Selling car privately, scam?

takman

Tarambor wrote: »

"Requested that i pay them with western union So what i will do here is that i will send the payment in the total amount of £3,350.00. So once you receive the confirmation of the payment,you will deduct the promised amount for the item which is £2,800.00 and the remaining £500.00 will be send down to the agent By western union the extra £50 is main for the Western Union charges.."

So the scammers offering to pay you more than the £2800 car. They transfer £3350 to your Paypal account. You then send £550 via Western Union to a third party as agreed "to pay for the fees" which is actually the scammers. They pocket that £550. Then one of their gang purporting to be their agent comes and picks up your car. You're happy, you've got your money, the fees to the agent are paid, all is good in the world.

Except its not. The Paypal payment was made with stolen credit cards or a hacked account. Several weeks later Paypal reverse the payment. You're now £3350 out of pocket and you've also lost your car.

For them at worst they end up with £550, at best they end up with £550 and your car.

That's very unlikely and I've never heard of the scammers actually coming to pick up a car. They would have to give fake details on the V5 and then avoid any ANPR cameras or police on the way back because they wouldn't be able to insure it or tax it without giving out genuine card details and address.

What usually happens is that they just send a fake email to make it look like they have been paid and then ask for western union details.
They do this hundreds of times and every so often someone will fall for it and they get £500.

Marvel1

"He's told me he's on vacation in Germany and he's wanting to buy it for a friends birthday"

Scam straight away, but also adds to by mentioning pick up agent and western union.

Aced2016

Read the first line and didn't need to go any further ? It's a scam, very well known one.

If someone wants to buy your car they will come and see the car and pay you. Don't even reply back.

[Deleted User]

No one will ever be coming for the car. The PayPal emails will be fake and there will be no trace of anything in your actual PayPal account. They get £550 of your money through Western Union and that will be the last you hear of it.

The people on here who actually believe that they will deposit real (stolen) money in your PayPal account and come and collect the car are half way to believing the scam themselves!

Sam_Fallow

Working in Germany, buying for a friend...

Working on oil rig in North Sea, buying for my son...

Serving in armed forces abroad etc. etc. etc.

Korkyb

Methinks MrDereks post is a bit tongue in cheek.


;-)

forgotmyname

MrDerek wrote: »

Thanks for all your great insight, it's so clear.

And now the scammer has your paypal details and im guessing more info about you than you realise.

Seen the recent adverts on TV??

moneysaver

MrDerek wrote: »

How so? care to elaborate?

Check out the grammar for starters.

parking_question_chap

- Tells an elaborate story. Check
- Paypal or western Union. Check

This is a scam.

Ask for Paypal payment and provide an address the other end of the country as a pick up point, though try to make it believable, say you have been sent there with work last miute. Make sure they waste a few pounds getting there, and then ignore all future contact.

Of course dont ever send them any money.

macman

Sorry, but if you even think 1% that that email might be genuine, then you really shouldn't be allowed on the interweb without supervision.
It's got every warning sign going: Western Union... garbled grammar... happy to buy a car in a hurry without seeing it...buying it for a friend...happy to pay the asking price without quibble...
Is you car really so rare and unusual that it merits that kind of response?