Am I being scammed?

[Pig benis]

Hello folks

Okay this is 'car selling' but wasn't sure where to post my question.

I'll keep this brief -

I have advertised my car, no interest for weeks, yesterday 4 people messaged all wanting to buy it. One guy seemed very interested and we spoke on the phone for 15/20 mins. We agreed a price and the chap sent me a £500 deposit via paypal (friends and family).

The chap has never seen the car, apart from the 15 pics on the advert. He didn't want to even drive the car, or view it. I'm currently waiting on my new V5 to turn up, so the chap can't collect the car yet and is totally fine with that.

I have never bought anything unseen and this has got my 'am I being scammed' spidey sense tingling.

Am I overthinking this?

Thanks all
PB

[DuraAce]

Don't let the car go until you get the money. Easy as that really.

I wouldn't accept full payment through PayPal. Cash or bank transfer only for me.

[grudas]

I had similar without issues.

Get paid in cash or preferably thought bank transfer, only let go of the car/transfer keeper when the money is in your account.

simples.

as soon as that is done the car is not your problem.

[Pig benis]

Cool, thanks folks

Yeah definitely won't accept payment via PayPal, but for a desposit I was happy with that. Full payment will only be done via bank transfer, really don't want cash.

Thanks all
Pb

[anonymous-user]

3 of my 4 last cars/ bike I’ve bought without seeing / driving, up to £45k ish.

Don’t worry about it, as you said above just take cash / bank transfer.

[Griff74]

Pig benis said:

Cool, thanks folks

Yeah definitely won't accept payment via PayPal, but for a desposit I was happy with that. Full payment will only be done via bank transfer, really don't want cash.

Thanks all
Pb

I would even go as far as to refund him the £500 deposit back from Paypal and get him to pay the full amount in cash or pref bank transfer and do not let him take the car until your bank confirms the transfer is in your account and unable to be pulled back.

[Angpozzuto]

I'm sure that payments via PayPal friends and family can't be claimed back by the other party

[littlebasher]

Angpozzuto said:

I'm sure that payments via PayPal friends and family can't be claimed back by the other party

Unless paid for with a stolen card

[Pig benis]

Update -

I haven't been scammed. Turns out the buyer was a car dealer and rocked up with a low loader to take the car away.

He was a very nice chap and after googling his garage, he has nothing but 4/5 star reviews. I've actually asked him to look for an e92 M3 for me.

Anyway, we both got a good deal on my car, I got exactly the money I wanted and he paid more than any other garages offered on PX.

All in all, I'm a happy chap

Thanks people for your advice