Selling used car online, pitfalls?

maninthestreet

Parisien wrote: »

Ok, so I need to do what now to check? Or other things to consider to be sure its from them?

Ask for a scan of the photo page of his passport, to prove he is who he says he is?

Parisien

Well, I have a photo of him and other details off another site plus other details ( which confirm both his and wifes name on transfer) and it seems to be a very elaborate hoax if so! Chatting bank now.......they said if any fraudulent activity I'm insured by the BoE!

motorguy

laidbackgjr wrote: »

They will have paid with someone else's bank account! That's why it's fraud and in the case of fraud the money will be removed from your bank account.

So lets get this straight -

A scammer on the UK mainland has gained illegal access to another persons account. At very least full internet access, but presumably name, address, account number, login name, password and date of birth.

So rather than move / withdraw the money in some handy way, they decide to search for a car in Northern Ireland, risk paying for it with a bank transfer - which would normally instigate a security check of some sort - text or call to the account holders mobile or home phone, then arrange to have the handover done, ID and documents produced (which i take it they'd have to have had forged) and they then drive off in the car.

All of this over a matter of days and without the account holder or bank noticing the fraudulent activity.

Then to cap all that, subequently the fraud is discovered and the supplying bank then tries to take back those funds from an innocent private seller?

Is that what you're saying then?

motorguy

Parisien wrote: »

Well, I have a photo of him and other details off another site plus other details ( which confirm both his and wifes name on transfer) and it seems to be a very elaborate hoax if so! Chatting bank now.......they said if any fraudulent activity I'm insured by the BoE!

You've been more than cautious.

I've sold various cars to people on the mainland and it does happen quite regularly.

Certain cars make less here than in other places, and vice versa. A friend of mine from Slough regularly buys M3s and R32s from over here and drives them back.

Hoof_Hearted

Is the buyer Nigerian....(ducks).....?

motorguy

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Is the buyer Nigerian....(ducks).....?

Indeed.

O/P - was this the photo he sent you?

Hoof_Hearted

Serious questions to ask:

Would any serious buyer buy a car unseen?

If it's not a huge amount of money, why can't it be paid cash on delivery?

Can you trust some bank underling who tells you that a bank transfer can never be reversed even in the event of fraud? Is the transfer from a foreign bank where the rules may be different?

I don't know if it's a scam but tread carefully.

Always worth reading Honest John:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/accepting-payments/

ballyblack

Buying from a reputable dealer Yes!

A private person NO!

Hoof_Hearted

I don't agree with this. I have bought cars privately before, but you need to do your homework and judge the person as well as the car.