Car Offer - Is it a scam?

tmitchell1981

I've got a car for sale on Autotrader for £5595.

Got a text today from a company offering £5345, which I'm thinking is a good offer.

Here is the website: (can't post a link as new user so writing it out - sorry!)

sold-autotrader dot com

They claim that they search out cars they like and buy them and resell on finance deals which is how they make their money. It sounds plausible, but I'm skeptical as I can find no reference to the brand, or company anywhere else on the internet. Also their Facebook and Twitter links don't work. I'm assuming it's a scam but does anyone know for sure?

Thanks.

fivetide

If it walks like a duck....

Scam all the way

SalsaDanca

There few been a lot of scammers using "autotrader" in their domain name. Their sites are quickly reported and closed down, so they just create a new site with a slightly different name. Try searching the forum for ukautotrader scam. "sold-autotrader dot com" was registered a few days ago, on 10th Jan 2013, so it's another scam.

Browntoa

there will be an "upfront fee" lets say £49....then they vanish

vaio

treat them as you'd treat any other buyer....first buyer to pay can have the car.

Gut feel is is dodgy, expect either a seriously low offer or some sort of advance fee deal but, as above, if they come up with an acceptable amount of cash then let them have the car.

edited to add....from their T&C "......We may request a fully refundable appointment deposit......" which I guess translates as "......We will request a £50 or £100 appointment fee which you'll never see again....."



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tmitchell1981

Thanks for the replies.

Yes I think the "refundable deposit" is definitely the key to this scam. I will steer well clear. No pun intended!

Will keep waiting. Not a good time of year to sell a car I think.

hethmar

You have reported this scam to autotrader havent you?

gb12345

The website was registered on 10 January by someone using a proxy service to hide their identity.

The only contact address on the site is a Freepost address.

Definite scam site - report it to autotrader, they will be interested that the site is using their name as part of the scam.