Car Selling Phone Scam?

[rocky79]

Hi,

Looking for some opinions on some calls ive had for my car.

I cant quite work out if they are supposed to be some sort of scam.

Call starts normal enough - hi, is the 1 series still for sale. Where are you? then a few general questions about the car. Then they start to say, what offer would you accept if i came tonight to pick it up. Which makes me suspicious, as im pretty sure you wouldn't buy a car without seeing it. So i say well im not going to do deal over the phone, its well priced (which it is) and if you want to see and do a deal we can then.

This bit has been consistent in format across 3 calls. Then they say they a buying for a relative, so far have had a brother who doesn't know much about cars, a sick wife and my younger nephew.

First one was asking about trains to get here and i reckon i was on the phone for 10 mins discussing their situation and him trying to get me to commit to a price.

Thing that is odd, is they are not pushing to accept pay pal or meet in services to do a deal etc etc. So not sure if i have just put them off and not got that far in the scam? Or im being too suspicious.

When I have sold cars before (around 5 years ago) it was usual for people to ask a few questions then arrange a time to come and view if they were interested. few minutes on the phone max. These calls seem to just dance around buying a car but are non committal in coming to view it.

Am i being over cautions. I always think if it sounds dodgy it probably is.

Other thing to add, car was on Gumtree - i didnt get any calls and this started yesterday when i added it to Autotrader for the same price.

[73mark]

Probably people with nothing better to do,like you say quick phone call arrange time get address.

Anything else view with suspicion.

[jonah35]

Times have changed.mpeople want to know how flexible you are on price before they physically view.

If you aren't flexible they will move on to another car.

Not necessarily a scam.

Times have changed and people can shop around more due to the net. I appreciate 5 years ago this was also possible but the way of buying and selling has changed.

[Troubleatmill]

Just steer conversation around:
The price is as advertised. ( Never discount on the phone )
Payment is in cash - where they walk into your local branch - and hand over the cash.
Then you hand over the keys.

[Quinny]

It's a minefield..

Got a car on PH classifieds, and this morning I get an email asking "is this your car for sale??" With a clickable link next to the question...

So I click the link and it takes me to a very close copy of PH classifieds log in page..... And asked that I log in...

Obviously I didnt, but one could easily be misled into putting you're username and classifieds password into the boxes...

I suspect it's a phishing scam....seemed to originate in Germany....but who knows...

Just be careful what you click on and what you reply to...

[M4cruiser]

In this situation I turn it round and say to myself; what would I do here? And I would never make an offer on the phone without seeing the car.

[rocky79]

Thanks all.

Didnt think I was being too cautious.

Just googled all the numbers that have called and they all go to uk-book.info sites made out to look like someones phone book. I'm guessing this is to make it look like a legitimate number.

No wonder webuyanycar and all those sites are doing so well with all these calls and emails going round at least with them you know you are going to get a crap price but its a relatively straight forward transaction.

its right pain the backside with all these calls.

[Quinny]

rocky79 said:

Thanks all.


No wonder webuyanycar and all those sites are doing so well with all these calls and emails going round at least with them you know you are going to get a crap price but its a relatively straight forward transaction.

Don't be so sure.....I started getting loads of spam after I'd been in touch with a couple of the car buying sites......I suspect they sell you're email and phone details on....

[FilH]

Be carefull, had all that talk on phone. Best Prices, buying for my brother.

guy turned up did all the tests drives and normal stuff etc.

Back home on the drive, just as I started to get out of the drivers seat, pulled out and car jacked!


fortunately police found my vehicle several weeks later in a container!

[Rapunzel]

I know where you're coming from. And you have a reason to hesitate. I've read about how car sellers are being targeted by bogus buyers. Even those who placed ads in legit auction sites have contacted, too. Bogus buyers may appear genuine at first, and ask all the normal questions. Some may even lead the victim on by sending a bogus email confirming the funds have been deposited. But don't be fooled. To avoid falling for phone scams, do your research. Look up the buyer's info. Check with other car auction sites and see if anything comes up.

[Rapunzel]

The easiest way to find out is to look up the buyer's phone number at Callercenter.com. The website keeps a record of reported violators, phone scammers, harassing telemarketers and all sorts of offenders over the phone. If the buyer is a scammer, I'm sure you'd get the info from that website.