Help, wiring funds advice needed ASAP

joehahn · joehahn's Garage

So I am selling my car and received several calls from Europe. I agreed to sell it to a gentleman from Germany. He wants me to have the money quickly, presumably so deal is "done". I have a buyer here in USA that wants to send deposit as well. I feel obligated to the gentleman in Germany but he wants me to forward my bank account number so he can transfer the funds. I was obviously skeptical and said I was uncomfortable forwarding my address and bank account info!

He suggested opening another account just for the purpose of this sale and he will forward funds to this account. So I am still skeptical and giving him a hard time and he, correctly, points out that if he was a criminal and had my new account number, he would have access to no money, I would still have the car and the title and he would not be a very good criminal. Thoughts?

The guy sounds legit. Is the "open an new account" idea ok?

joe 68 L

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

To send a wire, you do need an ABN and account number. I'm pretty sure the way the system is set up, you can wire to his account, but he can't initiate a transfer *from* yours.

He's not doing that deal where he sends too much, and you wire the rest to an offshore account, is it? No, I guess it would make more sense to do that with a cashier's check.

gaijindabe · 04-05-2005, 01:46 PM

I am surprised the scammers have not yet picked up all these Europeans just willing to send tens of thousands of into the bank accounts of folks they dont know..

I smell a rat.

Has this fellow asked for a PPI? Has he talked shipping details? Why is this guy willing to pay so much more than the USA buyer? Have you sent any digital pictures? Has he sent any back? A couple of hundred bucks to fly over - has he expressed any interest?

kaisen · 04-05-2005, 01:48 PM

The numbers are on every check you write anyway

Neilk · 04-05-2005, 01:53 PM

Gaijindabe, the Euro goes a long way these days, so cars in the US can be quite the bargain.

Joe, if you are concerned about the your buyer, go to http://www.telefonbuch.de/ and click on English and see if you can look up his info. Watch out for umlauts if you are looking him up. If he is unlisted, this is of no use.

Steve Carlton · 04-05-2005, 01:58 PM

Joe- call your bank and ask how secure and irreversible the transfer is.

It's hard to believe an overseas buyer would put up his money, trusting a seller unknown to him. So you got to wonder...

350HP930 · 04-05-2005, 02:23 PM

I also smell a scam. I too am wondering if this is one of those "I will pay you too much if you just kick back some of the money" deals.

joehahn · joehahn's Garage

thanks, kinda hoping it's a scam. Some very nice people have contacted me today and really want to buy my car. I fear I priced it incorrectly but hopefully the person somewhere out there that has my future cab will do the same....

joe 68 L

gaijindabe · 04-05-2005, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Neilk
Gaijindabe, the Euro goes a long way these days, so cars in the US can be quite the bargain.

This sounds like nice side work for a knowledgeable Pelican Head.

Hook up with a dealer/specialist in Euroland - learn a few PPI skills, digital photograpy, freight forwarding, buy a trailer - and go out and find what they are looking for..

Run the VINs, check the titles, pay in cash... It could work.

MikeSid · 04-05-2005, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joehahn
thanks, kinda hoping it's a scam. Some very nice people have contacted me today and really want to buy my car. I fear I priced it incorrectly but hopefully the person somewhere out there that has my future cab will do the same....

joe 68 L

Joe, I posted on your for sale ad. I think your car is a very good deal and it doesn't suprise me in the slightest that you have had a high level of interest. You're a gentleman if you let it go for your initial asking price. I've had to convince myself that it must be rusty to go for that price. Otherwise, I think I'd be getting a plane ticket to Ohio.... and a divorce.

Best of luck with the sale.

Walko · Walko's Garage

I know that there are a lot of scammers out there but surley because we don't all live in the USA we should be penalised for the scum that is out there.

It is chaeper for me to buy most things from the states and ship them to Australia then buy them here as well as having greater choice.

My two cents

Michael