Are they money Laundering ??

scrouge

Hi, Just need to some advise/insight into a dilemna I am currently in.
Basically I am selling my vehicle via an internet discussion board. The price I wanted was €22,000 ( i live between the UK and Spain) and a buyer has agreed to pay the full asking price.
HOWEVER, he has said he will send me a cheque for €27,000 and I am to then forward the additional €5000 to his shipping agent. His explanation is he is having to pay a 'charge' to his bank for using a EURO cheque...
My problem is this.... Why would he just offer to pay the full price and then ask me to send the €5000 to 'the shipping agent' ???
Obvioulsy I will not be doing this till the money is cleared and available in my account, but is it a scam of some sort?? I am more than happy to send the money to the shipping agent if I am going to get my FULL price for the vehicle but i just feel a bit uneasy about it.
I've read about similar things on Ebay and seem to re-call its all a huge scam?? Any knowledge on the situation would be great.

Bossyboots

This is a classic scam and you should steer clear. How it works is that you pay in the cheque and think it is cleared when the funds become available. You then pay the balance to the agent and several weeks later you are told that the cheque was returned unpaid and you now have to repay the bank. In addition, you will have handed over your car and not have the money for that either.

People get caught because they do not take on board the fact that although the money is made available, it does not mean the cheque has cleared and typically it is about two months later that it is referred back to your bank as unpaid. By that time you have no chance of tracking down the other people (not that you would stand much chance anyway).

skylight

Bossyboots is spot on.

The money only "appears" to clear, but is usually a stolen cheque or draft. The bank will immediately remove the money from your account, leaving you overdrawn if neccessary.

You'll have nothing to show for it and will neve get any recompense.

I had 4 offers like this when I advertised my car for sale - each one got a nice email about filling the car with dog poo before shipping as I believed it would help the interior leather.

Never heard anything back.....strange that!

zodiac

charlotte664 wrote:

I had 4 offers like this when I advertised my car for sale - each one got a nice email about filling the car with dog poo before shipping as I believed it would help the interior leather.

Never heard anything back.....strange that!

Very very strange......

stripeyfox

Don't touch this with a barge pole. There has been a recent case (may be on this site somewhere) about an HSBC customer who fell for a similar scam and even though HSBC staff at her branch told her the money had cleared, the cheque bounced and she was liable for the lost money.
I can't think of any legitimate reason for paying "extra" for an item in order to receive cash in return.

fatboyonadiet

Might be best to do the exchange in a bank, get them to OK the bankers draft and ring up the issuing bank too and get the OK from them as well.

geo555

This is a common scam.
Avoid at all costs. You will end up losing your car and €5000.

SLW_2

Please please please stay well clear of this!! It realy is a scam! Here is some advice that the Metropolitan Police give:

http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/cashback_fraud.htm

Bossyboots

fatboyonadiet wrote:

Might be best to do the exchange in a bank, get them to OK the bankers draft and ring up the issuing bank too and get the OK from them as well.

I'm sorry but that is irresponsible. Others here have pointed out the scam and to suggest getting involved at all beggars belief.

jockettuk

Bossyboots wrote:

I'm sorry but that is irresponsible. Others here have pointed out the scam and to suggest getting involved at all beggars belief.

he was only offering a opinion..it is a chat forum after all

scrouge

I really am not soooo stupid as to believe thats this was a 'simple business transaction', but I did want to know what exactly the scam/plot was!!
AND lo-and-behold today we receive an e-mial stating theres a mix-up with their bank etc... If we could be so kind as to send €5000 to the 'shipping agent' on their behalf we will be re-imbursed in FULL..!!! What do these people think is gonna happen ?? I will gladly hand over my hard earned cash to a complete stranger?? To further 'turn the knife' they signed the email off with.. ' god bless you and keep your family safe'.
I am enraged to think that people are trying to make money by what can only amonut to as STEALING from others, others who have worked and paid their way in life.
Cheers for all the advise/comments it helps to have another persons view on the subject and also to raise it as a definite NO NO for others who are offered such a 'deal'...
Thanks..