Am I being scammed ?
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Discussion

robwilk

Original Poster:

818 posts

209 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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Not sure if this is a scam but here is the background story.
On my behalf my daughter-in -law advertised some wheels of mine on gumtree, yesterday she received an email saying that they where driving down from Scotland to the north east of England to buy some wheels and while they where in the area they where interested in mine and offered 60% of advertised price. She relayed they where worth more than that and refused the offer, he came back with a 80% offer which was countered with a 90% price. she had in the meantime gave him my number and address.
Later in the afternoon I received a call saying they where in a town 30 miles noprth and would be at my address in 15 mins, an hour later the guy arrives saying he was actually 5 miles away in the opposite direction he also had a local accent.
He then goes on top say " I have been to the hole in the wall and it will not allow me to withdraw all the cash " so he will pay via internet banking, I dont have such a facility but luckily my son is visiting who has. the guy then goes onto to say I can not be bothered to argue over the 10% so he sends over 100% of the asking price .
Loads the wheels and tyres into his boot and goes.
Everyone happy
this was around 6pm, fast forward to 9.30 and i get a message that they don't fit his car and my ad said they would. I told him the add stated they where from a A6 and an rs4 style le mans wheels the wheel and tyre sizes all mentioned in the ad and that also fit many other VAG cars.
He said that the tyres where too big to fit his a4 and he wanted to return them.
I agreed and at 10.20 last night he turned up with them. My son by this time had left for home and was out with his missus.
I explained this to the guy and he said ok and please refund the money to his account and gave me the details.
I'm fine with this but his continuing changes in stories has me suspicious.
I don't know if internet banking can be reversed and if my son refunds him today the money will disappear from his account on Monday, i feel we should wait until Monday to confirm with the bank the original transfer is genuine then we can refund him.
I cant see how its a scam but thought I would ask on here.
ps I mentioned that he said he was down from Scotland but had a local accent, he said a story of his granny dying and his mum and sister moving to Scotland which to me seems a bit strange did he mean he had been visiting them and was returning home? something just feels strange and I want to make sure my son does not lose out i had a quick look last night and it does not appear that he has swapped a wheel or something but I will check that out today.

Cheers
Rob

stevensdrs

3,264 posts

229 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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If the account he wants the refund to is the same as the one he paid from then I see no problem. If they are different then it is a scam.

tony wright

1,042 posts

279 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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Not sure about the scam, but pretty sure he will collect a few speeding tickets if he can manage 30 miles in 15 minutes

Defcon5

6,470 posts

220 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
quotequote all
Have you got your wheels back, or some that look the same and are worth half as much?

Mabbs9

1,664 posts

247 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
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Defcon5 said:
Have you got your wheels back, or some that look the same and are worth half as much?
This was my first concern too.

robwilk

Original Poster:

818 posts

209 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
quotequote all
They certainly look like mine with the same brand tyres.
I am more worried that my son sends him the money to have the original transfer cancelled.
He can not see the account it came from to check if its the same account, he is going to contact the bank to check its legit.
if it was not for the elaborate story I would not of thought anything of it

robwilk

Original Poster:

818 posts

209 months

Sunday 2nd June 2019
quotequote all
Well it turns out not , my son contacted the bank who thought it maybe money laundering, but after three departments and over half an hour on the phone it turns out it was ok.

Rob