Is there a SCAM going around? Guy wants to leave deposit £250 and get courier to pick my bike up...

[thevoyager]

This buyer from ebay, he hasn't done too much asking about bike, or who I am or to view the bike. Said he is waiting for a payout from insurance next week.. 

 

Would be into bank, so once it's in there it's in there.. Then he said cash would come with courier??

 

Something sounds dodge???

[S-Westerly]

Could be dodgy but if you have the 250 actually in your hot little hand and the courier hands over the correct amount of cash before you hand over the bike it might be legit. I'd make sure you had friend (s) on hand in case some one tries to "lean" on you though.

[geofferz]

3 minutes ago, S-Westerly said:

Could be dodgy but if you have the 250 actually in your hot little hand and the courier hands over the correct amount of cash before you hand over the bike it might be legit. I'd make sure you had friend (s) on hand in case some one tries to "lean" on you though.

This

[bonio]

I did this when I sold the VanVan. The guy paid a deposit by bank transfer, arranged a courier, transferred the remainder over the day the courier arrived, and I haded the bike to the man with the van. I was a bit circumspect about it, but once the money's transferred to your account it's yours - I don't think there's any way it can be clawed back. 

[bonio]

Cash with courier sounds even better. As good as cash with buyer, I'd have thought.

[onesea]

41 minutes ago, bonio said:

Cash with courier sounds even better. As good as cash with buyer, I'd have thought.

As long as you can recognise dodgy notes…

[Bianco2564]

Smells like a scam, what's the buyers ebay feedback like?

What if the courier turned up without cash but a dodgy cheque and some tall story then tries to convince you to hand the bike over?

I'd pass on it.

[Stu]

This is a classic scam 

[oldgrump]

A lot of people don't view bikes anymore, if he's willing to pay you £250 deposit, then what's the problem!!  Most courier's won't bring cash, normally it's a Bank transfer, 

The bike courier's I've used, or had bikes picked up from me, range from small independents, to companies like Chas Mortimer Ltd, yep the ex racer, who's picked up 2 bikes from here.

 

[fastbob]

If you only slightly think it might be a scam , why subject yourself to the any anxiety about it ? If someone wants your bike , they can come and fetch it and either bring a wad of cash with them or you both go into a bank and complete a transfer . When I sold my Sportster , I took a deposit by PayPal and promptly banked it . Then the buyer had a change of mind and proposed sending a courier instead of collection in person . I said I was not too  happy and within seconds this prick was screaming for his money back . If I can be arsed to lug my helmet and boots all the way to Portsmouth by train then I expect someone else to do the same . In the end I sold my bike to a very nice lady who arrived when she said she would and paid cash when she said she would . 

[onesea]

The problem is in selling bikes is getting a mutually convenient time to view and petrol costs.

 

A well priced bike will sell before you can get to it. Leaving over priced bikes often junk.

 

So I can understand why people will buy without viewing.

 

As seller if it's not a scam.  It is easier than having the man turn up with his van (probably a private dealer who buys and sells on side) view the bike offer a low offer then get upset when you refuse, for waisting his time.

 

Eventually you agree the date with the private buyer who, turns up with partner, friend, dad, uncle or whoever. 

 

They see the bike are both delighted at price compared with the others they have seen, from people who mysteriously have 2 or 3 others for sale in there garage.

 

These guys have all bought there and then.

 

 

Edited August 27, 2022 by onesea

[learningtofly]

Does anyone worry about fake notes when it's a cash sale? I'm helping my son to sell his 125 at the moment and I feel like a bank transfer is much, much safer.

[onesea]

40 minutes ago, learningtofly said:

Does anyone worry about fake notes when it's a cash sale? I'm helping my son to sell his 125 at the moment and I feel like a bank transfer is much, much safer.

With a friend who worked in casinos, who could ID a fake paper note by feel you would be amazed how many where in circulation. 

Apparently now Scottish money is now the easy target (is still paper).

[S-Westerly]

I think the plastic notes are much more difficult to forge but a direct bank transfer is so easy these days.

[Grumpy Old Git]

36 minutes ago, S-Westerly said:

I think the plastic notes are much more difficult to forge but a direct bank transfer is so easy these days.

However, be sure to allow the bank transfer to clear and the money appear in your account (not 'pending' as these can be 'clawed back').

 

Bank cheques can also be fraudulent - I was involved (along with the Police) in such a scam to buy my AJS. The bank cheque was genuine however, that batch of bank cheques (Lloyds) had been stolen from another branch! The Police arrested the courier but then had to release him as it could not be proven that he was part of the scam. The so-called 'buyer' was not traced.

 

There again, not all buyers are crooked and not all buyers view the item before purchase.

 

[thevoyager]

Thanks for advice all... Well he has paid and it's in my bank, and yes I will now say BANK TRANSFER only as it saved me counting cash and risking bob the courier sliding a few cheeky 20s for himself. 

End of day I have a paper trail of texts and ebay chats to prove anything.

Thanks.

Sad to see my bike go but I want/need a yacht!! 

 

[Bender]

3 minutes ago, thevoyager said:

Thanks for advice all... Well he has paid and it's in my bank, and yes I will now say BANK TRANSFER only as it saved me counting cash and risking bob the courier sliding a few cheeky 20s for himself. 

End of day I have a paper trail of texts and ebay chats to prove anything.

Thanks.

Sad to see my bike go but I want/need a yacht!! 

 

Now transfer it to another account  

[onesea]

8 hours ago, thevoyager said:

 

Sad to see my bike go but I want/need a yacht!! 

 

I have sailed all my life and I really don’t see why, you would want to start at the moment.
The roads are quieter than the sea down here.  Not taken by me but people in places we avoid for reasons that are obvious.  
Sadly our quite spots are all being found because the other places are just full..

….

Not taken by me but,  That’s just getting into port…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/solentboating/permalink/1732938723733883/

At give or take £40-£100 a night…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/solentboating/permalink/1732042907156798/

 

Edited August 27, 2022 by onesea

[Pie man]

10 hours ago, Bender said:

Now transfer it to another account  

Now that's good advice  I work in a world were people recall payments - regularly   

[Bender]

47 minutes ago, Pie man said:

Now that's good advice  I work in a world were people recall payments - regularly   

I've done it and then had to return it again as it was a bank screw up  

[bud]

16 hours ago, Pie man said:

Now that's good advice  I work in a world were people recall payments - regularly   

It's funny you should say that. When I sold my bike, I was paid through bank transfer. The dealer said I would transfer it to another account to be safe.

[Tiggie]

Many years ago my Brother sold his laptop via eBay. The money went into his account so the next day he marked it as dispatched and set off to the post office. A little voice in his head told him to double check his bank account before posting and he discovered that the transfer had been reversed. Had happened within 15 minutes of him saying it had been despatched 

 

 

[Bianco2564]

I now have this scenario selling the Kawasaki.

Ebay buyer wants to pay by PayPal or bank transfer and send someone to collect it.

The way the buyer has written out the message sounds legit, not just “ I buy bike, send van”

Wouldnt do PayPal but a bank transfer should be ok?

Just a bit wary as work got hacked, they say our personal details are ok, but who knows.

[husoi]

When i sold my vfr800 i had an advert in Gumtree or vivastreet website.

Someone allegedly from Paris contacted me that was interested in buying it from me and exactly as the title I would have to pay £250 to the courier.

Whe. I said that I was selling cash only and I wouldn't pay anyone to get the bike I never heard from that scammer again.

 

I would run from that kind of deal because you won't sell the bike and will definitely end up 250 quid loss

[S-Westerly]

Pretty sure it's a scam a variation of that has been going around for a while. I'd follow Husoi's advice.