eBay

frazladazla · ‎05-18-2019

Hi, I see so many scams on ebay motors that a buyer I have for a friend's car I'm selling makes me suspicious. A guy from Germany has made a best offer for the car unseen. He said he will send payment or pay in cash and will be sending his driver over to pick it up next week. His email seems legit and is his work email is a law firm which if you Google comes up with a website. I've asked for payment via bank transfer. I know not to let the car go until I'm 100% the money is in the account, but does anyone know if this is a known scam or not and what else should I look out for.

Many thanks

richard1rst · ‎05-18-2019

@frazladazla wrote:
I've asked for payment via bank transfer. I know not to let the car go until I'm 100% the money is in the account,

I generated a bank transfer recently to pay for an item and the bank told me that I had some number of days to recall the transfer if there was a problem. Quite frankly, I didn't really pay attention to the "what ifs" because I was sure there would be need to.

In the same vein when I transfer money from Paypal to my bank, the bank shows the transfer but doesn't give me immediate access until they are sure Paypal will not recall the transfer.

The key here is that a bank transfer can be recalled. After he picks up the car?

"Laissez-faire capitalism (AKA The Great Material Continuum) is the only social system based on the recognition of individual rights and, therefore, the only system that bans force from social relationships." ~ Ayn Rand

slippinjimmy · ‎05-18-2019

Impossible to say if it's a legit offer or not.

a 1970 MG probably isn't a common vehicle in Germany so it could be legit.

Doesn't really matter, you know not to hand it over unless you have been paid in full.

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep

orangehound · ‎05-18-2019

@frazladazla wrote:
Hi, I see so many scams on ebay motors that a buyer I have for a friend's car I'm selling makes me suspicious. A guy from Germany has made a best offer for the car unseen. He said he will send payment or pay in cash and will be sending his driver over to pick it up next week. His email seems legit and is his work email is a law firm which if you Google comes up with a website. I've asked for payment via bank transfer. I know not to let the car go until I'm 100% the money is in the account, but does anyone know if this is a known scam or not and what else should I look out for.
Many thanks

I would ask for payment via cash only ... his driver can bring the cash.

richard1rst · ‎05-18-2019

@orangehound wrote:
I would ask for payment via cash only ... his driver can bring the cash.

Actually, considering that many police departments are now engaged in Highway Robbery it is extremely risky to carry cash. Get pulled over for any minor infraction and if they find you with a wad of cash they simply declare that it is the result of illegal activity and confiscate the cash.

It’s called Asset Forfeiture. Many MANY reports around the country.

"Laissez-faire capitalism (AKA The Great Material Continuum) is the only social system based on the recognition of individual rights and, therefore, the only system that bans force from social relationships." ~ Ayn Rand

pburn · ‎05-18-2019

@frazladazla wrote:
" . . . does anyone know if this is a known scam or not and what else should I look out for."

Since you are a UK seller, you might want to check the UK discussion boards to make sure procedures for ebay.co.uk are the same as they are for ebay.com (mainly North America). There may be some nuances in selling motor vehicles in the UK/EU that North Americans aren't aware of. the UK/EU may have protections for buyers and/or sellers that we don't have. For the most reliable information for a UK seller, I'd definitely check the UK boards . . .

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Discussion-Boards/ct-p/13

pburn · ‎05-18-2019

@richard1rst wrote:
@orangehound wrote:
I would ask for payment via cash only ... his driver can bring the cash.
Actually, considering that many police departments are now engaged in Highway Robbery it is extremely risky to carry cash. Get pulled over for any minor infraction and if they find you with a wad of cash they simply declare that it is the result of illegal activity and confiscate the cash.

It’s called Asset Forfeiture. Many MANY reports around the country.

If that's a concern, the driver can access a cash machine when he gets to the OP's location. Or are local police in the UK perpetrating that same scam, too?

a_c_green · ‎05-18-2019

@orangehound wrote:
I would ask for payment via cash only ... his driver can bring the cash.

I agree; if he's already offered to have his driver bring cash, then of course accept the cash. Stuff it into an ATM after that and you're all done. Have a burly friend with you at sale time if you like.

calntom · ‎05-18-2019

As an individual, the only way I would do the transaction is at the bank. Title is signed over with the bank representative overseeing everything and Bill of Sale written up by the bank rep. Cash money deposited into my account.