Warning, If Selling Your Car!

claire&fred · 08-10-2007, 11:16 AM

We decided to advertise our car in Autotrader as we were starting to have a few problems with it and thought the money would come in handy to pay for our ongoing emigration process.

Advertised it in Autotrader a week Friday. Got an Email Sat morning from a bloke who lived in Ireland, although sounded European. Desperately wanted the car, but due to work commitments, ill health and age could not come and get it personally but would send his PA for it.

He was going to pay us the full asking price and an additional £200.00 so we would not sell it to anyone else. Plus on top of that an extra £5,000.00 which we would transfer to his P/A via Western Union. All of this would be by bankers draft. We thought about it and it all seemed quite genuine. I spoke to my bank who said bankers drafts were fine, just wait for it to clear. Anyway, my mother spent whole week worrying as she had read about this kind of transaction. My sister then looked into bankers drafts and it turns about that thousands are stolen every year. Then had a closer look at Autotrader website who advised this type of transaction is a complete con. Not only do you lose the car but all the money too and no-one helps you get it back. So we sent him an email telling him to get stuffed and have reported it to Met. Police.

Just thought should let you know. We added our email address to advert but have taken it off now.

So be careful. We feel abit stupid now for going along with it but at least realised in the end.

Claire

WAS NOW

maxxangel · 08-10-2007, 11:22 AM

So glad you realised before it went through. I often hear of similar things happening on eBay, which you get warnings about.

jimmyybob · 08-10-2007, 09:16 PM

Its one of the oldest tricks out there similar to the 'accidental' over payments that's just a simple form of money laundering.
If someone cannot be bothered to come and see a car before buying it then let the alarm bells ring.

UK2Perth · 08-10-2007, 09:20 PM

Thanks for the warning! I was saying just today I will have to put my car in the AutoTrader. Cheers!

claire&fred · 08-10-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UK2Perth

Thanks for the warning! I was saying just today I will have to put my car in the AutoTrader. Cheers!

Hi

I sent an email to Autotrader mentioning what happened. They are fully aware of this kind of transaction and advised that they have a specific section regarding this kind of thing. Well when we placed the add we were not aware of any of this. I emailed them back and said that putting it as an additional link was no good, it should be on their homepage.

UK2Perth · 08-10-2007, 09:38 PM

Too right! Glad you mentioned it though and well done you for emailing them back and telling them you reported them to the law LOL :)

EM&M · 09-10-2007, 03:24 AM

This doesnt just happen with cars, at the hotel I worked at we used to get dummy bookings people asking that they wanted to pay us extra money and could we send it to another person. Beware of anyone asking u to do that as normally the card etc they use is stolen and then they get u to pay the extra money to them hense they get money for nowt.

Em x

traybears · 09-10-2007, 11:36 AM

HI CLAIRE,THIS HAPPENED TO US LAST JUNE 06 AND ALSO MY SISTER IN LAW 6 MONTHS LATER.I THINK THEY DO IT TO EVERYONE WITH A CAR ON AUTO TRADER,BLOODY CHEEK!OURS WAS FROM SWEDEN AND TOLD US HE WAS HONEST! WE TOLD THEM WE WEREN'T INTERESTED TOO.APARENTLY I HEARD ITS A NIGERAN GANG BUT WHO KNOWS.I THINK MOST OF US REALISE BEFORE ITS TOO LATE,GUT FEELING AND ALL THAT.TRACY.

gary12 · 09-10-2007, 11:48 AM

CLaire

I had loads of these type of enquiries when I sold my car last year. I also got stacks of phone calls, people claiming to have buyers waiting. I didn't get any genuine buyers fromauto tradeer. I put it on ebay and got a buyer within 4 days, came and looked and put down a deposit then it was gone within the week for bang on what I wanted. I thought it was by far the easiest way to sell my car.

Not sure if anyone is selling their car having previously had it on a payment scheme, I had paid mine off in a lump sum and had written confirmation that I had paid for my car in full yet when buyers were doing a hpi check on it it said there was outstanding finance. Not a major problem, just a hassle that I could have done without.

Good luck

Michelle

Tom the Pom · 09-10-2007, 12:03 PM

This an old con!
They are getting more and more ingenious so beware!!!

Anything that involves Western Union is best avoided - you might as well give your cash away. It used to be the Nigerians but the new Europeans seem to be getting more into it lately.