How do I report this car scam?

[CarScam11]

I changed my car to a newer one as my 15 year old car was getting to have maintenance issues.

I advertised my old car on a reputable second hand website and had lots of calls, it was advertised for £1500. A man was keen to come and said he would pay £1400, I had told him of the couple of small faults it had but MOT until October. There were some communication issues and he apologised as his English wasnt fluent so he ended up viewing in the dark last night not the daytime.

He viewed it with two friends and when I popped the bonnet he found engine oil in the water coolant, told me it was a write off and offered me £100. I was shocked and dismayed, I've been driving it years, he was saying it's a write off and unsafe to drive. I declined his offer initially but he kept calling back and I sold it 9pm last night for £480 to him.

Having read up online this is actually a known scam . Buyer turns up purposely in dark with friends, friends distract you whilst one pours oil in the coolant, then they dip finger in and claim it's a dangerous write off. Sadly I lost £1k due to this, not sure if any authority would be interested in my reporting it though? I know I wont get my money back but would be good if others dont also fall prey. I understand it's easy for them to drain the oil out and then he can resell for the £1500 genuine price.

The police?
Why did you sell it to him? Did you feel harassed?

Omg this is awful. Call the police, not the 999 number the other one. The one I get confused with NHS Direct.

The problem is that I dont have proof he did it, I'm certain he did though as I've been driving it for years and then suddenly a load of engine oil is in the water coolant when he comes...I googled and it's a known scam, right down to coming when it's dark and bringing friends to bamboozle you.

Has he given you the money and driven it away ?

Did you sell it to him?

Were they making you feel uncomfortable and harassed? Worth reporting to police.

Oh OP, you poor thing, but if anyone ever comes to see something you’re selling and massively undervalues it because of some fault they can see you should absolutely get a second opinion.

Has he actually got the car and you’ve got the money now? Agree reporting it to the non-emerging police line but I’m not sure what they can do, given you’ve willingly sold it to him.

Did you feel under pressure to sell it to him? Was anyone else there with you?

I would be called 101 and reporting that they pressured you into selling the car at a price you didn’t want but they wouldn’t let you say no and kept the pressure on until you agreed.

Tell the police you felt intimidated and like you didn’t have a choice and you want your car back.

I did feel pressured as he kept phoning and telling me it was dangerous to drive. Unfortunately once he had tipped the oil in the water only a mechanic could have resolved, so effectively my car was worth less from the moment he did the damage

Yes he has the car, I transferred on DVLA website. I'm not sure anything can be done to sort it for me personally as he will deny it, but would be good to stop these men doing to other unsuspecting people

Well then not only did he aggressively pressure you into agreeing to the sale but he also committed criminal damage.

You definitely need to report it to the police.

I would also recommend contacting the citizens advice as they have helped us brilliantly in the past.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/

^ Tell the police you felt intimidated and like you didn’t have a choice and you want your car back.^

You could try this? ^^

If it’s a well known scam on the internet, the police will know of it too, so won’t need you to provide loads of evidence to demonstrate that a scam happened - the issue will be how much they can help you ...

Ah shite. Hugs for you OP & props for trying to prevent them doing it to others. I need to sell my car soon so it's a really good warning for me.

I believe the dvla can reverse transfers submitted online within a certain amount of time from it being done under special circumstances.

I would call them and explain you were intimidated into making the transfer and have contacted the police, ask them to freeze the transfer.

The issue I guess is that I cant trust that he would return the car without damaging it further, if hes already drained the oil out of the water coolant he will just put it back in if forced to give it back. Then I cant get it out without paying a mechanic, so I dont think I can improve my situation tbh. Just gutted that someone would do this.

This is the same scam as I had

www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/motors/7553229/oil-in-coolant-car-scam/amp/