Potential buyer scam/data harvesting?

Potential buyer scam/data harvesting?

Author
Discussion

sherbertdip

Original Poster:

1,159 posts

124 months

Sunday 23rd June
quotequote all
I currently have a car advertised here, a potential buyer enquired last week asking if still available, I replied it was and did they need any further information. No responce so assumed it was somebody just hitting enquiry buttons for a giggle!

Yesterday, I had a reply saying "interested and how many owners" which I told him (also in advert) "great" came reply, "where are you and can I see the car next Tuesday". Agreed that was ok.

He then sent an email for latest history report on car and gave me a link to get one from an American company, I replied along the lines of I can vouch for car's history and MOT info for mileage check available on-line. To which he responded that he was "spending a lot of money", to which I replied "all the more reason for you as the purchaser to carry out a due diligence check"

I then went on to say that if he bought a report, showed it to me, and a copy of the receipt then I would pay 50%, I even found and passed on other companies that were cheaper than the one he wanted me to use.

Is this a potential scam/ data mining exercise for me to give my details to a bogus company that is based in New York, needs paying in $, when there are other ones registered in UK that can be used.

Of course I've no reply on my offer and info on other companies.

TLDR: potential buyer wants me to buy history check/report from a company in USA, is this a scam?

Chimune

3,274 posts

228 months

Sunday 23rd June
quotequote all
I have an ad up on oh and 100% of the replies have been requests to use a random history checking service. Scam. Ignore.

sherbertdip

Original Poster:

1,159 posts

124 months

Sunday 23rd June
quotequote all
Chimune said:
I have an ad up on oh and 100% of the replies have been requests to use a random history checking service. Scam. Ignore.
The world is full of scum!

I have had a few genuine enquiries and 2 viewings, so this came out of the blue, at least I'm not totally gullible biglaugh

Flumpo

4,024 posts

78 months

Sunday 23rd June
quotequote all
I’m not sure how to search, but there are threads already on this scam and the same mobile number being behind most of the ones targeting PH adverts.