Are you looking to sell your car at some point in the future? Then you’ll want to keep up with routine service and maintenance so that it continues to run in optimal condition. Most buyers will also prefer to purchase a car that they know has been well looked after. Even if people are buying a second hand car, they would still want one that is in good running condition, looks good, offers decent gas mileage, and suits the passenger and cargo space requirements them and their family. Just because they’re opting for a less pricey vehicle doesn’t mean they should settle for any less than those criteria.
On the other side, while looking after your car’s condition it’s also important that you look out for scams if you decide to sell your vehicle online. While honest buyers are still there, sadly those who like to take advantage of unsuspecting sellers exist too. So it pays to be aware of how they do their ‘business’ so you can save yourself at the very early sign.
1. The ‘I Don’t Need To See It’ Scam
If you think this doesn’t happen, well think again. Scammers can make up a lot of pretty convincing excuses to make you believe that they don’t need to see you vehicle in person before buying, but don’t fall for any of them.
Think about it, any sane and serious buyer would want to check the car before shelling out the cash. First, a car isn’t exactly a cheap purchase even if it’s a used one. Second, we all know that the older the car the more likely it comes with issues. And third, it’s even common practice for people to bring a mechanic friend to inspect the car thoroughly before buying it. So who would be in his right mind to blindly pay for a used car unless he has other motive to do so?
A buyer may get into an accident or damage the car on purpose, and then claim that it was already damaged when they bought it. They may then try to make you pay for something that wasn’t your fault.
So to save yourself from this kind of scam, it would be best to be very transparent and accurate when describing your car in your advert online. It also helps to weed out buyer like this, if you ask them to sign a “sold as seen” receipt before a sale is agreed.
2. The ‘I’m Currently Abroad By A Can Pay Online’ Scam
This one may not smell fishy to you, you’re transacting online after all. However, you should know that there are a lot of ways to swindle you through online payment methods like PayPal. Buyers may try to claim things like working for a popular company and asking you legitimate questions about your car and its condition, to really make you trust them.
But then their true colors will show when it’s time to pay. They may send you a fake receipt masked as a genuine email from the online payment company when in fact they didn’t send a single cent. The scammer will then ask you to ship the car or to organize a freight company to pick up the vehicle for them.
Another example of this scamming method would be the buyer saying their payment is being held by the online payment service provider until you ship the car. This actually happens a lot more than you realize you want to really be vigilant with the people you transact with and easily accepting email receipts. What you should check is your bank account, if no money has reached it, then don’t ship you vehicle anywhere.
3. The ‘Oops, I Think I Overpaid You. Can You Refund Me The Extra?’ Scam
I guess the most common scam here is those who can’t meet and pay in person, so be very careful when dealing with them. If it’s at all possible, skip those buyers altogether especially if there are others who are willing to transact face to face.
This type of scamming happens with the fraudster sending you a check, paying via bank transfer or sending you money online but then says he overpaid you by mistake. Of course the person will then ask you to pay them back the extra.
Yes, honest mistakes like overpaying happens but very rarely. People are hardly ever that careless when it comes to paying for something. But in fact the check is forged, the bank transfer hasn’t happened at all or the payment receipt you’ve received to your email is fake.
If you’re already in this situation, don’t hastily send the money right away. You should at least wait until the check clears, the bank transfer reaches your account or log in to the payment website.
4. The ‘This Car Is Not Worth The Price. Can You Knock Off A Few Dollars?’ Scam
As mentioned above, it is common practice for buyers to bring a mechanic to inspect the car before purchasing it. While that mainly happens for a buyer to feel secure that he’s not being scammed by the seller, this can also be used to scam people.
How? Well, as you may already imagine, the buyer shows up with an “expert” to check the car and then declares that your car isn’t worth your asking price because it still needs a lot of fixing or that the price for the car model that you’re selling have dropped in the market. If they’re good, they can really make you think twice about your asking price. When they manage to fool you they’ll put the car back on the market and sell it for an even higher price than they paid you.
Don’t let yourself fall for this trick, what you can do is get your car inspected beforehand. Even better if you go to a popular car servicing shop for the inspection that gives a certificate of inspection instead of just going to a random mechanic. This way you can stand your ground and stick with your original asking price. Check for any issues and make sure you know the true value of your vehicle and how much other drivers are selling that same model for.
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