"When Lisa recently placed an ad on several popular used car websites trying to sell a two year old car , She received emails from interested buyers almost immediately. Lisa was convinced her car would be sold and she would have the much needed cash in hand in no time at all. She was surprised how similar some of these emails appeared. The interested parties wanted to buy the car through PayPal and stressed this was the safer way. They also wanted to use an agent because they were emailing from a distant location and could not come to see the car. One person said they worked as a crew member with a respected cruise shipping company and another person said they were conveniently overseas working as an air hostess.
It also seemed odd that the buyers asked redundant questions such as the asking price when it was listed write on the ad, or they would ask for pictures even though photos were provided. Some even offered more money then the asking price of the vehicle. These potential buyers promised to pay the full price through PayPal without ever seeing the car in person or taking it for a test-drive. Each person said they had a "pick-up agent" that would pick up the car once the payment was processed."
It also seemed odd that the buyers asked redundant questions such as the asking price when it was listed write on the ad, or they would ask for pictures even though photos were provided. Some even offered more money then the asking price of the vehicle. These potential buyers promised to pay the full price through PayPal without ever seeing the car in person or taking it for a test-drive. Each person said they had a "pick-up agent" that would pick up the car once the payment was processed."
Below are just a couple of examples that are fraudulent or scams as we call them. Please keep in mind that there are hundreds of these circulating online today and will appear in different formats, names changed and stories similar. But most say they can't get there to pick up the vehicle and request to pay you in full through PayPal, and that their shipping agent will pick up the vehicle for them. Careful and don't be fooled and be vigilant at all times when dealing online.
Example 1 :
Example 2 : Actual Email
- Beware of buyers or sellers who ask for specific personal details such as banking information, including full name and address, date of birth, place of
employment, etc.
- Avoid people who ask you to open up a PayPal account so they can transfer funds to it. If you already have a PayPal account, Do not release your PayPal details.
- Avoid people who say they will send money through an agent.
- Avoid people who say they will send an agent to pick up the vehicle.
- Avoid people who insist on using western union to transfer money.
- Never give your credit card details to anyone you do not know or trust.
- Never buy or sell a vehicle that has not been seen in person. Especially if the buyer or seller is from overseas or interstate.
- Don't accept a bank cheque. If you do, don't part with your vehicle until bank cheque has been verified and funds cleared into your bank account.
- Beware of people who offer to give you more money then you asked for.
- Beware of people that refuse to talk over the phone in person and insist on only using email to communicate.
- If they take your vehicle for a test drive, Go with them. If you don't go with them, Ask to see their license and write details down. Photocopy their license if
possible.
- Never take part payments for your vehicle. Cash in full on pick up or no sale.
- When accepting cash or giving cash in large sums, make sure you have somebody with you and be alert at all times. Do not deal in a dark corner. Do this
transaction in public.
- You should always seek a report on the vehicles history through websites like carhistory.com.au(AUS) or carfax.com(USA). This will let you know if the vehicle is
under finance or has been stolen.
employment, etc.
- Avoid people who ask you to open up a PayPal account so they can transfer funds to it. If you already have a PayPal account, Do not release your PayPal details.
- Avoid people who say they will send money through an agent.
- Avoid people who say they will send an agent to pick up the vehicle.
- Avoid people who insist on using western union to transfer money.
- Never give your credit card details to anyone you do not know or trust.
- Never buy or sell a vehicle that has not been seen in person. Especially if the buyer or seller is from overseas or interstate.
- Don't accept a bank cheque. If you do, don't part with your vehicle until bank cheque has been verified and funds cleared into your bank account.
- Beware of people who offer to give you more money then you asked for.
- Beware of people that refuse to talk over the phone in person and insist on only using email to communicate.
- If they take your vehicle for a test drive, Go with them. If you don't go with them, Ask to see their license and write details down. Photocopy their license if
possible.
- Never take part payments for your vehicle. Cash in full on pick up or no sale.
- When accepting cash or giving cash in large sums, make sure you have somebody with you and be alert at all times. Do not deal in a dark corner. Do this
transaction in public.
- You should always seek a report on the vehicles history through websites like carhistory.com.au(AUS) or carfax.com(USA). This will let you know if the vehicle is
under finance or has been stolen.
Some things to watch out for ! (Buyers and Sellers):
- Never send personal information by email.
- Always keep your passwords secret and don't make it a simple one.
- Always change your password at least once a month.
- Never store your password on your computer.
- Always update your virus protection and firewall.
- Run a deep scan at least once a week using your virus protection program as this sometimes picks up virus's that a standard scan will miss !
- Research the vehicle you intend on purchasing.
- Ask as many questions as possible.
- We recommend that you always view the vehicle you intend of buying in person, even if it's interstate !
- We recommend that you always receive the money in full when selling your vehicle before you relinguish your vehicle !!
- Report any scam you see to usedtransportsales.com or, if you feel something is not right, Please contact us so we can investigate
the matter with urgency.
- Fraud is a crime.
- Fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or profit and will not be tolerated and
will be reported to local or International authorities.
- Always remember the #1 rule : If it looks to good to be true, then it usually is !
- Always keep your passwords secret and don't make it a simple one.
- Always change your password at least once a month.
- Never store your password on your computer.
- Always update your virus protection and firewall.
- Run a deep scan at least once a week using your virus protection program as this sometimes picks up virus's that a standard scan will miss !
- Research the vehicle you intend on purchasing.
- Ask as many questions as possible.
- We recommend that you always view the vehicle you intend of buying in person, even if it's interstate !
- We recommend that you always receive the money in full when selling your vehicle before you relinguish your vehicle !!
- Report any scam you see to usedtransportsales.com or, if you feel something is not right, Please contact us so we can investigate
the matter with urgency.
- Fraud is a crime.
- Fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or profit and will not be tolerated and
will be reported to local or International authorities.
- Always remember the #1 rule : If it looks to good to be true, then it usually is !
Some things to keep in mind ! (Buyers and Sellers):
"Hi, I am interested in your car you have listed and I would really love to purchase it right away. Kindly put off the ad right away and consider me as your favourite buyer . I'm sorry I can't be there as I work on a cruise ship that won't be in port for several weeks. I will have my shipping agent come over for the handling of the shipping down to my place after payment has been forwarded to you which would be through PayPal as PayPal is safe and secured for transactions online.
I am buying this vehicle for my personal use. If this is acceptable kindly get back to me with your PayPal email address and the details below so I can proceed with the payment. I can only pay through PayPal at the moment as I do not have access to my bank account online, but I have it attached to my PayPal account, and this is why I insisted on using PayPal to pay you. I will need your PayPal email address to make the payments, and if you do not have a PayPal account yet, it's pretty easy to set one up . Goto www.paypal.com to sign up. I will be expecting your email soon. I will need the following details so I can proceed with the payment to you right away. Your PayPal E-Mail Address , Full name, What is your reason for selling it, Are you the first owner. I'm sorry about all the questions, But I just want to be sure about the sale before I proceed sending you any money. Thank you and hope to hear from you soon"
I am buying this vehicle for my personal use. If this is acceptable kindly get back to me with your PayPal email address and the details below so I can proceed with the payment. I can only pay through PayPal at the moment as I do not have access to my bank account online, but I have it attached to my PayPal account, and this is why I insisted on using PayPal to pay you. I will need your PayPal email address to make the payments, and if you do not have a PayPal account yet, it's pretty easy to set one up . Goto www.paypal.com to sign up. I will be expecting your email soon. I will need the following details so I can proceed with the payment to you right away. Your PayPal E-Mail Address , Full name, What is your reason for selling it, Are you the first owner. I'm sorry about all the questions, But I just want to be sure about the sale before I proceed sending you any money. Thank you and hope to hear from you soon"
Disclaimer: Information above is only a guide and should be used as such and usedtransportsales.com cannot be held liable if you are scammed. usedtransportsales.com cannot guarentee that you won't be scammed.
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