|
|
Sell It Yourself Car Seller's Guide |
Returning Users Sign In  |
|
Ready to sell your car? Just click below!
|
Learn How to Close Your Car Sale |
Dealing With Fraudulent LeadsBack to Top |
Stop Fraud: See the latest scams in our SAFE blog. Along with the number of consumers conducting transactions online, internet fraud has increased during the past several years. Big-ticket transactions are a primary target, but that shouldn't discourage you from selling your car on your own. Go for it, but be cautious and educate yourself about potential scams. Be on the lookout for the following ways you can be lured into a scam: Cashier's Check ScamsIn a typical scenario, a buyer — who usually inquires from overseas — arranges to pay for the car with a cashier's check or certified check in an amount that's more than the vehicle's purchase price. The buyer justifies this by saying a previous sale fell through or the extra money is needed to pay for shipping expenses or customs fees. The buyer then asks the seller to wire the difference either to him or to the shipping company to cover expenses. Or a buyer will send a cashier's check as a down payment, then decide to back out of the deal and ask for the money back. When asked to wire money, just say no. It's never a good idea to wire money to someone you don't know because it's an untraceable transaction. Stop negotiating with anyone who proposes this kind of bargain. Phony Escrow ServicesEscrow services serve as middlemen between buyers and sellers. They collect payments from buyers, wait until the buyers collect and approve the purchases, and then send the money to the sellers. The internet is littered with bogus escrow sites, so make sure you use a licensed, reputable service. Cars.com recommends Escrow.com. Never blindly accept an escrow service proposed by a buyer. If a buyer insists on using a service other than Escrow.com, find a new buyer. Below is an actual fraud email sent to a cars.com seller:
Hello,
Thanks for the email. I am interested and would be willing to buy it at that price ($3,500). I have an International shipping agent that will come pick it up from your (HOUSE) and ship to me. I will arrange for payment by sending your full name, address, state, city, ZIP code, country, telephone no./mobile no to my client in the states who is owing me the amount of ($8,000) to issue you a check for this amount, which is a refund for a cancelled order I placed with him, and being a refund the amount can only be written on a single check. I know it is more than the (car) price but after getting the check, I need you to cash it and deduct cost of the (car), then do me a favor of wiring the remaining balance to my international shipper via Western Union. I will also compensate you with ($50) for removing the advert from the net. After this is done and he gets the money, he will then pick it up from your residence and ship to me. So, confirm this and send your full name and address including phone number for mailing the check payment to you as soon as possible. Waiting for your urgent reply, Kind regards. John View more fraud emails received by cars.com. |
Meeting a Prospective Buyer for a Test DriveBack to Top |
Few people would buy a car from a dealer without test-driving it first, and the same is true when dealing with a private-party seller. It may seem odd to hand your keys to a stranger, but the process should run smoothly if you follow these tips:
|
