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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Posting for traffic - Is my dad about to be scammed?

55 replies

ThatsPoker · 19/12/2017 19:58

Hi everyone, hoping you might have some advice.
My dad is selling his car, he's put it on shpock and various Facebook groups.

He received an email about the car, from a man in Ireland (my dad is in Essex) saying he'll pay full price for the car via Paypal, and send someone (not him) to collect the car, once the money has cleared.

My alarm bells are ringing - it just sounds too good - the car is overpriced, a good purchase, but still.

My dad asks for some assurance the man is legit, so he sends a copy of 'his' driving licence, apparently he's a doctor. (Bell's are ringing!)

This just stinks to me - am i right in it feeling off? My dad has also called Paypal, and they said he's doing everything right.

I told my dad, if he wants it that much, just ask to pay cash, no comeback, right?

Anyone got any advice please? Or heard of a scam like this?

OP posts:

Angrybird345 · 19/12/2017 20:00

Its bollocks... you won't see the cash

glorious · 19/12/2017 20:00

I wouldn't accept PayPal for anything collected in person as you have no proof you gave them the item and PayPal will side with the buyer.

Pengggwn · 19/12/2017 20:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gamerchick · 19/12/2017 20:01

No it’s a scam. There are variations of why they want to send an ‘agent’ to collect the item after a no quibble payment into the PayPal account and waiting until it’s cleared.

Scam scam scam and your dad will be out of pocket if he goes ahead.

Cash on collection always.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 19/12/2017 20:01

Yep. No proof of "delivery"

Pengggwn · 19/12/2017 20:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

greendale17 · 19/12/2017 20:02

It is a well known scam.

shakeyourcaboose · 19/12/2017 20:02

No! Don't let him do it! Just have a look at try the eBay section here.

gamerchick · 19/12/2017 20:03

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1584029

DancingLedge · 19/12/2017 20:03

Yep.

No legitimate reason to use PayPal for a car.

Bank transfer, or, preferably, cash.

Stiddleficks · 19/12/2017 20:03

It’s quite a common scam, they’ll tell PayPal they haven’t received it and get the money back. Your dad will be minus car and money.

NoSquirrels · 19/12/2017 20:03

Your dad tells buyer to PayPal the cash to the person who is going to collect it, and then they can pay cash on collection.

Original poster

ThatsPoker · 19/12/2017 20:03

glorious - this was my concern - even if he took pictures of him passing the car to the man, whose to say 'the buyer' couldn't turn around say 'that's not me?'

Pengwwwyn - I don't know how the scam would work, hence my question. Saying they didn't pick up the car, and Paypal siding with the buyer?

OP posts:

gamerchick · 19/12/2017 20:04

If you google there’s a million examples. Old old trick that apparently still works.

Darcychu · 19/12/2017 20:04

Scam, you can ask paypal for the money back. Just ask for cash.

Allyg1185 · 19/12/2017 20:04

Scam! I got the exact same story for my wedding dress

DramaAlpaca · 19/12/2017 20:05

Very dodgy.

gamerchick · 19/12/2017 20:05

A few different ways the scam works

blogs.harvard.edu/philg/2013/04/29/craigslist-paypal-prepayment-scam-how-does-it-work/

whattoweartomorrow · 19/12/2017 20:05

It quite possibly is a scam, but: it's way cheaper for Irish people to buy cars in the U.K. At the moment with the currency the way it is. We just did it, even after import tax we saved a lot.

Getting someone else to pick it up isn't crazy either: again; we got a local friend to check it out. Ismake sure money is transferred a different way but if may be legit.

Jenala · 19/12/2017 20:06

He'll tell PayPal he didn't get the car and they will at stop your dad getting the money out of his PayPal account.

If he can PayPal it he can bank transfer it. Once it's safely in your dad's account then he can do what he likes. If the buyer refuses to bank transfer/cash on collection then more alarm bells should ring.

Pengggwn · 19/12/2017 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

winterwonderlandy · 19/12/2017 20:06

This is the reason eBay doesn't allow you to use PayPal for items collected. If the person says they didn't collect it, PayPal will automatically refund, your dad has zero comeback unfortunately, and the scammer will have his car and his money.

specialsubject · 19/12/2017 20:06

Stop!!! It is absolutely 100% a scam!!! What will happen is

payment arrives by PayPal
someone takes car
they then raise a dispute with PayPal. Your dad has no evidence that they took the car that PayPal will accept.
buyer gets money and has car. No comeback.

Shame on PayPal, this is not OK. Only take PayPal for things you send by courier with online records. Cars sell for cash only.

Classic scam, all over Gumtree, Facebook and even eBay.

Tors33 · 19/12/2017 20:06

Don't do it my partner was selling a bike on Gumtree and recieved an email saying she wld buy it pay by PayPal n get sumone to collect it turned out to be a scam thy put half in paypal but then goes on to say u have to pay a sum to access it you send the money to them nd u neva see the muny Google it

HermionesRightHook · 19/12/2017 20:07

DEFINITELY a scam. Take cash on delivery or a bank transfer only. Nothing that can be refunded by a third party like paypal or a cheque.

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