Scam avoidance advice - selling to a Channel Islands buyer..
Discussion
Hi, I am selling my car privately and have had interest from a guy located in the Channel Islands, he's so interested he's coming over to see it on the weekend. Key facts:
1. The car is advertised for ~£17k
2. The guy called from a channel islands number, and has texted me from that same number. (I am aware that this can be faked etc)
3. The guy sounded genuine enough. (but don't they all...)
4. I am a genuine seller, own the car outright & there is nothing wrong with it.
In the past, when I have sold cars privately (for a significant amount), I go to their bank with them, get them to withdraw the money, walk across to my bank and pay it in. The theory being that cash transactions can't be reversed. This however rings alarm bells for the buyer, and the bank, who then tell the police - not that I'm too bothered, as its not illegal. The alternative is to have them pay by cheque, then wait the 7 days for it to fully clear (also irreversible). My question is, either way (cash or cheque), where (if anywhere) is the scam?
I like to believe the best of people, but I also like to keep hold of my hard earned cash!
1. The car is advertised for ~£17k
2. The guy called from a channel islands number, and has texted me from that same number. (I am aware that this can be faked etc)
3. The guy sounded genuine enough. (but don't they all...)
4. I am a genuine seller, own the car outright & there is nothing wrong with it.
In the past, when I have sold cars privately (for a significant amount), I go to their bank with them, get them to withdraw the money, walk across to my bank and pay it in. The theory being that cash transactions can't be reversed. This however rings alarm bells for the buyer, and the bank, who then tell the police - not that I'm too bothered, as its not illegal. The alternative is to have them pay by cheque, then wait the 7 days for it to fully clear (also irreversible). My question is, either way (cash or cheque), where (if anywhere) is the scam?
I like to believe the best of people, but I also like to keep hold of my hard earned cash!
Lee540 said:
Don't need to take a lump of cash from one bank to another, you can do a online cash transfer.
Scams often come in the form of people tampering with the car, for example, squirting oil in the exhaust or coolant bottle, disconnecting a coil pack.. claiming the car is broken and then offering you half of the money.
The problem with bank transfers is that, if the source of the funds are suspect (i.e. identity theft / ill gotten gains etc), the transaction can be traced & reversed, and I am left with no car & no cash. Cash transactions are much harder to trace and reverse (still possible through serial numbers - bank-to-bank... if you pay it in), which is why crim's like cash (not suggesting that I am a crim'!).Scams often come in the form of people tampering with the car, for example, squirting oil in the exhaust or coolant bottle, disconnecting a coil pack.. claiming the car is broken and then offering you half of the money.
Re: tampering with my car - I'll watch 'em like a hawk!
Cheers for the advice, so there is no specific, export-to-Channel-Islands scam I need to be aware of then?
I don’t mind negotiating on price, but any sort of nonsense and I walk away (or rather they do).
I’m not desperate to sell, I just don’t drive it much anymore and its an expensive drive ornament! I’m not planning to replace it with anything. If nobody genuine comes along & offers my bottom line, then I’ll keep it and the wife can drive it.
I’m not desperate to sell, I just don’t drive it much anymore and its an expensive drive ornament! I’m not planning to replace it with anything. If nobody genuine comes along & offers my bottom line, then I’ll keep it and the wife can drive it.
darreni said:
I live in Guernsey & due to limited local choice, I've bought most of my cars from the mainland, as have a lot of friends.
I usually agree a deal over the phone, subject to any pre purchase inspection, they fly over & collect.
Fair enough. I’m sure this guy is genuine, i just didn’t want to be caught out by a scam that everyone knew about but me!I usually agree a deal over the phone, subject to any pre purchase inspection, they fly over & collect.
I’d never heard of a log book loan before i bought a car without the V5 (it was only a coulpe of hundred quid for a kit car donor, and they had a receipt from when they bought it, and i did a hpi check on it). Then someone told me that it was ‘common practice’ for scumbags to take a loan out on the car (which don’t show up on hpi checks), and then flog it quick. As it turns out, its fine, but you don’t know what you don’t know!
darreni said:
I live in Guernsey & due to limited local choice, I've bought most of my cars from the mainland, as have a lot of friends.
I usually agree a deal over the phone, subject to any pre purchase inspection, they fly over & collect.
Fair enough. I’m sure this guy is genuine, i just didn’t want to be caught out by a scam that everyone knew about but me!I usually agree a deal over the phone, subject to any pre purchase inspection, they fly over & collect.
I’d never heard of a log book loan before i bought a car without the V5 (it was only a coulpe of hundred quid for a kit car donor, and they had a receipt from when they bought it, and i did a hpi check on it). Then someone told me that it was ‘common practice’ for scumbags to take a loan out on the car (which don’t show up on hpi checks), and then flog it quick. As it turns out, its fine, but you don’t know what you don’t know!
darreni said:
Gavia said:
What would you do if you didn’t have a lot of friends?
Sorry, it's been a long day and I lack the capacity to understand your comment, could you explain it for me?Either that or an “I” has been read where no “I” was written...
darreni said:
Gavia said:
What would you do if you didn’t have a lot of friends?
Sorry, it's been a long day and I lack the capacity to understand your comment, could you explain it for me?Either that or an “I” has been read where no “I” was written...
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