Could this be dodgy

swingaloo2

Wasn't sure where to put this so if in the wrong place would a mod feel free to move it. 
I have a friend who is selling a motorbike. He has had an offer from someone at the other end of the country who is willing to pay the asking price (which is a large sum for someone to buy unseen!) 
.The person says he will pay a 1000 deposit by bank transfer followed by rest mid week and he will then send a courier to collect the bike.
Cant see an obvious scam but I'm always wary and my mate is asking if it's a safe way to sell his bike. Thought I would sound you good people out beforehand as he is also wary and I dont know what to advise. Thanks for reading. 

elsien

Try the motoring bit of the forum?

swingaloo2

Thanks for the reply. I tried on here as it seems to be the busiest part of the forum and to be honest the fact that it is a motorbike is not really relevant, it could be any item at all.  Its just that at nearly 20,000 it's the worry of it being collected by courier which the other guy is going to arrange that really is the worry. 

theonlywayisup

The obvious is that the funds are never really there - the scammer sends an email purporting to be the bank advising of the credit.  Or, the funds are paid in by stolen cheque and although they appear in the account they won't ever clear.  If funds are paid into the account your friend can always check with his account to ask how the funds were deposited.  A cash deposit would be fine and clears as soon as it shows. 

elsien

swingaloo2 said:

Thanks for the reply. I tried on here as it seems to be the busiest part of the forum and to be honest the fact that it is a motorbike is not really relevant, it could be any item at all.  Its just that at nearly 20,000 it's the worry of it being collected by courier which the other guy is going to arrange that really is the worry. 

I was more thinking that they might have a view on how normal that is for a bike transaction. 

swingaloo2

Thank you Elsien, I  hadn't thought of that.

Mojisola

swingaloo2 said:

Wasn't sure where to put this so if in the wrong place would a mod feel free to move it. 
I have a friend who is selling a motorbike. He has had an offer from someone at the other end of the country who is willing to pay the asking price (which is a large sum for someone to buy unseen!) 
.The person says he will pay a 1000 deposit by bank transfer followed by rest mid week and he will then send a courier to collect the bike.
Cant see an obvious scam but I'm always wary and my mate is asking if it's a safe way to sell his bike.

Sounds like the second one described here - www.confused.com/sell-my-car/guides/avoiding-online-car-selling-scams

Marvel1

It's a scam.

Marvel1

swingaloo2 said:

Thanks for the reply. I tried on here as it seems to be the busiest part of the forum and to be honest the fact that it is a motorbike is not really relevant, it could be any item at all.  Its just that at nearly 20,000 it's the worry of it being collected by courier which the other guy is going to arrange that really is the worry. 

Busiser maybe, but if you want the knowledge answer, the motoring board is it.

noitsnotme

If the money does materialise in to the bank account it could be dirty money being laundered.  The first your friend would know would be when the bank closes their bank account.

AskAsk

sounds like a scam.  he could pay from a stolen bank account, which means the money will be recovered.  he could get your bank details to use fraudulently, like setting up direct debits.

i would say no.