Logbook never received - scam?

phyland1000

Hi all,

Recently purchased a van from a seller on Donedeal a few weeks back. Seller told me he would do a change of ownership online as his uncle was a motor trader and could do it all online. I had checked the details of the van prior to make sure it wasn't stolen/no outstanding finance owed etc. and all checked out fine - so I took his word that he would transfer ownership with no issues.

Weeks have gone by and still no logbook arrived in my name. I checked motortax website and can see the van changed ownership the day after I purchased it but it was not changed into my name (rang up shannon and they confirmed it was not signed into my name, and of course they can't disclose who's name it was transferred into).

Tried getting in touch with the seller multiple times but seems as if he has changed his number or blocked me which makes me think there is some kind of scam going on. Has anyone heard of this kind of thing going on? What does he gain by not signing logbook over to me?

Is the best thing to do in this case go straight to the Guards? I do have his name and address where I bought the van. Any help would be appreciated.

Atlantic Dawn

Did you physically see the logbook?

When you checked online did it say ownership transferred or traded in to dealer?

Any other way to get to the seller, possibly visit their home or see if they have other vehicles for sale to track them down?

They could possibly steal it back from you with a spare key and then sell it again to someone else as they would have the logbook.

phyland1000

I never saw the physical logbook no, just assumed as it would be done online there was no need - Stupid mistake on my behalf. When I checked online it said transferred to an individual.

Would them stealing it back hold up since I have all the messages between us finalising the deal etc? Surely that would be enough proof to say the van was sold to me, also the add on Donedeal as well proves it was up for sale.

colm_mcm

Could have been transferred into the sellers name, who hopefully now will transfer it into yours.

If that doesn’t happen, there’s a procedure you can go through, the form is here

https://smartcpr.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Declaration-by-person-acquiring-motor-vehicle.pdf

phyland1000

I'm hoping that is the case but as time goes on it's looking unlikely that it's going to be put in my name. The fact that he's also unable to be contacted by phone doesn't help.

I had seen that form posted before but wasn't sure if it could be used in this situation as it shows that it needs to be signed by a motor dealer - I presume that section can be skipped in my case?

colm_mcm

They’re just verifying that they’ve seen the car, they’re not saying they sold it.

phyland1000

So that would be the motor dealer who first sold it?

colm_mcm

No, just a motor dealer.