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Original poster

Car scam advice

56 replies

HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 17:25

We’ve sold a vehicle today. Buyers haggled down….lots of pressure. Paid a chunk in cash and paid some through transfer. Initially said the wrong amount of cash and them transferred more after we counted it. They pushed to leave quickly so we couldn’t count. They Transferred money online before we even agreed the final amount. Both buyers were men and were intimidating and put on a lot of pressure. Trying to hurry us and walking into the house.

so they’ve not long left and are now calling and texting saying the car is going wrong.

Obviously it is a scam. We know because our friend; who is a good mechanic serviced and checked it last week.

but how best to deal with it.
I have suggested my husband ignore all calls and texts form any number we don’t know. I’m obviously worried they’ll turn up though. if they do I’ll call the police immediately.

Any other advice?

OP posts:
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Indigodreaming · 11/06/2023 10:56

Gymmum82 · 10/06/2023 21:12

If they are complaining the car is faulty I’d tell them to bring it back for a full refund and be done with it. Sell it again to people who aren’t scammers.

I would not allow a return, they may have stripped parts off

stayingaliveisawayoflife · 11/06/2023 10:47

We were recently scammed by roofers so this is from the other side sort of not saying you have scammed but they may try to say that.

When we contacted our bank we had to prove there was deliberate fraud. If we said we weren't happy with the work it would have been a civil case through the courts. We had to prove through evidence that the work was not done. Then it was investigated and their account which we paid the money into was blocked while this happened. They were informed by the bank along the way as their nasty messages informed me until I blocked them.

We did receive the money that was in that account and they have closed that account now.

It shouldn't be easy for them to get the money back so I am guessing they are trying to intimidate you into paying all or some back. You can also contact action fraud because they keep a database of people who behave in this way and so any names you were given could flag up on there and add to any investigation or case they are building.

ThanksHunPenneys · 11/06/2023 08:33

I'm sorry you've had such a horrible experience @HaveIbeenscammed , hopefully it's all over and done now.
For me, the risk-free-ness (if there is such a word) of the likes of We Buy Any Car it's worth the security of not having dodgy people coming to your house.

Jantlet · 11/06/2023 08:20

I’m glad you’re feeling better OP. The sort of people who do this are the scum of the earth and prey on decent people. All that being in a hurry, giving you £5k cash and saying it was £6k, disorientating your DH with a barrage of words from two sides - I can hear them now.

Cash is king in these sorts of transactions. Maybe better to meet the buyer at your bank/building society, watch as they pay cash into your account (so the cashier has checked the notes), then hand over the vehicle documents and keys.

When I bought a car from a back street trader (never again - but that’s another story) she met me in her bank and watched while I used my debit card to transfer the money to her account. She was a right shark so will have worked out that method was safer for her, I don’t know, perhaps your bank could advise.

I’m about to sell a large value specialist item and, as much as it pains me, I’m going to use a broker because their commission fee will be worth it to save any worry.

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 11/06/2023 07:53

Muncha · 11/06/2023 07:17

In future I'd recommend we buy and car, we got a great price on ours and they only took off £100 for a little dent in the door, cash was in bank within 20 mins.

Annoyingly this is what the relative was going to do, but they massively undervalued it. We did get more (so far unless the scam
ends up resulting in cash being fake or transferred money being returned) but a few grand less than we should have had the my husband not felt he had to reduce price.

Lessons have been learnt. My poor husband was so stressed and anxious all evening and feels guilty over not stopping the negotiations and telling them to leave and for not getting as much for the poorly relative as we could have. I’ve told him that sadly these people are very very good at what they do. No doubt this is how they get all their “income” and they are experienced at scamming and intimidating people. His only problem was that he’s too decent and polite a guy and that left him vulnerable to people who do not give a shot about their treatment of others. We’ve spoken about what we would do differently in future. No more selling large items alone or seeing people immediately - if someone is truly interested they’ll wait a day or two.

I’m feeling better this AM. I am hoping the texts/calls to husbands phone might have stopped.

OP posts:
Muncha · 11/06/2023 07:17

In future I'd recommend we buy and car, we got a great price on ours and they only took off £100 for a little dent in the door, cash was in bank within 20 mins.

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 21:16

Gymmum82 · 10/06/2023 21:12

If they are complaining the car is faulty I’d tell them to bring it back for a full refund and be done with it. Sell it again to people who aren’t scammers.

No because I think then we’ll get in to an issue of them saying they have more cash than they did. Already saying they gave 6 when it was only 5k cash. Sent the additional online while here and now saying that is 1 too much because they actually did give 6k.

i want as little to do with them as possible.

Husband should have said no straight away as soon as they arrived.
clearly in future we need to sort big sells together or with another person to help.

OP posts:
UpaladderwatchingTV · 10/06/2023 21:13

Can't you ring your bank and tell them what's happened OP, at least that way they will be aware if you have been scammed?

I do hope that nothing further happens.

Gymmum82 · 10/06/2023 21:12

If they are complaining the car is faulty I’d tell them to bring it back for a full refund and be done with it. Sell it again to people who aren’t scammers.

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 21:05

He spoken to police but I don’t think he got an incident number? Said they won’t do a report at the moment. Shall we ask for one

OP posts:
Redebs · 10/06/2023 20:58

I would speak to your bank. Explain that the sale has gone through, but these people are threatening you and you suspect they may try to reverse the bank transfer.
Have you spoken to police and gotten an incident number over the threats?

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 20:54

Olivia199 · 10/06/2023 20:48

Sadly I don't think it's about the physical money, he could transfer that to you and they could still recall other funds from that account. If that's makes sense. Not sure what happens if the account is completely empty though.

So sorry you're going through all this stress!

Show quote history

Not sure what to do with the cash in the account. The account it was transferred to is empty now- sent to other accounts. No idea if they can reclaim from other accounts. I suspect they won’t though- I’m almost certain they are probably know. They were too good. Also they are on camera so if they say funds were stollen wouldn’t that make them the ones who stole?

just not sure what to do now about the money in the bank.

urgh. I hope the weekend is boring too!!

OP posts:
LuckOfTheDrawer · 10/06/2023 20:49

It sounds like you're doing the right things OP. I'm really sorry this has happened to you - some people really are just absolute fuckers.

Hopefully the rest of your weekend will be really boring.

Olivia199 · 10/06/2023 20:48

HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 20:39

What about if my husband transfers it out into my account?? Would that make it harder to recall?

Sadly I don't think it's about the physical money, he could transfer that to you and they could still recall other funds from that account. If that's makes sense. Not sure what happens if the account is completely empty though.

So sorry you're going through all this stress!

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 20:39

What about if my husband transfers it out into my account?? Would that make it harder to recall?

OP posts:
Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 20:37

We’ll just have to replace the money ourselves if that happens.

OP posts:
Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 20:37

God I hope it’s not a scam where they can get that money transferee back. It’s needed for the disability adaptions for a really poorly relative.

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Theunamedcat · 10/06/2023 20:36

HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 20:22

Deep down I honestly don’t think they’ll cause harm or even turn up here. I think they’re using their personal identity as a threat, saying they have links with others. I think they’re trying and scamming, but I’m hopeful it won’t get any more nasty. Maybe I’m just being naive though.

A little naive but some people think they are untouchable

FlamingoQueen · 10/06/2023 20:36

Sorry you are dealing with this.

Theunamedcat · 10/06/2023 20:33

So a scam can work in several ways one way is they use someone else's bank account to transfer the money when that is reported as stolen the bank recalls the money your out the money they have the item

Have you transferred the title yet? My exes brother sold a car they used it in a ram raid the same day fortunately he had (legitimately) an off duty police officer their when the sale happened or he could have been in a lot of trouble

Did you take a copy of their driving licence number? (Sounds odd but I did when I sold my car)

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 20:22

Deep down I honestly don’t think they’ll cause harm or even turn up here. I think they’re using their personal identity as a threat, saying they have links with others. I think they’re trying and scamming, but I’m hopeful it won’t get any more nasty. Maybe I’m just being naive though.

OP posts:
Jellifulfruit · 10/06/2023 20:21

Some people are just trash 😔

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 20:18

Calling police now.
Absolute horrible bastard. Now I’ll not sleep tonight. Have 3 kids in the house. Daughters birthday so she has a friend over too. Should be enjoying our day not dealing with selfish scum who won’t work for an honest living

OP posts:
Muncha · 10/06/2023 20:18

These people are scum. They can reverse a transfer in some situations but not in all

Oysterbabe · 10/06/2023 20:17

This is awful, I hate these cunts. My dad had some issues selling a car once, he was pressured and intimidated to sell it cheap.
I think I'd only sell to a garage.

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