Is this a scam?
Discussion
I,m selling my car and have advertised on pistonheads and an EVO forum.
I have had a call from a guy in Malta who wants to buy the car for rallying, sounds genuine enough, however i have been given the now almost classic story of 'A work collegue will come and pay and collect the car' to which i replied it sounds like a scam and am very dubious.
He has haggled over the cost of the car without seeing it (i,m ok with that as i have given a good description and am a known member on the Mlr forum and the cars history is known well there).
Anyway his English partner phoned today and again sounds genuine, he said that he is happy to take me into his bank and collect the bank draft right there in front of me.
I have been given both guys websites (the Maltese guy is a vehicle exporter) and the Enlglish guy has a car sales buisness,the draft will be from the English guys sales account.On their sites all names and phone numbers collaborate.
He doesnt want to do a cash withdrawel as its a large amount of cash and tbh neither do i.
He does not want to do a chaps transfer as he says it leaves him at my mercy, especially if the car is not as described.From his point of view he could pay the money in and i could tell him to f
k off.
So could the draft be fake/stolen or otherwise fradulent?
Tbh who ever buys the car off me is going to have the same problem. i dont want cash, i worry about a draft and i can understand why they wouldnt want to do a transfer.
I have had a call from a guy in Malta who wants to buy the car for rallying, sounds genuine enough, however i have been given the now almost classic story of 'A work collegue will come and pay and collect the car' to which i replied it sounds like a scam and am very dubious.
He has haggled over the cost of the car without seeing it (i,m ok with that as i have given a good description and am a known member on the Mlr forum and the cars history is known well there).
Anyway his English partner phoned today and again sounds genuine, he said that he is happy to take me into his bank and collect the bank draft right there in front of me.
I have been given both guys websites (the Maltese guy is a vehicle exporter) and the Enlglish guy has a car sales buisness,the draft will be from the English guys sales account.On their sites all names and phone numbers collaborate.
He doesnt want to do a cash withdrawel as its a large amount of cash and tbh neither do i.
He does not want to do a chaps transfer as he says it leaves him at my mercy, especially if the car is not as described.From his point of view he could pay the money in and i could tell him to f
k off.So could the draft be fake/stolen or otherwise fradulent?
Tbh who ever buys the car off me is going to have the same problem. i dont want cash, i worry about a draft and i can understand why they wouldnt want to do a transfer.
Edited by m3jappa on Thursday 26th March 18:39
I would like to see it written out by the bank.
I dont think cash is an option, its £17000 which i dont want to be carrying about and i doubt if he does either, i am also sure its not legal to deal in that amount of cash due to money laundering laws iirc.
I doubt hes going to let it clear into my account as i could just fk off with the money, i wouldnt want to hgive someone a draft on the condition of it clearing first as technically a draft is as good as cash (or so they say)
I dont think cash is an option, its £17000 which i dont want to be carrying about and i doubt if he does either, i am also sure its not legal to deal in that amount of cash due to money laundering laws iirc.
I doubt hes going to let it clear into my account as i could just f
k off with the money, i wouldnt want to hgive someone a draft on the condition of it clearing first as technically a draft is as good as cash (or so they say)Newc said:
Maybe this? Have him check the car with you, when he's satisfied drive to the bank in the car with him and all the paper work. He does a CHAPS transfer in front of you and you give him the V5 and keys in the bank.
Thats sensible and what i think i,m going to suggest, only downside is it can take a few hours to go through iirc?I recently sold my M3 to someone from Holland. I got similar story and immediately thought scam etc. as he haggled without seeing it and asked me to drop it off at another place where they would pay me and export the car.
The place was local and I was going that way anyway so went along with it. Turned out to be completely legit and his friend handed me the cash which was promptly banked with no problems at all.
I would judge it on the emails, i.e. is he actually asking about the car or the standard scam generic questions?
The place was local and I was going that way anyway so went along with it. Turned out to be completely legit and his friend handed me the cash which was promptly banked with no problems at all.
I would judge it on the emails, i.e. is he actually asking about the car or the standard scam generic questions?
I thought drafts can be resinded afterwards, even after it has cleared... Im sure I heard someone talking about a similar scam on the MX5oc forums yonks ago.
About someone who sold his BMW was handed a bankers draft and it was resinded afterwards... I cant remember the details entirely, I may even be wrong... lol
About someone who sold his BMW was handed a bankers draft and it was resinded afterwards... I cant remember the details entirely, I may even be wrong... lol
Scraggles said:
if the bank draft is written out in front of you by the bank, then should be safe, if the buyer hands u the draft in the bank, then it is simply a nice piece of paper
Even if the draft is written in front of you it can bounce.The bank may write against an account that has funds, but if they are false funds it will bounce. Also, if the guy in Malta says he didnt give permission for the draft (if it's real) it may also bounce.
Cash all the way. No way you can go and get the car back!
shirt said:
as long as the funds clear in your bank before you give him the car, then i don't see why not. if they want the keys on giving you the bankers draft then no. always see the money in your account first.
DO NOT DO THIS!!A lady friend of mine (who is admitedly possibly the stupidest stupid person I know) agreed to take a £3000 payment for her dishwasher which was up for £200. The Nigerian fellow told her that he could pay her £250 for it if she would cash his cheque and send him the ballance. She obliged, the bank paid the cheque into her account, 5 days later is showed on her account as cleared funds. She went to the bank, asked the teller if the funds were 'clear', she was told they are, then withdrew the ballance of £2750 and sent it via Western Union Moneygram to some guy in Nigeria. Another 5 days later, the bank rang her to say that the cheque had bounced, she was -£2500 in the red, and would she like a loan to pay them back
:Yes she is the most stupid person in the whole world - ever. BUT, the point is that the money went in, showed up as a positive ballance, could be drawn on and then it was revoked by the bank.
It's a well known scam, google 419 scam or nigerian scam...
shirt said:
i meant cleared funds in the traditional sense, money is sat tight in your account and niot simply showing on the balance. if i put a cheque in with barclays it shows up instantly, yet still takes 3-5 days to actually 'clear'.
and yes your friend is a muppet of high standing
You are wrong. A draft can be cancelled / refused after the normal clearing time.and yes your friend is a muppet of high standing
Have the guy view the car at your house in the morning and agree that it is worth the price. Verify that it is your car registered at that address by the V5, and the fact that you can let him into your house with your keys. Show him an electricity bill etc to confirm it is your address. Do the deal, and once a CHAPS transfer has cleared in your account hand over the keys.
You want to sell, and if he really wants the car, he can arrange for an associate to wait with you until the funds are cleared and then take the car away.
I would not trust a draft today, say his mate is Paul Daniels and manages to distract you and give you a duff draft in the bank, keeping the real one up his sleeve - you are stuffed.
All IMHO of course, but 17k would be a lot for me to risk. Do everything you can to prove that you can be found after the deal, and they should be confident to give you cleared funds before taking the car away.
You want to sell, and if he really wants the car, he can arrange for an associate to wait with you until the funds are cleared and then take the car away.
I would not trust a draft today, say his mate is Paul Daniels and manages to distract you and give you a duff draft in the bank, keeping the real one up his sleeve - you are stuffed.
All IMHO of course, but 17k would be a lot for me to risk. Do everything you can to prove that you can be found after the deal, and they should be confident to give you cleared funds before taking the car away.
m3jappa said:
Tbh who ever buys the car off me is going to have the same problem. i dont want cash, i worry about a draft and i can understand why they wouldnt want to do a transfer.
Why dont you want cash?Go to the bank with the guy. he withdraws the money. Gives it to you. It exists then.
you take to your bank and deposit it. If you ar elucky you'll share a bank, if it's a very large amount and you are scared to leave the branch the cashier will convert it into a draft for you (or just take a couple of mates / book a taxi / open account at thatr bank).
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