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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:
Hoppinggreen · 10/06/2023 17:29

Whether it’s a scam or not as a Private seller as long as you didn’t lie or misrepresent the car it’s tough (for them)

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 17:35

I know. I’m not so worried about legal implication and how far they will go to intimidate them. My husband did the sale and I wasn’t with them and he said they put lots of pressure on him. I walked the bloke out the house when he was standing right in the doorway and told him to wait while we counted cash.

He even got me to sign saying sold as seen. So.

Looking online it looks like a common scam.

The cash they gave has left the house with a family member and I’ll be double checking all doors etc this eve.

Best to ignore all calls do you think?
may be I should preemptively call the police? Non emergency.?

OP posts:
Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 17:36

Sorry I meant I’m not worried about legalities but more what they will do to intimidate us. If they come I’ll be answering the ring, saying husband is out and contacting police immediately.

OP posts:
LuckOfTheDrawer · 10/06/2023 17:38

Oh, this sounds stressful - I hope you're OK OP.

How did they transfer the money, by bank transfer?

LaurieFairyCake · 10/06/2023 17:41

I think the transfer is a fake and you don't have that

All this is just noise so you don't notice you don't have the cash

Niceseasidetown · 10/06/2023 17:41

Maybe you could reply to the text stating the legal situation (ie your lack of legal responsibility here) and stating you find the messages harassing and have contacted police (if that is true...and a non emergency call is not unwarranted) and will also be reporting to whatever platform they found the car on.

Lift the block so you have evidence of harassment.

They'll put their efforts into the more compliant I suspect. As soon as they know you know your legal position and are calling harassment I suspect they will stay well clear.

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 17:42

Yes by bank transfer. They did it before the final price was agreed. My husband obviously feels stupid about that now. I wish I had been out with him
as I’m better dealing with scammers I think and being a woman.

said they had to get to ferry to Ireland so we’re using that to hurry us up checking cash. I told husband to say ok just leave then and take cash/transfer back. But he wouldn’t.

It was off from the start

OP posts:
Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 17:43

Niceseasidetown · 10/06/2023 17:41

Maybe you could reply to the text stating the legal situation (ie your lack of legal responsibility here) and stating you find the messages harassing and have contacted police (if that is true...and a non emergency call is not unwarranted) and will also be reporting to whatever platform they found the car on.

Lift the block so you have evidence of harassment.

They'll put their efforts into the more compliant I suspect. As soon as they know you know your legal position and are calling harassment I suspect they will stay well clear.

Thanks I may well do this. Husband is massively stressed. I suspect they have seen him as an easy mark. I may take his phone and deal with it.

OP posts:
Goldrushed · 10/06/2023 17:43

Is the money definitely in your account? Can you move it and contact your bank in case they try some sort of charge back?

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 17:44

I’ll ask husband to check, but I’ll suggest he moves it ASAP incase they do this. I don’t think they can but I’m not an expert.

OP posts:
Heartsnrainbows · 10/06/2023 17:45

I also think you need to check the funds are still in your account and did not bounce.

Whatisithatido · 10/06/2023 17:45

Just block everything,.move the money out of your account and fuck em.

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 17:46

LaurieFairyCake · 10/06/2023 17:41

I think the transfer is a fake and you don't have that

All this is just noise so you don't notice you don't have the cash

Is there a way they can fake that? My husband is fairly good at banking stuff and said he had checked the fund were in his account.

worse thing is we are selling on behalf or a relative who is dying and needs the money to pay for adaptations to the home. These CUNTs don’t give a shit though so they.

OP posts:
INeedAnotherName · 10/06/2023 17:47

Move the bank transfer money. Check cash isn't fake. Text to say its bought as seen as per the law and all cash has now been banked.

Any more contact call the non emergency line to ask for advice. Dont be rushed into anything. Read text, put it down and do ten deep breathes, then think of answer calmly. They are counting on you panicking.

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 17:50

We have the ring door bell recording where we state sold as seen and have saved that.

OP posts:
DazeOff · 10/06/2023 17:53

If they have used a compromised account the bank can back not out and you will be at a loss. Even if you transfer the money out.

Have you checked the cash isn't counterfeit?

From the moment they started being difficult I'd have stopped the sale. There's red flags all over this.

croft89 · 10/06/2023 17:56

I work in the Trade and have to deal with people like this quite often

To get through to them I have to repeat myself over and over again until they realize that they won't be getting anywhere

Basically you have to be really abrupt and rude and then they realize that you don't give a shit and that they aren't going to get anywhere

Block any numbers, don't answer any calls or texts

Sold as seen. We both know there's nothing wrong with the car anyway

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 19:06

DazeOff · 10/06/2023 17:53

If they have used a compromised account the bank can back not out and you will be at a loss. Even if you transfer the money out.

Have you checked the cash isn't counterfeit?

From the moment they started being difficult I'd have stopped the sale. There's red flags all over this.

I agree. My husband knew it was dodgy but was intimidated and sadly I didn’t get involved until the end. Lesson learnt is all we can say. Hard lesson learnt. Cash looks, as well as I can check, legit. However I suspect it was dirty/stolen money in some way.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 10/06/2023 19:11

The cash really may not be there - they can use fake accounts and it could disappear on Monday

DO NOT give them any money - that is also a scam as they get your REAL money from your bank account as you transfer it to them but the payment from them has NOT cleared

DO NOTHING apart from ignore everything

Tequilamockinbird · 10/06/2023 19:16

Have you checked the money is definitely in your account? A common scam is for them to show a fake app which will show the money being transferred to you.

I would ignore everything. If they turn up, call the police.

whoami24601 · 10/06/2023 19:19

I had a similar thing but it was only over a phone. I sold an old iPhone and a guy came and collected it. Within the hour he sent me a photo of 'my' phone with an error message. He was really scary and demanding a refund. I had stupidly let him collect it from me so knew where I lived. He said he was going to come round a take his money back. I was genuinely scared so rang the non emergency police number and reported it. They put a flag on my address so if he did come I could ring 999 and they'd be straight out. In the end I managed to poke a big enough hole in his story that he knew he'd been rumbled and blocked me. It was terrifying to think he knew where I lived though! Definitely ring 101 and report incase they return.

Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 19:26

Tequilamockinbird · 10/06/2023 19:16

Have you checked the money is definitely in your account? A common scam is for them to show a fake app which will show the money being transferred to you.

I would ignore everything. If they turn up, call the police.

Not it’s in and taken out to another account. Already.

I actually think the cash/transfer is legit (but cash less than they tried to say hence pressuring us to not count correctly). I think the scam was pressuring lower price which they successed and now trying to get some back, which they won’t succeed at now I’m involved.

im a little annoyed at my husband but to be fair as a male he was worried in a different way than I might be as a female.

OP posts:
Original poster
HaveIbeenscammed · 10/06/2023 19:27

LaurieFairyCake · 10/06/2023 19:11

The cash really may not be there - they can use fake accounts and it could disappear on Monday

DO NOT give them any money - that is also a scam as they get your REAL money from your bank account as you transfer it to them but the payment from them has NOT cleared

DO NOTHING apart from ignore everything

Can they scam that it has arrived in our account? We’ve already moved it so does that mean it’s safe?!

OP posts:
goingtotown · 10/06/2023 19:28

Why would they say there's something wrong with the car if the transaction or cash is fake?

INeedAnotherName · 10/06/2023 19:39

goingtotown · 10/06/2023 19:28

Why would they say there's something wrong with the car if the transaction or cash is fake?

The cash might be fine but if they come back with a "faulty" car DH will be trying to fix it with one man while the other sneaks into house to steal back the cash. They've already tried to bluster and got into house on viewing, so they know how to push DH buttons already.

Either way, it sounds a right nightmare.