Are there a lot of fraud buyers online? If so, how can I find out?

mashedpotato on 18/05/2018 - 13:57

Hi everyone,

I have recently put up an ad online (Gumtree, Facebook, Carsales), and I have received multiple emails from different sellers, but they sound quite similar to each other.

These are the common phrases:
"due to the nature of my work… I will use a shipping company"
"I will contact a courier agent to pick up my car"
"I have also contacted my courier who will come for pick up and deliver it"
"I am working as a ________, I have limited phone access"
"I'll be paying by PayPal"

They all say the similar things but in a different way.

I am suspicious as they all seems to have no access to phone calls and they want payment by PayPal and they are getting someone else to pick it up.

Is that a fraud or legit buyer?

Also, does anyone have an experience of selling the car via PayPal payment?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Kind Regards,

Automotive

Comments

  • GG57 on 18/05/2018 - 14:02
    +3

    I have sold two cars on Gumtree in the last 6 months. In both cases, I received multiple messages from people with very dodgy offerings.
    Just ignore them, even when they become abusive (as they probably will).

    Time wasters.

  • Hybroid on 18/05/2018 - 14:03
    +7

    They're 99% scammers, avoid.

  • D C on 18/05/2018 - 14:04

    I wonder how many offers you'd get if you stated shipping to Nigeria was free.

    • Quantumcat on 18/05/2018 - 17:43

      None, because otherwise they can't get you to pay their courier agent in their behalf

  • iDroid on 18/05/2018 - 14:06
    +1

    They are not legitimate buyers. This is the standard MO for Gumtree/Ebay scammers.

  • dcep on 18/05/2018 - 14:07
    +4

    whatever method it is, just wait till after you've cashed-out the hard cold cash from ATM and smell it , rub it , stuff them in your crotch, then only let them drive your car away.

    paypal??? fine, wait till it hits your local bank account after the transfer and cash out before the car is gone.

  • CyberMurning on 18/05/2018 - 15:04
    +5

    "I am suspicious as they all seems to have no access to phone calls"

    who doesnt have a phone now a days? when you see that line just delete. end of story.
    even if they are genuinely doesnt, just dont deal with them.

  • apple2016 on 18/05/2018 - 15:23
    +1

    Anyone who claims is ready to buy a car without a test drive is a possible fraud.
    I am not sure if any one would buy a car without a test drive even if the price is very attractive…

    • Hybroid on 18/05/2018 - 16:32
      -1

      Plenty of people buy cars without a test drive, it's not that big a deal.

      • Euphemistic on 18/05/2018 - 18:30
        +1

        But no test drive is an additional warning sign.

    • josetann on 18/05/2018 - 20:38

      I do quite often. Yes, it's a calculated risk. The alternative for me would have been to rent a car for weeks/months. That said, I haven't done this with private sellers, and I do have a phone they could call me on (though there's often a significant time difference). Not saying you should do it, just that it's possible for someone to want to buy before having a test drive.

  • Ryanek on 18/05/2018 - 16:15

    CASH ONLY

  • Euphemistic on 18/05/2018 - 16:19
    +1

    +1 for the 'normal' scam method on Gumtree. They offer full price, no negotiation, no questions about the actual vehicle and pretend they can't get to a phone.

    Some people would buy a car unseen and arrange someone else to pick it up. However, normally only for a rare car, or something exceptional. If they are offering to pay other than direct bank transfer, and will talk to you on the phone, or by a traceable message system then there is less risk, but still some.

    Many moons ago I had a guy offer to buy my classic car from 2hr drive away. Rang up, said he wanted it with very few questions, offered cash straight up and had only seen one pic and a short description. The next morning he delivered cash ($8k) to my brother in law who lived nearby. Caught the train to pick the car up a few days later and drove it home. It was long before gumtree and nigerian scams though.

    • hogwarts on 18/05/2018 - 16:28

      Wow, got to trust you to give $8,000 ahead of time without seeing it.

  • edwardcr on 18/05/2018 - 16:19

    I bought a car on Carsales a few years ago. A painless procedure!

    He gave me a full service history and all the transfer documentation. After a test drive, I made my decision to buy.

    We went to my bank - the CBA - together. I got a bank cheque - gave it to him, took the car. Transaction over!

    That's the only way I would be involved in a transaction of this type, for that amount - just under $8000.

    Never use Paypal for a pickup item - too many potential problems.

    • ronnknee on 18/05/2018 - 16:42

      We went to my bank - the CBA - together.

      Did you two hold hands?

      • subywagon on 18/05/2018 - 17:24

        Can we hold hands?

      • edwardcr on 18/05/2018 - 20:14

        Nothing so exciting - we just shared the car, as I didn't have one at that stage!

  • Ughhh on 18/05/2018 - 17:35
    +1

    Most of those scam buyers write the same thing to everyone. If you copy and paste parts of their reply to Google, you'll find results like this post.

  • HeWhoKnows on 19/05/2018 - 07:50
    -1

    More like a lot of fraud SELLERS!

  • mashedpotato on 20/05/2018 - 16:51

    Thanks everyone!

    I'm just surprised how many scammers there are on online websites, now I can see how fraud they are.

    Thanks!

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