Buying cars from Facebook Marketplace (2 replies)
Someone i thought was intelligent contacted me today .... he'd checked the HPI online, he'd checked the MOT online, he'd checked it was taxed online ... but it was a long way away (and obviously a bargain) and they wanted the money upfront so they could deliver it to him (and of course they were offering a 10 day money-back guarantee if he changed his mind). They even sent him a photo of documentation on headed paperwork from a legitimate garage showing their address and the address it was stored at.
Was about £6,500 when i would have valued it at about £9,000 (Parker's said £9,500)
He wanted my advice because they "wanted a quick sale" and i'd always emphasised to him to NEVER buy a car over a couple of grand without an RAC inspection .... and they didn't have time to wait for him to book an inspection and wait for the results etc etc .... "but surely it'll be okay Rags - i've even got 10 days to get my money back if i don't like it"
Found the same car, same garage on Autotrader ... on sale for £10,250 .. rang them up ... "yep car is here" ... "yep any inspection is welcome" ... "nope, don't know anything about it being on Facebook - we never advertise on Facebbok" .. "nope we certainly wouldn't be selling it at £6,5500" ... "nope, don't recognise that mobile no on Facebook"
It's a scam .. it's always a scam ... the person on Facebook has cloned a legitimate seller's advert and all the details - just changed the contact details ... NEVER buy a car from FB or ebay etc without yourself or a genuine contact/mechanic having actually seen the soddin' thing