Dodgy buyer?

[Boxermed69]

Not bike-related but I could do with some Trixter wisdom/advice please.

Advertised my car for sale via Autotrader a few days ago. Some fella emailed yesterday to ask some detailed questions, to which I replied. On checking emails when I got up this afternoon I found he'd responded stating that the car sounded good and that he'd like to buy it for the asking price, based on my description and photos! He suggested Paypal and said he'd transfer the funds asap and, once confirmed, he'd arrange for an agent to collect the car. I've asked him to wait until I can phone him to discuss tomorrow. Just not comfortable with this - too good to be true? Am I missing a potential scam here?

Any thoughts/experience/advice welcome. Ta.

Mike

[Merecat]

There is some scam involving Paypal transactions where the buyer pays and then picks the goods up in person and then opens up a dispute claiming never to have recieved the said goods.
The seller cant prove the buyer has recieved the goods, all that can be proved is that money has changed hands. Paypal often will favour the buyer and award the money back.

He then has the goods and the money!!

Not saying that this is the case here, but there are scams about.
I would insist on cash in hand and let him drive it away, or a holding deposit via paypal and the rest in readys

[Blackal]

There is some scam involving Paypal transactions where the buyer pays and then picks the goods up in person and then opens up a dispute claiming never to have recieved the said goods.
The seller cant prove the buyer has recieved the goods, all that can be proved is that money has changed hands. Paypal often will favour the buyer and award the money back.

He then has the goods and the money!!

Not saying that this is the case here, but there are scams about.
I would insist on cash in hand and let him drive it away, or a holding deposit via paypal and the rest in readys

That's more or less it. The other detail is that it is a third party (his "agent") who collects the bike which allows the "purchaser" to claim that he had nothing to do with it.

Sounds like what is happening to you.

Make any potential purchaser bring cash and his passport. take a photo of him and the passport.

Al

[eyore]

Absolutely certain its a scam. Beware.

[McBoxer]

I bought a second hand bike (pedal variety) earlier this year. It was in London, I'm in Birmingham but it was a good price, and exactly what I was looking for (Dahon Jack, if you're interested....).

Unfortunately I was very busy and couldn't 'pop' down to london to collect it, so I offered to pay via paypal and have someone collect it.

I now understand why the seller was so unwilling to proceed this way!

I hadn't heard of this type of scam, but having read this would certainly be suspicious. Ask him where he is and offer to deliver the car personally. If he starts coming up with excuses, walk away

[David_S_Walker]

Hello,

Insist on a PayPal gift which generally is irreversible as long as he is a confirmed user.

I have bought 2 bikes unseen recently, paid through Paypal and had them collected by a Motorcycle delivery service with no problems. Maybe I have been lucky.

The sellers seemed happier to use PayPal rather than give their bank details for some reason.

I also sold a bike unseen to a chap in the west country. He preferred a bank transfer so I has happy with that and I also arranged the courier for him. All went well.

Maybe I have just so far been lucky but whenever you buy or sell there has to be a point at which the seller has the cash and the buyer does not have the vehicle so there has to be an element of trust at some point but it has the potential to go badly wrong..

Just my pennyworth!

Best regards,

David

[tanneman]

Scams like this usually falls flat when you insists on cash when he collects and insist that he collects this in person. F@cking Nigerians.

First of all do not put your email address on autotrader and use their phone number protection service. Interested parties have to phone you to express interest and you can decide for if they are genuine or not. They won't know any personal details of you because the telephone number provided by autotrader goes through an exchange. Now that they have your email address they can locate you via IP address and with a bit of savvy hack the email account to troll through for log in details or sell it on so you will get a sh1tload of spam. Anything from viagra at super low prices, local single mums that needs a f@ck and paypal to tell you your account has been limited so please follow the link.

[bikesnbones]

Not bike-related but I could do with some Trixter wisdom/advice please.

Advertised my car for sale via Autotrader a few days ago. Some fella emailed yesterday to ask some detailed questions, to which I replied. On checking emails when I got up this afternoon I found he'd responded stating that the car sounded good and that he'd like to buy it for the asking price, based on my description and photos! He suggested Paypal and said he'd transfer the funds asap and, once confirmed, he'd arrange for an agent to collect the car. I've asked him to wait until I can phone him to discuss tomorrow. Just not comfortable with this - too good to be true? Am I missing a potential scam here?

Any thoughts/experience/advice welcome. Ta.

Mike

Yeah I had this as well.
Tell him that his agent can pay you in cash when he comes to collect the vehicle, and that you'll meet him inside your bank, where you'll be able to pay the money into your account immediately,
You'll never hear from him again.

[Dezie]

I think quite a few people buy unseen these days. I did it with my R1100s and the man who bought my V-Max did the same.

But as others have said, don't allow payment by Paypal.

Speak to the man by phone (essential), look his name up on Google (my seller and buyer were easily checked out this way) and trust your instincts.

It doesnt have to end in tears.

Good luck

Des

[Blackal]

account to troll through for log in details or sell it on so you will get a sh1tload of spam. Anything from viagra at super low prices, local single mums that needs a f@ck and paypal to tell you your account has been limited so please follow the link.

Can you let me have some more information on the local single mums, please?

Al

[tanneman]

account to troll through for log in details or sell it on so you will get a sh1tload of spam. Anything from viagra at super low prices, local single mums that needs a f@ck and paypal to tell you your account has been limited so please follow the link.

Can you let me have some more information on the local single mums, please?

Al

In Bedford or Edinburgh?

[McBoxer]

account to troll through for log in details or sell it on so you will get a sh1tload of spam. Anything from viagra at super low prices, local single mums that needs a f@ck and paypal to tell you your account has been limited so please follow the link.

Can you let me have some more information on the local single mums, please?

Al

Will Sir be requiring the viagra also?

[slparry]

account to troll through for log in details or sell it on so you will get a sh1tload of spam. Anything from viagra at super low prices, local single mums that needs a f@ck and paypal to tell you your account has been limited so please follow the link.

Can you let me have some more information on the local single mums, please?

Al

Will Sir be requiring the viagra also?

Followed by the contact number for the CSA too ... if the scammers don't take your money they will

[big rob]

[nab 301]

Any thoughts/experience/advice welcome. Ta.

Mike

Can you strap the car to a pallet and i'll send a courier to collect..