Scammed - oil in coolant expansion tank

[Monis78]

Evening Pistonheads....

I don't generally post on here, as more of a reader on the forums.

I thought I share this with everyone as I want to warn other people so they don't get caught out by this scam when your selling your car.

Alright had a car on the regular auction site that everyone uses, and the final bid goes to a new user which has only created the account a couple of days ago (this should have already sent alarm bells ringing already).

The chap rings me (broken English) and discuss details collect the car.

All arranged and they turn up at 6:45pm (which it was already getting dark. Three blokes turn up and and start to look over the car, didn't think too much of this, as have sold a few cars over the years, and there has been occasions where more than 1 person has checked over the car.

At this point 1 is checking under the bonnet, and the other 2 looking in the boot. I get called over to the boot and one is asking if the rear light is original and what is the lead next the the cd changer. Which I went over and didn't think nothing of this, and answered their questions. Was thinking in my head that is a a really stupid question, and why he was putting some much emphasis on a cable in the boot and the rear lights.

I should have guessed that this was a decoy tactic.... But when you have 3 people checking over the car, it's quite over whelming with all the questions being fired all over the place.

We go for test drive and he goes on about it need bushes and this and that which I just ignore, as this an auction and the highest bidder get the car, not for them to come and view and then negotiate.

Quick test drive and back and checks under the bonnet again, saying there is no oil (which there was, as I had just serviced the car). They he checks the coolant, and sticks his finger in and pulls it out and it's black with oil... I automatically think, balls, the head gasket has gone, and I've wasted these peoples time with an inaccurate description of the car. Again, should have known better, as if the head gasket had gone, then it wouldn't be pure black, as usually this mixes and goes a gunky colour.

They said they still wanted the car, as for spares and repairs. In the end sold the car for half the final bid price.

From this I've learnt that selling anything on a auction site, even if the final bid, if they have just create a account, then it's not being sold to them. More then 2 people come and view a car, then I'm standing back and not getting sucked into looking at something in the boot (having no vision of what is going on at the engine bay).

I know the car was in good condition, as I've done a fully service on the car just a couple of days ago, and I always check everything before a potential buyer arrives (oil levels, water in washer bottle, coolant, all fluids topped up, tyres pumped at correct psi, etc.)

I'm annoyed that I've been hood winked/duped/scammed, but it's a lesson learnt and I won't be falling for any of this again!

I suppose I didn't get the memo on this scam of pouring oil into coolant expansion bottle (which I'm sure is old school), and I wouldn't want this to happen to anyone else... Warning to others, make sure when the bonnet is up, you watch them like a hawk!

[AndStilliRise]

Thanks for this. Although i do not sell many cars I will be mindful. wkers, although I am sure you didn't sell at a loss so don't worry about it too much.

[LittleEnus]

Thanks for sharing and sorry to hear this.

[Willhire89]

Two Romanians tried this exact same scam on a friend's son two weeks back with his Audi A4

He was savvy enough to know he should see mayo and then see all the oil drips on the inner wing and tell them to clear off

[aka_kerrly]

Willhire89 said:

Two Romanians tried this exact same scam on a friend's son two weeks back with his Audi A4

He was savvy enough to know he should see mayo and then see all the oil drips on the inner wing and tell them to clear off

What bds.

In a fair world you'd have them pay for fresh oil an coolant an they'd be charged for criminal damage.

[dsuk]

If they look like a bad seed, don't deal with them. Easy.

Discrimination yes, but at least you won't get scammed.

[thecremeegg]

Immigration is all roses and violets.....apparently

[soad]

Scam - car buyers put oil in coolant:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=a8...

https://www.facebook.com/nick.newman.731/posts/101...

[philwhite]

Well this happened to me tonight with my 1.9 TDi A6, three guys turn up, one then asked to see under the boot lining to make sure it hadn't been in an accident, while the others clearly used the opportunity to pour oil into the header tank.

Boot guy then asks for a test drive and proceeds to drive the car like it's stolen (despite me explaining it really isn't a performance car!), he then spouts loads of rubbish about things needing doing (the mounts are worn, i'll have to take the engine out and so on...), we get back and his 'mechanic' mate then sticks his finger in the header tank and shows me the oil on his finger, claiming the head gasket has gone. I tell them it's rubbish as I'd checked the fluids the previous day. They then offer me £200 for 'parts', I tell them to clear off as I suspected a rat but that's when they got nasty, threatening me and demanding £50 for wasting their time, lots of shouting before they decide to give up and go.

Luckily one of my parents neighbors is a mechanic and helped me flush the coolant and clear all the oil out of the header tank, so the car is fine, it's at my parents so I feel really bad bringing these clowns to their house.

I can totally understand how people could fall for this, they were very well rehearsed and very intimidating. I've sold lots of cars privately without an issue, but this one seems to be a magnet for idiots.

Edited by philwhite on Tuesday 15th December 22:48

[marmitemania]

philwhite said:

Well this happened to me tonight with my 1.9 TDi A6, three guys turn up, one then asked to see under the boot lining to make sure it hadn't been in an accident, while the others clearly used the opportunity to pour oil into the header tank.

Boot guy then asks for a test drive and proceeds to drive the car like it's stolen (despite me explaining it really isn't a performance car!), he then spouts loads of rubbish about things needing doing (the mounts are worn, i'll have to take the engine out and so on...), we get back and his 'mechanic' mate then sticks his finger in the header tank and shows me the oil on his finger, claiming the head gasket as gone. I tell them it's rubbish as I'd checked the fluids the previous day. They then offer me £200 for 'parts', I tell them to clear off as I suspected a rat but that's when they got nasty, threatening me and demanding £50 for wasting their time, lots of shouting before they decide to give up and go.

Luckily one of my parents neighbors is a mechanic and helped me flush the coolant and clear all the oil out of the header tank, so the car is fine, it's at my parents so I feel really bad bringing these clowns to their house.

I can totally understand how people could fall for this, they were well very rehearsed and very intimidating. I've sold lots of cars privately without an issue, but this one seems to be a magnet for idiots.

Edited by philwhite on Tuesday 15th December 20:55

The Eastern Bloc lot seem to like VAG cars.

[J4CKO]

dsuk said:

If they look like a bad seed, don't deal with them. Easy.

Discrimination yes, but at least you won't get scammed.

I know people that if they get certain accents on the phone when selling a car they just put it down, I will entertain anyone but you find there is a certain type that starts negotiating at 50 percent of advertised price, I have had five people come to see a £1200 Nissan, I said I would take a grand, they haggle and tell me how crap the car is, I get to the point where is say "Chaps, I am not budging, its a grand and you can take the car, for £999 you cant take the car, we arent getting anywhere, you have taken an hour of my time so I am going to bid you good day, knock on if you change your mind and want to pay the £1000", I went in, door went 2 mins later and they grudgingly gave me the grand which I counted (three times, in front of them) and it was £40 light ! amazing how tight they were with money but the five of them could waste 2 or three hours going to view a crappy old Datsun ?

I dont mind dealing with anyone but there is an added level of difficulty when you deal with members of cultures where haggling is ingrained, middle class Brits are generally the easiest, we just arent very good at it, working class brits tend to drive a much harder bargain.

The joiner chap that bought my 350Z was a worthy adversary, only brought seven grand (was at £7300) showed me the cash, I tried in vain to get more but he was adamant, when we agreed, I asked him what he was doign about insurance, turns out he had already insured it fair play to him, realistic bid, used his advantage, got a good few quid off, thats how to do it, posh bloke, lovely chap I sold my 944 to didnt haggle, just said he would have it.

I do quite like selling cars, get to meet all sorts.

[Jimmy Recard]

marmitemania said:

The Eastern Bloc lot seem to like VAG cars.

I've got to say that I didn't see any indication as to their origins?

[marmitemania]

Willhire89 said:

Two Romanians tried this exact same scam on a friend's son two weeks back with his Audi A4

He was savvy enough to know he should see mayo and then see all the oil drips on the inner wing and tell them to clear off

I was going by this post and the fact that any eastern bloc types I have encountered invariably have a Passat, A4 or such like.

[Lgfst]

This is why I hate selling cars and hate people coming to my address.

My friend fell foul of a scammer with his A5. Two people turned up. Took it for a test drive, pulled up at the side of the road and asked my friend to drive for a little bit. Friend got out and the car sped off.

[carmadgaz]

J4CKO said:

The joiner chap that bought my 350Z was a worthy adversary, only brought seven grand (was at £7300) showed me the cash, I tried in vain to get more but he was adamant, when we agreed, I asked him what he was doign about insurance, turns out he had already insured it fair play to him, realistic bid, used his advantage, got a good few quid off, thats how to do it, posh bloke, lovely chap I sold my 944 to didnt haggle, just said he would have it.

I do quite like selling cars, get to meet all sorts.

I gotta admit I did that with a car once. Car was up at £3700 which was rather above book (but was local and the right spec). Took £3500 with me and still came back with money in my pocket. Stopped me going above my maximum if nowt else

[Sheepshanks]

philwhite said:

Boot guy then asks for a test drive and proceeds to drive the car like it's stolen (despite me explaining it really isn't a performance car!)

Bit gobsmacked that you let him drive, especially when there's 3 of them.

[philwhite]

Lgfst said:

This is why I hate selling cars and hate people coming to my address.

My friend fell foul of a scammer with his A5. Two people turned up. Took it for a test drive, pulled up at the side of the road and asked my friend to drive for a little bit. Friend got out and the car sped off.

I've heard of this but that's an awful thing to happen! Do this insurance still pay out if this happens?

I can understand scamming with a desirable car like an A5, but I still cannot fathom why three blokes would want to spend their evening scamming me out of my thousand pound A6!

Edited by philwhite on Tuesday 15th December 21:59

[HustleRussell]

That's a nasty trick isn't it? Thanks for sharing OP.

carmadgaz said:

J4CKO said:

The joiner chap that bought my 350Z was a worthy adversary, only brought seven grand (was at £7300) showed me the cash, I tried in vain to get more but he was adamant, when we agreed, I asked him what he was doign about insurance, turns out he had already insured it fair play to him, realistic bid, used his advantage, got a good few quid off, thats how to do it, posh bloke, lovely chap I sold my 944 to didnt haggle, just said he would have it.

I do quite like selling cars, get to meet all sorts.

I gotta admit I did that with a car once. Car was up at £3700 which was rather above book (but was local and the right spec). Took £3500 with me and still came back with money in my pocket. Stopped me going above my maximum if nowt else

I always go for a cheeky bid amount in one pocket and emergency contingency in another so I can pretend that I only have 'X' amount but haven't wasted a journey if I want it lots.

[Lgfst]

philwhite said:

I've heard of this but that's an awful think to happen! Do this insurance still pay out if this happens?

I can understand scamming with a desirable car like an A5, but I still cannot fathom why three blokes would want to spend their evening scamming me out of my thousand pound A6!

He had a few issues with the insurance company at first but it was quickly sorted out and paid out under theft.

And everything is worth something, so they are after anything they can save or make money on. Plus I think it's easier to try and knock down a cheaper car. Say £1000 car, knock it down to £500 then sell it a week or two later for £1000. At least, that's what I think.

[Devil2575]

Am I alone in thinking that anyone who falls for this shouldn't be on a car based website?

Get your coat and please leave