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Car/bank draft scam

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  • 19-11-2019 4:37am
    #1
    johnnyc67
    Registered Users Posts: 99 ✭✭


    I'm just wondering how is this a scam?

    Usual stuff, I put a car up for sale on the usual sites and got an immediate reply from someone who wanted to buy it, didnt want to see it, for his wife, was gonna collect via a shipping company, no haggling etc etc etc.. the usual nonsense.

    Claimed he lived in Belfast... but wanted to send me a bank draft from a French bank. Anyway I played along. I recieved the bank draft for the correct amount. Lodged it. Bank said it would take a while to clear as it's from a foreign bank.

    Low and behold I got an email saying his mother had collapsed and died and his wife who was pregnant on seeing this also collapsed and lost the baby... all very tragic stuff.. this all happened in Spain while on holiday... So he wanted to cancel the deal for the car.

    Ok I'll play along..my reply was "Same thing happened a friend of mine, sorry for your loss etc etc.."

    He is still adamant the draft will clear but wants me to do a bank transfer of the amount when it clears minus 5% for the inconvenience. Transfer to be sent to his wife's account.

    So what's the scam? Fake bank draft? Stolen bank draft?

    I still have the car obviously and have no intention of transferring any money even if it clears.. just trying to figure out what he was up to and warn others I suppose.

    Not sure what category to put this in. Please advise


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    #2
    GrumpyMe
    Registered Users Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    johnnyc67 wrote: »
    ...I'm just wondering how is this... Fake bank draft? Stolen bank draft?...


    Either /either/or...
    Ignore - you will be stung now for the bank fees to bounce the feckin thing!

    Cheap lesson learned - if it looks too good etc....


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    #3
    2pacshakur
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 58 ✭✭2pacshakur


    It probably looks like a bank draft but it's a cheque.

    It's the most common scam going.

    There is no money in the person's account, u lodge the cheque and it looks like the funds are available while it's waiting to clear but you can't withdraw this money.

    After a week or so it bounces.

    Maybe it is a draft but the above is the jist of it


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    #4
    Impetus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,667 ✭✭✭Impetus


    It could be some form of money laundering scam? You need to verify the source account title for the bank draft debit posting. If he wants you to repay the funds to the same account title your main risk is clearance risk. eg it could be a forged bank draft.

    This is a most unusual way to pay for a car.

    If I was in your position I would ask for the original debit advice from the French bank showing the name of the account where the bank draft was debited. Check the dates, amounts and payee name etc. Does that equate withe the name he is asking for the funds to be repaid to. Call the bank and ask them if bank draft number nnnnnn for EURx is valid.

    Did you photocopy the draft before parting with it? If so check the bank details on your copy draft with the documentation he provides.

    Give it a month or so to clear. If it clears, you might consider either repaying him or inviting him to take possession of the car as per the contract. Given the low value of GBP at the moment, it would be unusual for someone in GB-NI to 'see a bargain' in an Irish car that is already over-taxed and probably paid for in EUR. Ask him for a copy of the ID card or passport of the person he wants the money to be returned to.

    Clearing takes much longer than the credit appearing on your bank statement. In England for example, a local cheque can be returned up to a week after it appears to have been credited to your bank account.

    Deduct your costs from any 'refund'!


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    #5
    punisher5112
    Registered Users Posts: 24,647 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Impetus wrote: »
    It could be some form of money laundering scam? You need to verify the source account title for the bank draft debit posting. If he wants you to repay the funds to the same account title your main risk is clearance risk. eg it could be a forged bank draft.

    This is a most unusual way to pay for a car.

    If I was in your position I would ask for the original debit advice from the French bank showing the name of the account where the bank draft was debited. Check the dates, amounts and payee name etc. Does that equate withe the name he is asking for the funds to be repaid to. Call the bank and ask them if bank draft number nnnnnn for EURx is valid.

    Did you photocopy the draft before parting with it? If so check the bank details on your copy draft with the documentation he provides.

    Give it a month or so to clear. If it clears, you might consider either repaying him or inviting him to take possession of the car as per the contract. Given the low value of GBP at the moment, it would be unusual for someone in GB-NI to 'see a bargain' in an Irish car that is already over-taxed and probably paid for in EUR. Ask him for a copy of the ID card or passport of the person he wants the money to be returned to.

    Clearing takes much longer than the credit appearing on your bank statement. In England for example, a local cheque can be returned up to a week after it appears to have been credited to your bank account.

    Deduct your costs from any 'refund'!


    What are you on about.

    It's a scam.


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    #6
    johnnyc67
    Registered Users Posts: 99 ✭✭johnnyc67


    punisher5112 wrote: »
    What are you on about.

    It's a scam.

    This...100%

    I was just wondering what the scam was. Hes gone could now for bout a week after he contacted me on WhatsApp and I sent back pics of some random girl selfie posing on a porn site.. Money still hasn't hit my account so what his plan was I still have no idea..

    Strange since his went to so much trouble in the first place


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    #7
    punisher5112
    Registered Users Posts: 24,647 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    johnnyc67 wrote: »
    This...100%

    I was just wondering what the scam was. Hes gone could now for bout a week after he contacted me on WhatsApp and I sent back pics of some random girl selfie posing on a porn site.. Money still hasn't hit my account so what his plan was I still have no idea..

    Strange since his went to so much trouble in the first place

    It's simple.

    He over pays or as he has done it he no longer wants the car and wants you to pay him back minus 5%.

    You have lodged the fake draft which will never clear and if it did, which it wouldn't but that would be s stolen account and you could be in trouble and you will be hit with a bounce fee.

    These scams are ongoing years.

    Alarm bells should ring when nobody haggles or even wants to see the car.


    They will catch people as they do this day in day out.


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