Am I being scammed by a buyer for my car?

Hoof_Hearted

This smells mighty fishy to me. 247 seems like a finance compay offering car loans. Why would they be interested in buying your car? Motor mart appears to be an online platform for the trade to advertise cars, like autotrader. It doesn't add up. Somebody offering a price without seeing the car is also rather unusual. I would leave it but then I am a very risk-averse person.

elop_htuos

Yes, well I did consider this. Why wouldn't the person just get onto auto trader themselves, acquire a loan & purchase my car that way.. I may call up 247 finance myself & ask them maybe if they have any additional info. I'm not stupid & it would really annoy me if this was a scam as this car is paying my uni fee's!!!

He said he would need a scanned copy of the log book and something to prove its my bank account before payment & a scan copy of either my cheque book or paying in book to prove its my bank account.. Just seems stupid.

Weird_Nev

Them sending someone by train also smacks of them forcing you to rush the deal. Are they expecting that person to drive the car away later? Can htey give you details of this person? will they have ID?

It's your car, and you do not have to sell it to anyone you don't want to. Whilst it seems like bad business to turn down a potential buyer, if things aren't feeling right, it's for a reason. I've binned off people on the phone before now, if they're asking all the wrong questions and give the impression of being grief to deal with. Just say "I don't think this is the car for you" and hang up on them.

elop_htuos

Weird_Nev wrote: »

Them sending someone by train also smacks of them forcing you to rush the deal. Are they expecting that person to drive the car away later? Can htey give you details of this person? will they have ID?

It's your car, and you do not have to sell it to anyone you don't want to. Whilst it seems like bad business to turn down a potential buyer, if things aren't feeling right, it's for a reason. I've binned off people on the phone before now, if they're asking all the wrong questions and give the impression of being grief to deal with. Just say "I don't think this is the car for you" and hang up on them.

Yes, they said the driver will bring plates for the car as I brought it to their attention that the vehicle is currently registered as SORN.

elop_htuos

I also called up trading standards to seek some advice.. The woman advised me that it does seem legitimate with the information I gave her.. But I'm still curious..

worried_jim

Unless they are carrying cash walk away.

Toxicity

I know there are some finance companies out there that will arrange your finance then let you pick your car from literally anywhere, then they arrange the sale. Wasn't aware they did this with private sales though.

I don't see how a wad of cash (that some/all of could potentially be fake, as unlikely as that may be) is sooo much safer than a bank transfer, that has been confirmed by online banking and/or by the bank over the phone.

If you want to get super paranoid about it, there is no real safe way of selling a car privately to an individual.

Maybe I am just naive, but I would be just as happy with a bank transfer as I would cash. Perhaps OP you could ask them to bring some company headed paper work with their details on, name/address etc? Have you tried looking the company up online and calling them to confirm? Perhaps have a friend with you too, if you decide to go ahead.

spacey2012

The tale will grow legs and start to walk, he will transfer the money and then his mother gets run over by a steam roller whilst he is on the train, they ask you to refund and for your trouble sirs you keep 40%.
You start thinking of ways to spend your fortune when the phone rings and the bank tells you the international money order has been withdrawn due to account fraud and you think of how you are going to tell your wife you have just given a scammer 60% of the asking price from your own bank with your own money.
Then you start looking for something to put over your head.

EdGasket

eh? My head hurts already; what was that last post about?

I would check with 247 finance that the person coming is really from them. They are a finance company; they don't buy cars. Maybe some scammers are trying to just get your bank details like with those spam emails. How do they know they even want the car without seeing it? Tell them to bring cash and you will go to the bank with their 'driver' and pay it in then hand over the keys.

Do post what happens but definitely call 247 finance; I bet they deny any knowledge of this.

elop_htuos

EdGasket wrote: »

eh? My head hurts already; what was that last post about?

I would check with 247 finance that the person coming is really from them. They are a finance company; they don't buy cars. Maybe some scammers are trying to just get your bank details like with those spam emails. How do they know they even want the car without seeing it? Tell them to bring cash and you will go to the bank with their 'driver' and pay it in then hand over the keys.

Do post what happens but definitely call 247 finance; I bet they deny any knowledge of this.

Yes, I will make sure I let you all know after your helpful advice on this! I'm going to call 247 Finance and ask if they've any knowledge of the guy I spoke with... Then I'll call Motor Mart and ask them.. After that I'll contact the person who wants to 'purchase' the car and inform them I will only be accepting a cash payment for the vehicle and be putting it in my bank before I hand over any keys for my vehicle!
I've even sent auto trader a quick e-mail to ask of their knowledge, just incase they're aware of any scams of this sort.

Thanks for your advice everyone. I'll let you know the outcome tomorrow