Scams when selling a car - courier/pickup

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

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If you're selling a car, and someone wants to use some kind of courier/collection service rather than pickup in person, is there a safe way to do this, or is it always a definite no-no?

The only time I would consider it is if they paid bank in full via bank transfer ahead of collection. Are there still ways to be scammed with this approach?
 
Not sure about the current scams but at one time the usual one with this was that they’d come up with a reason why they needed to send you more money than the cost of the car then ask you to refund the difference via a transfer to a different account. No-one would ever turn up for the car (they were never interested in it anyway) and at some point the original transaction would be flagged as fraudulent and get reversed. You’d end up down the money you’d sent them with no recourse to reclaim it.
 
Common thing is to send too much and ask you pay the courier when they arrive. You do, the bank transfer gets reversed and they have your car and you have no money. Or they overpay, ask you to send the overpayment back and the transfer gets reversed as its from a stolen account.

TBH is sell via motorway or similar as they're backed by big companies. Or bank transfer on arrival, no transport or courier company. If they want it they'll travel.

MAJOR red flag if its a common car and they're hundreds of miles away. No reason they want your car unless it's rare/unique or very cheap. Which leads me to ask, what car is it?
 
MissChief said:
Common thing is to send too much and ask you pay the courier when they arrive. You do, the bank transfer gets reversed and they have your car and you have no money. Or they overpay, ask you to send the overpayment back and the transfer gets reversed as its from a stolen account.

TBH is sell via motorway or similar as they're backed by big companies. Or bank transfer on arrival, no transport or courier company. If they want it they'll travel.

MAJOR red flag if its a common car and they're hundreds of miles away. No reason they want your car unless it's rare/unique or very cheap. Which leads me to ask, what car is it?
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It's an old focus, only worth a smidge over a grand. Priced a little on the cheap side (I think), but not a crazy bargain. They're in Kent, so would be 100 or so miles each way, so not too extreme.
 
NotAGolf said:
It's an old focus, only worth a smidge over a grand. Priced a little on the cheap side (I think), but not a crazy bargain. They're in Kent, so would be 100 or so miles each way, so not too extreme.
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But there will be dozens of Focuses (Focii?) available in Kent. It's an immensely popular car. And would you really send a Courier or Driver for a journey of less than 2 hours? I'd be insisting on cash on collection and nothing less. Who is buying it? A private seller? A Car dealer?
 
Thanks for for the advice all. Will avoid. Out of interest, how would the scam work?

Can you you reverse a bank transfer, or dispute it somehow? If so, I'm wondering if bank transfer on collection would be just as risky.
 
At such low value it screams stolen account details. Typically bank transfer is permanent though.
 
NotAGolf said:
Thanks for for the advice all. Will avoid. Out of interest, how would the scam work?

Can you you reverse a bank transfer, or dispute it somehow? If so, I'm wondering if bank transfer on collection would be just as risky.
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Yes bank transfers can be reversed if the account was used by a fraudster. At that value cash on collection or bank transfer when they arrive and are happy with the car.
 
MissChief said:
Yes bank transfers can be reversed if the account was used by a fraudster. At that value cash on collection or bank transfer when they arrive and are happy with the car.
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and if possible photo id if a bank transfer when with you to prove they are who they say they are:)
 
The last two cars I've sold were both paid for and pickup arranged by transporter without meeting the buyer.
 
Do not see any problem, if they have paid you in full for the car, and are arranging transport themselves, all good

Sounds like you have some paranoia issues

Everyone else on here is jumping to conclusions...
 
Semple said:
Sounds like you should have a read up on fraudulent bank transfers that can be reversed by the bank.
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So you only do cash in hand then...... Pretty sure thousands and thousands of people are paying for 2nd cars via BACS
 
Haze said:
So you only do cash in hand then...... Pretty sure thousands and thousands of people are paying for 2nd cars via BACS
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Its generally fine - however the "smell a rat" is when it is such a low value car that are ten a penny, being bought sight unseen. It is a low enough amount that it could easily be found in a defrauded bank account - if your question is "well if they're fraud'ing why don't they go big?".
 
dLockers said:
Its generally fine - however the "smell a rat" is when it is such a low value car that are ten a penny, being bought sight unseen. It is a low enough amount that it could easily be found in a defrauded bank account - if your question is "well if they're fraud'ing why don't they go big?".
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Not for us to guess and jump to conclusions is it
 
Haze said:
Not for us to guess and jump to conclusions is it
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:confused::confused::confused: it is literally an opinion thread about whether it is a good idea. You have to "jump to conclusions" to form an opinion; that's how people balance risk versus reward.
 
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