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selling a car on ebay - potentially fraudulent buyer??

Hi there,

We have just sold a car on ebay, the buyer turns out to be from Poland. He is telling us to scan him the reg documents so that he can arrange insurance in Poland. Obviously we won't do that and won;t give him any docs until he has paid for the car. He has now proposed that we scan and send him the document now and he pays half now and half on collection. We're not willing to do that either so can we refuse to continue wasting time with him and offer it to the next highest bidder (and how does that work?). He says he needs the registration doc to buy insurance, but as the car has no MOT he wont be able to drive it anyway? Or am I missing something?
Would welcome any advice, thanks.
£2008 in 2008 #113!

£1092 so far...
«1

Comments

  • basilseal
    basilseal Posts: 144 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    What sort of car is it?

    There are reasons why fraudsters want copies of registration documents, they clone legitimate auctions, and copy the phots etc, but put high end cars at ridiculously low prices, when they get a potential buyer, they use copies of the reg documents as a 'convincer' to make the buyer think they have the car and send them the money up frnt.

    They would only really do this on high value cars though, if your car has no mot it's likely it may not be a target for this kind of scam.

    If it's an older car then it's more likely that your buyer is intending to export it to poland and wants copies of the reg documents for a legitimate reason, i can't think of any way he can scam you simply by having a copy of the V5.

    Tell him you would like the car to be paid for in full within 7 days of the auction ending, the best way to accept payment is via bank transfer, rather than pay pal, tell him the car will need to be collected within a certain time as well, if he's still messing about offer it to the under bidder.
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 73,389 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I'm surprised sellers allow non UK bidders on cars frankly?

    Anyway, this is a scam so I personally would be offering a second chance offer now and then on day 7 starting a full NPB on buyer 1.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • jaxster1
    jaxster1 Posts: 135 Forumite
    He has now asked for details to transfer the money in full so that we can scan him the registration document. Does this sound ok to you?

    Also, how do you prevent non-uk bidders? (I didn't list the car, my other half did so I don't know what options there were).

    Thanks for your help.
    £2008 in 2008 #113!

    £1092 so far...
  • Saffronsmum
    Saffronsmum Posts: 423 Forumite
    I wouldn't let anyone outside of the uk bid on a car (if i was selling one),
    I would write to them and explain that a mistake was made when listing and that it should be a uk only auction.
  • davemorton
    davemorton Posts: 29,084 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Car Insurance Carver!
    Although, with the strength of the euro against the pound, there seems to be more European buyers of cars on ebay, especially the more unusual models which are hard to get in their country. An example of this is kit-cars as I believe (but could be wrong) in some countries they are not allowed to build them, but can import them ready built.
    “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”
    Juvenal, The Sixteen Satires
  • payless
    payless Posts: 6,957 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I put an old MG on ebay had a few Dutch people willing to come over to collect!
    as far as Op is concerned - get your money first , then happily send them the docs
    Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as (financial) advice.
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 73,389 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    jaxster1 wrote: »
    He has now asked for details to transfer the money in full so that we can scan him the registration document. Does this sound ok to you?

    Also, how do you prevent non-uk bidders? (I didn't list the car, my other half did so I don't know what options there were).

    Thanks for your help.

    If he sends you a bank transfer wait until the morning after it appears in your account and then phone the bank and ask them if it is completely cleared against fraud. Get them to repeat it and take the name of the person you speak to and then if there are problems later you can correctly point out that you acted on advice from the bank.

    If this is a scammer he may well do a false email trail through a third party along the lines of 'we have received money on your behalf from Mr XX and will release the funds once you ship or provide more info.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • basilseal
    basilseal Posts: 144 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    soolin wrote: »
    I'm surprised sellers allow non UK bidders on cars frankly?

    Anyway, this is a scam so I personally would be offering a second chance offer now and then on day 7 starting a full NPB on buyer 1.

    i really don't think it is a scam you know.

    The buyer wants to send the full amount by bank transfer, the OP will then have both the car and the buyer's money, how will this be a scam exactly?

    Bank transfer is a safe method of payment, and unlike pay pal cannot be reversed weeks later. Frequently, what polish buyers tend to do if they are in the uk is pay the money into their local branch of your bank over the counter.

    I've dealt with polish buyers before on items of agricultural machinery, and i know they are currently buying cars as well, it's the strong euro and weak pound that makes uk items more attractive to them, the only issues i've had are with inadequate collection arrangements, the sending of unsuitable transport etc. but you're less likely to get that with a car, though you may have to wait a while before they come to collect it, so bear this in mind if you have to pay for parking or it's parked on the road and the tax is running out.

    There are reasons that the buyer may need the V5 to arrange to export, and there is nothing he can do to scam the OP if he's got a copy.

    Take his money, he's a rare comodity on ebay motors at the moment, a paying customer, the OP simply needs to exercise a little caution and common sense, but once they have the money confirmed into their account as Soolin says, I can't see a problem, it's the buyer, not the seller, who is taking the bigger risk.
  • jaxster1
    jaxster1 Posts: 135 Forumite
    Thanks for your help basilseal. The only problem we had was with sending him the docs before he had paid us, however he will now pay upfront so we are happy to do this. I think he is in Poland at the moment and will come over and export the car. He is now the one taking the risk, but we're decent people and won't rip him off.
    £2008 in 2008 #113!

    £1092 so far...
  • Ivrytwr3
    Ivrytwr3 Posts: 6,292 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    i personally don't like the sound of this. I'm with Soolin, once the money is in your account, CONFIRM this with the bank and ensure you are clear of any comeback should it later transpire your car has been paid with by stolen credit card etc.
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