Cheap car scam?

Mr Badger

Mr Badger

Mr Badger

Soldato
Joined
27 Dec 2009
Posts
11,652
Looking on Facebook marketplace someone has loads of cars listed at way under market prices. They (mostly) aren't local to me and I'm not interested in travelling to Birmingham where most are located for something that looks so dubious. As you aren't supposed to pay remotely for Facebook marketplace, what's the point of it though? Or are cars really crazy cheap in Birmingham?

For example:

2019 Skoda Octavia – Cars & Trucks – Birmingham, United Kingdom | Facebook Marketplace

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

2019 Seat Leon Fr – Cars & Trucks – Birmingham, United Kingdom | Facebook Marketplace

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

There is what appears to be a more local to me listing from them:

Facebook

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
 
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I suspect this ladies account has been hacked. No consistent photo location, one has valet mats, one looks uncleaned... probably old adverts that have been scraped to look like a private seller. They'll scam you into paying a deposit and disappear.
 
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Scam. Tonnes of furniture ones show up too. They ask for a deposit to secure the sale.
 
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I've noticed lots of cat d/n/s vehicles being advertised on Ebay located in the Birmingham area. Not noticed it on FB but i haven't looked much there, bit too sketchy for me with sellers having new accounts, accounts with no activity. Ebay seems the best but even then many sellers are hiding something. Buying privately really is a minefield.
 
Doobedoo said:
If it sounds too good to be true then…
Click to expand...

Indeed. I just wasn't sure what the angle was as I understood that Facebook Marketplace was a meet up in person to exchange goods and payment arrangement. As has been suggested, this may well be about getting a deposit out of you for the car before they disappear.
 
Mr Badger said:
Indeed. I just wasn't sure what the angle was as I understood that Facebook Marketplace was a meet up in person to exchange goods and payment arrangement. As has been suggested, this may well be about getting a deposit out of you for the car before they disappear.
Click to expand...
Google this very forum and you'll see plenty of folk asking if they've been scammed by paying deposits to secure cheap stuff on FB lol. It is a shame folk fall for it...
 
Dup said:
I suspect this ladies account has been hacked. No consistent photo location, one has valet mats, one looks uncleaned... probably old adverts that have been scraped to look like a private seller. They'll scam you into paying a deposit and disappear.
Click to expand...

Absolutely this - looks like they've all been listed today as well.

Edit: more warning signs - why is this car which is apparently for sale in Birmingham listed with a photo taken in Oldham?

Edit 2: here's the original ad:

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!
www.autotrader.co.uk www.autotrader.co.uk
 
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