below is the full transcript of the last emai.
Is this some sort of scam?
Thanks
“ Thank you for your mail. As you can see I'm very ok with the asking price. I buy any type of vehicle from any private individual and resell. You don't have to worry about shipping at all. I have commissioned a freight forwarder who will contact you and pick up the vehicle from you after payment.
Once the total amount has been credited to your account, the transport company Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) will contact you and collect the vehicle from your home or garage and sign the sales contracts on my behalf, without you having to worry about any risk to take care of.
Please send me your IBAN so I can forward it to my bank and make the payment without delay.
Thank you “
First thought it looks like a typical scam.
If you can confirm with your bank that the funds are 100% in your account before you release the car?
With him being a trader does he have a website you can look over to verify phone numbers etc? If so, I would phone him.
If you can confirm with your bank that the funds are 100% in your account before you release the car?
With him being a trader does he have a website you can look over to verify phone numbers etc? If so, I would phone him.
Edited by hunt123 on Sunday 16th July 13:52
99.9% a scam but i know a chap who advertised a Jaf F-type, had an enquiry from cyprus saying he will pay full price etc etc and he did transferred the money and the car got taken away.
Woould be worth speaking to the bank and ask where the money is coming from, if is shows in your account can they claim it back? but caution
Woould be worth speaking to the bank and ask where the money is coming from, if is shows in your account can they claim it back? but caution
I bet it’s the “Shipping Agent Scam”.
You think you have been paid for the car via PayPal plus the agent’s fee, ( the invoices are all fake ).
At the last minute you will be asked to pay the agent up front by bank transfer.
Then it all goes quiet, you still have your car, there is nothing in the PayPal account, the scammer has the agent’s fee.
You think you have been paid for the car via PayPal plus the agent’s fee, ( the invoices are all fake ).
At the last minute you will be asked to pay the agent up front by bank transfer.
Then it all goes quiet, you still have your car, there is nothing in the PayPal account, the scammer has the agent’s fee.
If I was a buyer in Germany I’d be more concerned that you were the scammer offering a car at half its market value.
What are you expecting from a German buyer? You can always ask for some sort of video call, if you want more certainty, but as long as the money is in your bank and can’t be claimed back then how can it be a scam?
I wonder if people on here are just programmed to scream “SCAM!” the moment someone offers to buy the thing they’re selling.
What are you expecting from a German buyer? You can always ask for some sort of video call, if you want more certainty, but as long as the money is in your bank and can’t be claimed back then how can it be a scam?
I wonder if people on here are just programmed to scream “SCAM!” the moment someone offers to buy the thing they’re selling.
garypotter said:
99.9% a scam but i know a chap who advertised a Jaf F-type, had an enquiry from cyprus saying he will pay full price etc etc and he did transferred the money and the car got taken away.
Would be worth speaking to the bank and ask where the money is coming from, if is shows in your account can they claim it back? but caution
Yes, he’s been candid enough to say he buys and resells. And, he could make a decent profit on this in Germany/Europe.Would be worth speaking to the bank and ask where the money is coming from, if is shows in your account can they claim it back? but caution
If Germany, now post-Brexit, he would have to pay 10% import tax and 19% VAT but there’s still comfortably a €10000+ in it . One with higher miles than mine is current on Mobile.de for €44000…another lower mileage one in the Netherlands is €55k.
No courier is going to 'sign sales documents' on a buyer's behalf.
Typical approaches for the scam - the funds come from a cloned card/hacked account, and then get reclaimed once the victim realises - you're out of pocket.
Or, they send you the cash (same issue as above) plus the 'courier fee' for you to pay them. The courier is also part of the scam. So you lose the cash via claw back, but also have paid the courier on top...
Common scam, run a mile.
Typical approaches for the scam - the funds come from a cloned card/hacked account, and then get reclaimed once the victim realises - you're out of pocket.
Or, they send you the cash (same issue as above) plus the 'courier fee' for you to pay them. The courier is also part of the scam. So you lose the cash via claw back, but also have paid the courier on top...
Common scam, run a mile.
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