Selling my car on Autotrader, had an offer but is it dodgy?

rhionm

Hi

Not sure if this is the right place for this, I have put my car on autotrader and had an email tonight saying this person is very interested etc. I then emailed him more details and now had an email saying that he will send a uk cheque and ask's me to keep the car untill he can get someone to pick it up?

Sounds a bit dodgy but how can i check?

Thanks

Millionaire

rhionm wrote: »

Hi

Not sure if this is the right place for this, I have put my car on autotrader and had an email tonight saying this person is very interested etc. I then emailed him more details and now had an email saying that he will send a uk cheque and ask's me to keep the car untill he can get someone to pick it up?

Sounds a bit dodgy but how can i check?

Thanks

I wouldn't accept a cheque for the car. Most likely fraudulent. considering the person hasn't even come to view the car?

I would only accept hard cash.

rhionm

ye that what seems a bit dodgy, I guess a bankers draft would be ok? They must be quite secure?

Millionaire

I don't think bankers draft are that secure as well. There have been numerous stories of people using fake bankers drafts and walking away with cars.

Someone else with more experience might be able to advise you if bankers drafts are bulletproof.

I would personally only accept cash. why take the risk.

motorguy

rhionm wrote: »

ye that what seems a bit dodgy, I guess a bankers draft would be ok? They must be quite secure?

Bankers drafts can have been stolen and the bank then wont honour them. Happened a car dealer friend of mine.

skylight

This is a well known scam. AFTER the car has gone the bank revokes the cheque/banker draft as they are usually stolen in the first place (hence why they appear to clear). On face value, this appears to be a variation of the one where they send you a cheque for more than the value and ask you to take the car to their shippers and the balance in cash.

Getting these sorts of dodgy stuff via autotrader is common. When I was selling a car I had lots of interest from these sorts of people - and others fishing for car selling business. Steer well clear.

GiveItBack

unless your car is especially rare or wonderfully cheap then really beware of anyone who doesn't come to see it. I've bought and sold a couple in my time, and cash only, cash only, cash only is the rule.

missile

Even a BACS transfer can go wrong. Usual rule is buyer beware but in this case seller beware.

ManBearPig

Sounds very dodgy wouldn't do business with this person

poppycracker

nope, don't touch. Agree with above, cheque will most likely be stolen. Has he said he will give you a cheque for more than you want if you send the rest to his friend via western union so his friend can come pick up the car?

geo555

I am selling my car on Autotrader and I got this email from a fraudster.

Customer Details:
NAME: MR richard anderson
TELEPHONE:
EMAIL: [EMAIL="richardanderson66@yahoo.com"]richardanderson66@yahoo.com[/EMAIL]

Vehicle Details:
MAKE: VOLKSWAGEN
MODEL: GOLF
PRICE: £12000

Message:
Hello,
How are you today and how is life, hope everything is going fine? I saw your advert on the

web about your PRODUCT For Sale and seeing all the deatils make me love this PRODUCT,i am

very interested in getting it, because i need it.If this PRODUCT is still available for sale,please

kindly contact me as soon as possible so that we can make some arrange on how i can get this

product of yours.

Waiting to hear from you soon

Thank you for your time.
Very Respectfully,

Best Regards
richard anderson

He hasn't even bothered to past the details of what I am selling!

The usual trick they play is to send you a cheque/ bankers draft for more than the selling amount. The cheque has to clear within 5 days. He asks you to send the difference to his "Shipping agent" by Western Union. A few days later the Cheque/ draft will be found to be fake and all the money will be taken back from your account.

If someone is buying a car, they will want to view it first.

More info on scams here.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/CARS/buying/forged_bankers_drafts.jsp