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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think DH was scammed

226 replies

Cath2907 · 21/05/2018 09:44

We were selling our old car yesterday through autotrader. I took out kid and dog to reduce distractions. DH was dealing. He rang to tell me car was sold for £450 less than advertised but to some lovely people.

I got home later to find they'd had trouble transferring money to our account. He'd seen them set up the transfer on their side but that the payment was delayed until today. Basically he let them drive away without paying.

No money has arrived today. Have emailed them to express concern there's been a mix up and ask them to confirm the details of the transferred money and no answer.

DH said he saw their drivers license, checked it had the same address they'd asked the car to be registered to and overall they seemed a lovely couple. He is sure the money will show up and this is all a mix up. I think they have scammed him and am quite upset and frustrated that he let someone drive away with a few grands worth of our car without actually handing over a penny.

Please tell me I am a suspicious whatsit and this is bound to be a mix up?

OP posts:
MLMsuperfan · 21/05/2018 11:55

Going to buck the trend and say it's possible it's not a scam and the money will show up eventually.

SendYouUpinFlames · 21/05/2018 12:00

If it is a scam, then they knew what they were doing.

The car would of been sold on now and more than likely wont be at the buyers adress if so.

This is how scammers work.

They pretend they're interested, pretend to set up a transfer to you. Drive away with the car, and sell it on for double there and then, that way they can't be traced with it.

Or... it won't get insured and taxed, the number plate will be cloned and it could be used in illegal activity.

Sorry op. Flowers

Aprilmightbemynewname · 21/05/2018 12:01

Have you Googled their names??

Xenia · 21/05/2018 12:16

yes google their names and look them up at Companise House (free on line) and possibly pay £3 ot check their property ownership at the land registry (IF they were not impersonality another couple of course)...

If two banks are not the same it can take a few days to show up whereas if I transfer between family members all using my bank it is instant.

No one would let teh car go until the money was received. Getting cash and insisting on it is very common for that reason too but even there check the notes are not fake/counterfeit I suppose.

lhastingsmua · 21/05/2018 12:19

In my opinion they don’t sound like they will bother paying (why would they? They already have the car!) so I wouldn’t keep a glimmer of hope for the transaction to be posted tomorrow. I would follow the advice here of reporting it as stolen, contacting the police, tracking them down etc. As you have their address you could try small claims court?

lhastingsmua · 21/05/2018 12:22

In my experience- I regularly transfer payments between NatWest, Barclays and HSBC and the bank transfer is typically instant - the funds debit instantly and show in the new account within a few minutes.

PattiStanger · 21/05/2018 12:44

I'm not sure the police are going to be interested in someone willing handing over their car keys.

If it is a scam it's not very sophisticated, how many car sellers must they have to visit before they can find anyone stupid enough to give away their car? Surely you''d have to be trying for years before you actually got a car, that's the one thing that would make me think there's a small chance the money will turn up

PyongyangKipperbang · 21/05/2018 12:45

Between Natwest and Halifax and HSBC it is instant, even on a Sunday.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 21/05/2018 12:51

I transfer between HSBC and Santander a lot and it is always instant even on Sundays. I think you're right to be very concerned OP.

PolkaHots · 21/05/2018 12:52

Fingers crossed for you OP

pigsDOfly · 21/05/2018 12:59

Agree with Schadenfreude, he sound like a trusting nice guy rather than an idiot as everyone is saying, although some would say it's the same thing.

Hope his trust is rewarded and he hasn't been scammed, but it sounds unlikely.

Westiegirl3 · 21/05/2018 13:43

I'm a fine one to talk. I've just remembered of a time about 10 years ago when a trustworthy middle aged Man and lady complimented me on my Gucci prescription glasses and she asked if she could try them on.... I was left standing there alone in the middle of a large shopping centre, partially blind watching them both running of in the distance. I had to phone my Mom to come and get me as it left me completely stranded. My DH and family teased me for ages after but it was all so innocent at the time.

I hope the money is showing as clearing now op?

Pinkgeorge · 21/05/2018 13:50

Hope you get it sorted

Original poster
Cath2907 · 21/05/2018 14:16

The buyer rang back. She had been in meetings all morning. She was very appologetic and has sent a pdf confirmation that the transaction has processed on their end showing it could take up to 24hrs to process. She also rang her bank and they confirmed it was going through but could take up to 24hrs. I won't breathe easy until I see the actual money but I do feel a lot better now!

OP posts:
spookytime · 21/05/2018 14:17

Phew!

Your DH was still a twit.

Original poster
Cath2907 · 21/05/2018 14:19

The plan was to go to the police and report it as obtaining goods by deception. We'd not have been able to claim on the insurance and they'd never have found them I don't suppose. The address would have been fake. It is over 2 hrs drive from here so not a case of just pop by and see them. Besides I am working!

And yes it was thousands so not to be sniffed at.

OP posts:
Xenia · 21/05/2018 14:21

Hopefully it will be okay then but this is why a lot of buyers of cars always insist on cash or a credit card is used.

Interesting that so many people get instant transfers. quite a few people who pay me from a different bank it will take a few days to come through - may be that is some kind of business or corporate bank account then. Other times it is seconds.

SoFake · 21/05/2018 14:22

Hope it's ok. Sounds promising but I would want to see the cash in the account before relaxing.

AuntMae · 21/05/2018 14:35

A couple of years ago when we bought our car we had an issue with the bank transfers. Half was coming from my account, the other half from DH's. (There was a reason for this, I cannot remember what though. Maybe one of our banks limited transfers amounts or something?)

DH's half went straight through, appeared in the man's account within minutes. We waited for 2 hours before the guy had to get to work and told us it would be fine. DH and I were not happy leaving without full payment being received but DH had meetings to get to too. We showed him the transfers on our banking aps and we was more than happy to wave us off in his car. I had a call from my bank on the way home from the fraud department who flagged it as a suspicious activity so I had to do the transfer again. Had I been a CF I could have cancelled the transaction there and then Shock

We had a call the next day to say that it all went through ok/been received and a huge thank you from the guy whose wife was absolutely raging with him for letting us leave! I can't say I blame her. And we're talking £11k missing here.

Fingers crossed it is just the bank taking their time.

IJustHadToNameChange · 21/05/2018 14:42

I'm sorry, that sounds like a delaying tactic, trying to get you to delay calling the police...

Monkeypuzzle32 · 21/05/2018 14:51

mmmm, so she's effectively just bought herself 24 hours to get rid of your car before you call the police, only fond out they dont exist under the details given to you?
Id love to be wrong but after working with the general public for many years I am a cynic
for a reason!

WalkingOnAFlashlightBeam · 21/05/2018 14:54

Westiegirl3, this is why if someone asks me if they can borrow something or try something of mine I always say no. I've had people approach me saying they're thinking of buying some decent headphones and can they just try mine? (Mine aren't incredibly pricey, £100-200, but obviously that's a lot of money!). I always say no. If someone asks why, I just say 'because I don't want you to' and walk away.

Same as I'd never hand someone my phone to borrow. People who do that clearly have never had something similar to you happen to them.

WalkingOnAFlashlightBeam · 21/05/2018 14:58

She rang the bank? How do you know? Because she said she had?

Sorry, but who rings a bank to ask when a transaction will go through if you know you've sent it?

Plus people can sometimes retract payments.

I don't see why it would apparently take up to 24 more hours and be so delayed:

He'd seen them set up the transfer on their side but that the payment was delayed until today. Basically he let them drive away without paying.

Payments don't just delay. Not for 48 plus hours. Think about it: why would they? Most payments are instant or within two hours.

I am hoping for a good outcome for you but I won't hold my breath. PP saying they're buying time are probably right. I wouldn't delay reporting them.

dementedpixie · 21/05/2018 15:02

Payments can be delayed especially if they are for a higher value. The bank checks the validity of the payment.

WalkingOnAFlashlightBeam · 21/05/2018 15:04

But for a few grand?

Tens of thousands, yes.

A few grand is a normal daily payment in banking.

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