Read this before purchasing a second hand vehicle off the internet

[AB]

We have all noticed a lot of scams on Ebay, Carsales and Gumtree lately and it seems to be getting worse.

Feel free to add any other scams that you know of in this thread and hopefully any new buyers can read this and learn before they make a huge finance error!!!

The most popular one so far is a vehicle is for sale at an extremely low price and you may get carried away with getting a bargain of a lifetime.

In most cases there will be no phone number to ring the seller and you will obviously email them your enquiry. The reply you get will be along the lines of the seller being overseas for whatever reason and they are unable to be there for the purchase.

Generally they will advise that they will deliver the vehicle to your address and you can decide if you want the vehicle or not and pay for the vehicle after you receive it. But, they ask for a small amount (usually $450) for the freight charge of the vehicle to your house.

You pay the money and the scam is successful...

There are many other alternatives to this scam and feel free to post up others but please....

Do not transfer any money to anyone until you are looking at the vehicle!

In fact, personally I would not transfer any money to anyone that I cannot see in person!

[macca]

Had scammers when we sold the Lux.
They are offshore, on a rig in our case. Buying for their sons upcoming birthday.
They can only pay with paypal because they cannot access a bank.
They will buy at the listed price, warning bells are starting to ring.
They will also add $1500 for frieght that they will organise.
Send an email with a bogus paypal receipt and ask if you would do a bank transfer of $1500 to the car carrier, he doesnt have paypal sorry????
If you send the money thats the last you hear from them.
One bloke scamming us kept going right to the end. We kept saying nothing will happen untill we transfer the money from Paypal into our personal bank accounts, once the money is safely deposited the deal will be done. He agreed and still hounded us.
We were guessing he was going to put pressure on as the birthday was near, but it didnt work.
Had four of them when selling the car and one where they copied our add in carsales with a cheaper price as Andy is warning about above.
Be careful
Macca

[bazz61]

hi, their was a Nissan Patrol for sale in last Saturdays Adelaide NP , ute 4.2 turbo,must sell, I rang, got message service with Aussie accent, then emailed the address, same thing, over seas seller, its in a yard in NT, left in a will,will truck any where in Aust, wanted $$ paid via Google, yes the ute was 1/2 price , 12,990.00, so got my attention , be aware , they are out there, Barry Adelaide/ Gold coast

[rkinsey]

I have bought and sold items on Ebay and quite happy to continue to do so. To a point. Camping gear, LED lights for the tents, 12v chargers etc.

When it comes to larger items like cars, I will only exchange an agreement on a handshake. If they cant come face to face then there is no deal. Simple.