Selling car privately - is this a scam?

ChrisHeathcote

ChrisHeathcote

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Hi just a question from anyone who is used to selling things privately, do you think this is a scam? I am currently selling my wife car, as an ex car salesperson I have come across numerous scams in the past, where people offer to buy and there is all sorts of weird goings on with money transfers. However it has been a while and technology/scams move on. I have received this email enquiring about the car and agreeing to buy, normally I would run a mile, however they are offering to pay via paypal and cover the fees. My understanding is that by using paypal, it gives protection to both buyer and seller. Here is the email and your opinions would be gratefully received.

Great! please consider it sold and cancel every other appointment regarding it,i am buying it for my son and i am read to pay your full asking price, i have read through the advert and i'm totally satisfied with it and i will be glad if you can get back to me with some pics if available,sadly i won't be able to come for the inspection and pick up due to my disabilities,i loss my hearing and being on a wheelchair but I have a courier agent that will help me to pick it up at your preferred location.
Regarding the payment i can only pay via PayPal at the moment and I will be responsible for all the PayPal fee/charges on this transaction kindly get back to me with your PayPal email and the pick up location so that i can inform the courier agent about it now?
Awaiting your reply soon...​
 
I'd say it's a scam. Run a mile.

Who buys a car without seeng it?
You will have no seller protection with PayPal unless you ship it to the buyer using a tracked method.

Guaranteed they will pay via PayPal and as soon as they have collected it will file a chargeback either claiming fraudulent use or item not received.
 
Sounds 100% scam. You'll request payment then receive an email looking to come from PayPal confirming payment when no such thing has happened
 
No idea about paypal, but the email just doesn't read properly imo. (obviously not everyone has the best grammar etc & could also be a non Brit)
 
Would run a mile. At Gary says above and the fact they are paying fees suggests paying by PPG which gives you less protection (I think) that std paypal.
 
Lynton said:
Would run a mile. At Gary says above and the fact they are paying fees suggests paying by PPG which gives you less protection (I think) that std paypal.
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Whilst I agree it is dodgy as a dodgy thing, ppg gives you as the receiver actually a better protection since they cannot argue non supply after saying it is simply a gift of funds, so doubt v much the intent is to ppg ;)
 
Thanks everyone, I suspected as much. I haven't had a great deal of experience with Paypal so that had me second guessing myself.
OldCarlos said:
Offer to drive the vehicle to him. Luckily you're actually in the area on his given date. ;)
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Not a bad shout, even just to see what the re-action would be :)
 
Scam. Avoid like the proverbial bacterial infection.
 
Scam scam scammity scam. Delete and don't reply. It's a standard scam email:agree:
 
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I'm guessing the car is worth a couple of grand at least and not a clapped out worthless wreck?
If it smells like a scam, it usually is - and this one stinks to me!
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
Hi just a question from anyone who is used to selling things privately, do you think this is a scam? I am currently selling my wife car, as an ex car salesperson I have come across numerous scams in the past, where people offer to buy and there is all sorts of weird goings on with money transfers. However it has been a while and technology/scams move on. I have received this email enquiring about the car and agreeing to buy, normally I would run a mile, however they are offering to pay via paypal and cover the fees. My understanding is that by using paypal, it gives protection to both buyer and seller. Here is the email and your opinions would be gratefully received.

Great! please consider it sold and cancel every other appointment regarding it,i am buying it for my son and i am read to pay your full asking price, i have read through the advert and i'm totally satisfied with it and i will be glad if you can get back to me with some pics if available,sadly i won't be able to come for the inspection and pick up due to my disabilities,i loss my hearing and being on a wheelchair but I have a courier agent that will help me to pick it up at your preferred location.
Regarding the payment i can only pay via PayPal at the moment and I will be responsible for all the PayPal fee/charges on this transaction kindly get back to me with your PayPal email and the pick up location so that i can inform the courier agent about it now?
Awaiting your reply soon...​
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Chris, read this:

https://www.paypal-community.com/t5...FOR/td-p/631754/page/4?profile.language=en-gb

You will find the exact contents of your email therein. It's an old scam that's been going on for years.
 
scam scam SCAM ,it was being done with caravans a couple of years ago .typical bad (foreign) use of the english language ,also if its for his son why can't he pick it up .AVOID LIKE THE BUBONIC PLAGUE !!!!!!!
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
Regarding the payment i can only pay via PayPal at the moment
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That's the scam giveaway. A pile of dog's toys.

ChrisHeathcote said:
I will be responsible for all the PayPal fee/charges on this transaction kindly get back to me with your PayPal email and the pick up location so that i can inform the courier agent about it now?
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Pull the other one - it has bells on it.
 
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Scammier than a scam on national scam day, taking along it's impressive collection of scam awards for show and tell. dressed in full scam outfit.
 
As with everyone - I wouldn't, not the best worded reply either ...

What the heck has loosing your hearing got to do with picking a car up ???
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
Thanks everyone, I suspected as much. I haven't had a great deal of experience with Paypal so that had me second guessing myself.


Not a bad shout, even just to see what the re-action would be :)
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If only for the reaction, I'd say yes, but if they called your bluff and said yes, I'd still run a mile. Several years ago, local papers reported a story of someone was selling a car, they had agreed to meet the buyer in a predetermined place, buyer and seller meet up, except buyer turns up with a couple of mates, result being the buyer and his mates leave with the car without any money exchanging hands.
 
Performing financial transactions the electronic way via the interweb may be mostly good and well, but a lot can still be said for dealing with cold hard cash in actual warm hands upon pick up of goods - and this is such a case.
 
Just google part of the text, eg "Great! please consider it sold and cancel every other appointment regarding it" and you will probably find other examples of its use.
 
FFS Mr Heathcote!

Why don't you make it simple. I'll buy your wife's car and happily pay the full asking price - and we've met; we know each other! So not a problem!

I just need you to help me out a bit and take in p/x this bridge I've got for sale
 
Yves Geza said:
FFS Mr Heathcote!

Why don't you make it simple. I'll buy your wife's car and happily pay the full asking price - and we've met; we know each other! So not a problem!

I just need you to help me out a bit and take in p/x this bridge I've got for sale
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You can have a freshly MOTd Clio for a couple of grand if you need a car that badly, YG!!! Happy to deliver as long as you've got the cash ready.
 
Even before I read through the other replies, I'd have said scam, due to the way the email was written, and the words used.

He's probably got a rich Nigerian uncle that's paying for it anyway :D
 
Cobra said:
Even before I read through the other replies, I'd have said scam, due to the way the email was written, and the words used.

He's probably got a rich Nigerian uncle that's paying for it anyway :D
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Well I was gonna say that but then the anti racist trolls usually jump on you from on high .
If you look on the PayPal link you will realise this is a repetitive scam ,,the best bet is to forward ANY suspect messages etc to scam@paypal.com they can then close down these accounts
 
simon ess said:
PPG can be drawn back.
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Only in the same conditions a pp transaction can e.g. hacked account, so as I say ppg no riskier than a pp, which Lynton was saying it was inherently worse to accept ppg vs pp.
 
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