I have put my car a mini cooper s for sale on pistonheads this afternoon.Got an email quite quickly about mini.I have now had a couple of emails off this person and he/she has offered me what I want for the mini.But they claim to be working offshore and I have been offered to be paid through paypal but they will send someone else to pick it up. Would anyone else think it was a bit dodgy.Sorry about my wording on this topic but dont know how to put it in writing.

If you think its dodgy, tell them your concerns. If they are legitimate, they will take appropriate action to prove their identity. If they are not legitimate then you will hear no more.

My friend was in a similar position. An up front approach soon sorted the apparent problem.

dodgy i would say! If they want it, tell them to come and get it. I had the same thing but in reverse, wanted to buy a car advertised locally however had the spiel that the lady had taken the car abroad but i could send over the money and go and collect. Complete bulls+it! told them where to go!

This will be dodgy. They will have hacked into someones paypal account and by the time you find out it will be too late. I would tell them if willing to use paypal they will be able to do a bank transfer.Seriously do not sell to them via paypal. Living offshore is a huge risk don't do it wait for someone else.

Thanks for your replies I sent them an email back to tell them the car is on eBay and could we do the transaction through paypal I got a reply saying oh okay.Not heard anything back yet.

when selling a car cash only is best.even on ebay

when selling a car cash only is best.even on ebay

Do not agree. Cash is far from safe.

Thanks Bill2 and thanks to everyone else, I am used to trading cars in and have had a good offer from my Skoda dealer for it as I have ordered a Octavia vRS diesel which they have confirmed build date today.Put Mini on eBay and pistonheads to see if I could get that little bit more money,dont know whether its worth it now.

Thanks for your replies I sent them an email back to tell them the car is on eBay and could we do the transaction through paypal I got a reply saying oh okay.Not heard anything back yet.

Do not go through with the sale as it's a con!

They will pay by paypal and have the car collected.The paypal transaction will be reverse as it wil be on a stolen credit card and you will have no come back losing the car.

Do a search as this happens all the time.

Definitely not going through with this sale glad I have asked the members on here their opinions.

Be careful if you decide to say yes the the paypal sale, I sold (or thought I did) an item on ebay and got an email that looked legit from paypal saying I had funds but it would not be released until I had sent a tracking number (in your case handed over the car). I checked the paypal details and found the email address didn't look right so I informed Ebay and their account was cancelled. Don't release anything until you have the money in the account you can log into or you have the cash in hand.

Bank transfer is the way to go.

With your account number and sort code they can transfer money directly in to your account over the phone.

Arrange for them to collect the car outside the bank. Once the bank confirms the money has transferred and is showing in your account you are OK to hand the car over.

Remember cash can be counterfeit.

PayPal charge quite steep fees in addition to the fact that if your buyer has supplied dodgy details to PayPal they can simply take the money back off you well after the buyer has driven off in your car.

Hello,

i would say cash after the road test if they happy with car! This way you know who you deal with and they can sign loogbook V5 and then you can send it to dvla. If you do bank transfer ie....give them your bank sort code and account number they can perhaps later use your bank details and drain your bank accout. BE CAREFUL, DO NOT DISCLOSE yout bank details to anyone!!!

Regards

Every time you write a cheque you disclose your sort code and bank account number! Cash is not safe. Bank transfer is safer.

Edited 28 December, 201015 yr by kevberlin

Give them your bank sort code and account number they can perhaps later use your bank details and drain your bank accout. BE CAREFUL, DO NOT DISCLOSE yout bank details to anyone!!!

How on earth do you drain someone’s account with an account number and sort code!?

As mentioned above cheques contain this information already.

Banks actively encourage electronic transfer as one of the safest methods of transferring large sums of money using guess what... yep, your account number and sort code

DO NOT GO THRO' WITH IT !

Only skim read your topic & posts - mate a work almost went for this scam just before Xmas - he 'googled' it & mentioned it to me - Hope I am not too late -

Check this out - http://www.suite101.com/content/car-buying-scam-using-paypal-a215956

Plenty other examples on internet if you google 'car buying scams'

well GUYS

You can take the mickey as much you want, But would you personally discolose your personal details to someone who wants to buy something of you but only to comunicate through email?

If someone is keen to get your money, they will only need few things like, full name, adress, bank account number and sort code.

Why do you think CHECKS will be phased out soon????

well GUYS

You can take the mickey as much you want, But would you personally discolose your personal details to someone who wants to buy something of you but only to comunicate through email?

If someone is keen to get your money, they will only need few things like, full name, adress, bank account number and sort code.

Why do you think CHECKS will be phased out soon????

You might be best advised to "write" no more!

Edited 28 December, 201015 yr by kevberlin

kevberlin,

why is this.... because you cannot give any better advice?

You can take the mickey as much you want.

Who's taking the mickey?

Would you personally disclose your personal details to someone who wants to buy something of you but only to communicate through email?

Yes, daily on eBay for overseas buyers not wanting to use PayPal.

If someone is keen to get your money, they will only need few things like, full name, adress, bank account number and sort code.

No, they need more; bank cards, security codes, DOB, security questions, passwords, issue numbers, card number, valid from and expiry dates, signatures, chip & pin, photographic ID etc. etc.

Why do you think CHECKS will be phased out soon????

Because with the increase in electronic banking (online banking) using, yes you guessed it, sort codes and account numbers making the transferring of money much easier and quicker cheques are becoming much less popular.

kevberlin,

why is this.... because you cannot give any better advice?

yes you do give lot more details like you mentioned-> (No, they need more; bank cards, security codes, DOB, security questions, passwords, issue numbers, card number, valid from and expiry dates, signatures, chip & pin, photographic ID etc. etc.) but these are normallly trading companies you disclose details to and not INDIVIDUALS!

Yes you do give lot more details like you mentioned but these are normallly trading companies you disclose details to and not INDIVIDUALS!

OK, this is going no where.

I agree, this particular situation smacks of dishonesty.

However please trust me on this one, no harm will come by disclosing your sort code and account number

I rest my case, not worth wasting my time.

I belived this was place where you share your thoughts-inputs not getting into conflict!

Should moderators agree, if any online?

regards

Had an email off Pistonheads today avising me to ignore emails I had received as their pattern suggested a scam.That is what I was thinking at the time so thanks again to everyone who helped.