Used-car buyer almost falls victim to a scammer pretending to be a broker: ‘It all sounded wrong’
- Replies 2
Buying a car can be a significant investment, and for many people, a brand-new car may be out of their budget. That's where used cars come in.
They offer an attractive option to many people looking for a more affordable option. Used cars can be significantly cheaper than new cars, and depending on the make and model, they may not have significantly depreciated in value.
In addition to being more affordable, used cars can also be more convenient. If you don't want to deal with the rapid loss of value that new cars experience, a used one may be a better choice.
Used cars can also come with additional benefits, such as new tires, up-to-date maintenance, or a longer warranty. This can give you peace of mind that you are getting a car that is in good condition.
However, it's important to be aware of the potential scams that come with buying a used car. Some sellers may try to hide previous accidents or damage that could affect the safety and performance of the vehicle.
Unfortunately, there are also scammers who have no car to sell but just want to scam buyers out of their money. They may use convincing sales talk, dubious online payment schemes, or even create fake websites.
This is a reality that many car buyers face, as was the case with Mark Bardsley, a recent victim of a used car scam.
Many of us can relate to the excitement of finding a great deal on something we've been searching for, and Mark Bardsley was no exception.
When he stumbled upon a seemingly perfect second-hand car on a trusted car sales website last October, he was thrilled. With a price tag of just $17,000, it was within his budget and had everything he was looking for.
As someone who had previously bought a second-hand car, he knew that buying a slightly used model with low mileage was often a better value than investing in a brand-new vehicle.
For Bardsley, the car was a bit of a bargain compared to some of the other options he had considered.
With just under 30,000 kilometres on the clock, the four-year-old hatchback seemed to be in excellent condition, according to the seller. For Bardsley, this was exactly what he had in mind, and he felt confident that it would make a smart purchase.
When he contacted the seller, Bardsley realised that they were using a broker to manage the sale. Despite feeling a little wary of going through a third party, Bardsley was willing to give it a try.
The seller offered two options for buying the car: Bardsley could either arrange an inspection at the broker's warehouse, but he would need to present a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours, or he could opt for a contactless delivery.
The latter option would allow him to inspect the car, take it for a test drive, and take it to his mechanic for a service, all within 48 hours. The broker even had a live chat on their website to help answer any questions Bardsley might have.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 concerns, the broker said that in-person viewings were temporarily 'unavailable', leaving Bardsley with no other option but to opt for contactless delivery.
So, he created an account on the broker's website, providing 100 points of ID and consenting to their terms and conditions. Once his account was verified, the broker sent him a shipment bill with a tracking number, as well as an invoice for $17,000, which he was instructed to pay into an escrow account.
Bardsley was hesitant to pay for the car before seeing it in person, but the broker insisted that it was for his own protection.
'It all sounded wrong. I hadn't even seen the thing yet,' he said.
Bardsley started to feel uneasy when he sensed that something wasn't quite right with the broker's company, so he decided to investigate further to get to the bottom of it.
He began by looking closely at the website and noticed that the broker's phone number and office address didn't match up. This was the first red flag for Bardsley, and he knew he needed to do more digging.
After attempting to call the number with a northeast Queensland area code several times, he couldn't get through. Bardsley then turned to Google Maps and put in the office address, and to his surprise, the location led him to an empty plot of land in Victoria.
Bardsley then decided to double-check the terms and conditions he agreed to when he signed up with the broker. There, he discovered that he was obligated to pay upfront for the car and would be responsible for any penalties if he backed out of the sale. He felt trapped and confused, wondering what his options were.
When Bardsley confronted the seller about the issues he found, he was met with an aggressive and threatening response. The message was filled with typos, making the whole thing even more suspicious.
Bardsley knew he needed to take action quickly to protect himself from potential legal problems.
After uncovering some unsettling truths, Bardsley grew suspicious that the seller had been a scammer from the very beginning. With a heavy heart, he decided to cut ties with the seller and end all communication.
The broker's website quickly disappeared from the internet following their confrontation, leaving Bardsley with a feeling of unease.
To prevent others from falling prey to the same scheme, he immediately reported the incident to both Scamwatch and the car sales website responsible for hosting the fraudulent ad. The ad has since been removed from the car sales website as well.
In a statement, a spokesperson from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) confirmed that Bardsley did the right thing by taking action and reporting the incident to the proper authorities. The spokesperson also shared that Scamwatch had received other reports of similar scams in the past.
And even though Bardsley was spared from having his money stolen, he did unwittingly provide the scammers with information that could be used in future scams, including phishing and impersonation schemes.
We hope this article is helpful, members! Remember, when it comes to buying either brand-new or second-hand cars, always be careful when dealing with large amounts of money. Scam artists always feed on the desperation of vulnerable people, so we must always be on guard!
For more up-to-date stories and articles regarding similar scams, feel free to check out the Scam Watch forum on the SDC website.
Have you ever tried buying used cars before? How did it go? Share your experiences with us in the comments!
They offer an attractive option to many people looking for a more affordable option. Used cars can be significantly cheaper than new cars, and depending on the make and model, they may not have significantly depreciated in value.
In addition to being more affordable, used cars can also be more convenient. If you don't want to deal with the rapid loss of value that new cars experience, a used one may be a better choice.
Used cars can also come with additional benefits, such as new tires, up-to-date maintenance, or a longer warranty. This can give you peace of mind that you are getting a car that is in good condition.
Although there are benefits to purchasing a used vehicle, there are also drawbacks to consider. Credit: Pexels/16870777.
However, it's important to be aware of the potential scams that come with buying a used car. Some sellers may try to hide previous accidents or damage that could affect the safety and performance of the vehicle.
Unfortunately, there are also scammers who have no car to sell but just want to scam buyers out of their money. They may use convincing sales talk, dubious online payment schemes, or even create fake websites.
This is a reality that many car buyers face, as was the case with Mark Bardsley, a recent victim of a used car scam.
Many of us can relate to the excitement of finding a great deal on something we've been searching for, and Mark Bardsley was no exception.
When he stumbled upon a seemingly perfect second-hand car on a trusted car sales website last October, he was thrilled. With a price tag of just $17,000, it was within his budget and had everything he was looking for.
As someone who had previously bought a second-hand car, he knew that buying a slightly used model with low mileage was often a better value than investing in a brand-new vehicle.
With just under 30,000 kilometres on the clock and an attractive price tag, the four-year-old hatchback seemed perfect for Bardsley. Credit: Unsplash/CHUTTERSNAP.
For Bardsley, the car was a bit of a bargain compared to some of the other options he had considered.
With just under 30,000 kilometres on the clock, the four-year-old hatchback seemed to be in excellent condition, according to the seller. For Bardsley, this was exactly what he had in mind, and he felt confident that it would make a smart purchase.
When he contacted the seller, Bardsley realised that they were using a broker to manage the sale. Despite feeling a little wary of going through a third party, Bardsley was willing to give it a try.
The seller offered two options for buying the car: Bardsley could either arrange an inspection at the broker's warehouse, but he would need to present a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours, or he could opt for a contactless delivery.
The latter option would allow him to inspect the car, take it for a test drive, and take it to his mechanic for a service, all within 48 hours. The broker even had a live chat on their website to help answer any questions Bardsley might have.
Since brokers are so unusual, Bardsley had some reservations when he learned one was involved, but he was determined to go through with the deal nevertheless. Credit: Pexels/Antoni Shkraba.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 concerns, the broker said that in-person viewings were temporarily 'unavailable', leaving Bardsley with no other option but to opt for contactless delivery.
So, he created an account on the broker's website, providing 100 points of ID and consenting to their terms and conditions. Once his account was verified, the broker sent him a shipment bill with a tracking number, as well as an invoice for $17,000, which he was instructed to pay into an escrow account.
Bardsley was hesitant to pay for the car before seeing it in person, but the broker insisted that it was for his own protection.
'It all sounded wrong. I hadn't even seen the thing yet,' he said.
Bardsley started to feel uneasy when he sensed that something wasn't quite right with the broker's company, so he decided to investigate further to get to the bottom of it.
He began by looking closely at the website and noticed that the broker's phone number and office address didn't match up. This was the first red flag for Bardsley, and he knew he needed to do more digging.
After attempting to call the number with a northeast Queensland area code several times, he couldn't get through. Bardsley then turned to Google Maps and put in the office address, and to his surprise, the location led him to an empty plot of land in Victoria.
When Bardsley started to dig more, he uncovered evidence that many of the provided details are misleading. Credit: Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio.
Bardsley then decided to double-check the terms and conditions he agreed to when he signed up with the broker. There, he discovered that he was obligated to pay upfront for the car and would be responsible for any penalties if he backed out of the sale. He felt trapped and confused, wondering what his options were.
When Bardsley confronted the seller about the issues he found, he was met with an aggressive and threatening response. The message was filled with typos, making the whole thing even more suspicious.
Bardsley knew he needed to take action quickly to protect himself from potential legal problems.
After uncovering some unsettling truths, Bardsley grew suspicious that the seller had been a scammer from the very beginning. With a heavy heart, he decided to cut ties with the seller and end all communication.
The broker's website quickly disappeared from the internet following their confrontation, leaving Bardsley with a feeling of unease.
To prevent others from falling prey to the same scheme, he immediately reported the incident to both Scamwatch and the car sales website responsible for hosting the fraudulent ad. The ad has since been removed from the car sales website as well.
In a statement, a spokesperson from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) confirmed that Bardsley did the right thing by taking action and reporting the incident to the proper authorities. The spokesperson also shared that Scamwatch had received other reports of similar scams in the past.
And even though Bardsley was spared from having his money stolen, he did unwittingly provide the scammers with information that could be used in future scams, including phishing and impersonation schemes.
We hope this article is helpful, members! Remember, when it comes to buying either brand-new or second-hand cars, always be careful when dealing with large amounts of money. Scam artists always feed on the desperation of vulnerable people, so we must always be on guard!
For more up-to-date stories and articles regarding similar scams, feel free to check out the Scam Watch forum on the SDC website.
Have you ever tried buying used cars before? How did it go? Share your experiences with us in the comments!
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