Car buyer from online auction, trying to scam me?

[Just Dropped In]

Is the car you are selling unique enough to explain why a buyer would drive 10-12 hours to buy it? I get it if it is special. I drove 8 hours to buy my SL550. Or if the price is a great deal. I drove 6 hours to pick up my wife's X5, to save a few thousand.

But if there is no good explanation why the buyer is driving 10 hours, then that seems like a red flag.

An older car with low miles. Too nice a car to rush a transaction on.

 

[DuckRyder]

And how awkward is 20 grand in cash gonna be? 6500 is hard enough to deal with… sounds scratch to me.

 

[Mainia]

Now a days I will only sell a car and meet at my bank even if it is cash or a wire. They can check the bills for me and it goes right into my account, so when I leave I have zero cash on me. I have them on a Bank camera too, which is my added "Firewall" to filter scammers. If that won't happen, I am not selling it. If I buy, I understand why and I feel like it is a legit seller then too. Win win.

 

[Chris142]

Wells Fargo (only one in my rural area) is only open until noon Saturdays. The buyer was not going to be arriving in my area from his 10-12 hour trip until sundown Saturday evening. Then there would have been inspecting the car, locating a Notary at night, and no way to tell if his money/(or some form of check) was legit. Maybe I was being overcautious, but it was too much to deal with late into a Saturday night.

You don't need a notary to sell a car. Why can't he leave late Friday night to come get it?

 

[demarpaint]

With all the hoop jumping and nonsense with this deal, I'd can the deal and move on.

 

[Just Dropped In]

You don't need a notary to sell a car. Why can't he leave late Friday night to come get it?

My state requires notarized title transfers. I gave the guy the opportunity to come Sunday and we could do everything Monday during business hours.

 

[eljefino]

So how were you hoping it would go down? It seems like you're rushing into this without thinking everything through. Don't mistake enthusiasm for a scam, but don't be blind to it either. I'd get the guy on the phone, you'll be able to sort this out faster that way than via email.

How do you think the buyer is going to have plates to drive away on?

What state is this?

20k is big bucks, but the buyer could be genuine. Don't let him push you over, but meet him at your bank.

Guy might just live on red bull and work 12 hours M-F then plans to do this all weekend. Is this the kind of car the average buyer expects to make 600 miles sight unseen?

You're coming across as cagey in this thread. This might be representative of your online presence as a whole, suggesting that you'd be more comfortable with a local, in-person sale. Maybe through a dealer as consignment. You won't get top dollar that way, though. So would you step out of your comfort zone? A question you have to ask yourself.

 

[wavinwayne]

Pass.
Even if he gives you a bag of cash, you don't know if it's counterfeit till it lands in your account. And all sorts of other stuff.

I once sold an SUV to a guy who paid in cash, and brought several of his amigos along for the deal. He met me for the deal in the Walmart parking lot. I checked all his money with one of those counterfeit detection pens. Guy and his money were legit. I was armed.

If I were OP, I would only do this deal at my bank/Credit Union. $20k is too much to take any risks. If buyer has issues with that, they can kick rocks.

 

[97prizm]

Someone got the high bid on an online auction (over $20k) for a car I was selling. I message him with congrats and then he messages me back saying he wants to get vehicle during the weekend with cash (he claims to be 650 miles away, 10+ hour drive). I told him I was only going to do the transaction at my bank during weekday banking hours in order to verify funds and have the title transfer notarized. This seemed to irritate him, and he kept demanding a weekend transaction. We went back and forth a few times, with me finally telling him I wasn't going to do this transaction without my bank being involved. As it stands, the auction purchase is in process of being cancelled.

Is it normal for folks to buy vehicles from out of state with just cash, and no offical recording of title transfer, on a weekend? The whole ordeal left me kind of shellshocked. What has been your method of buying vehicles out of state, or selling to people out of state etc?

Depends on if the buyer comes from a state with inspections. I would want my bank involved and a witness with 20k involved. Second from my understanding working for a dealership more than a certain amount of cash requires special paperwork to make sure money laundering/illegal activities aren't being funded.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I agree with the go the bank crowd. I sold a vehicle last year for $6,000 cash and it was a pain counting it all out. I also sold my mom's Buick for cash and had to get that special pen in order to determine the money wasn't counterfeit. You sleep much better at night knowing the banker deposited the money in your account and the title was signed over.

 

[Just Dropped In]

So how were you hoping it would go down? It seems like you're rushing into this without thinking everything through. Don't mistake enthusiasm for a scam, but don't be blind to it either. I'd get the guy on the phone, you'll be able to sort this out faster that way than via email.

How do you think the buyer is going to have plates to drive away on?

What state is this?

20k is big bucks, but the buyer could be genuine. Don't let him push you over, but meet him at your bank.

Guy might just live on red bull and work 12 hours M-F then plans to do this all weekend. Is this the kind of car the average buyer expects to make 600 miles sight unseen?

You're coming across as cagey in this thread. This might be representative of your online presence as a whole, suggesting that you'd be more comfortable with a local, in-person sale. Maybe through a dealer as consignment. You won't get top dollar that way, though. So would you step out of your comfort zone? A question you have to ask yourself.

He wasn't going to be driving the car anywhere (although it could be at 40+ years of age and 19k miles). He was to pick it up and truck/trailer it back to his state 650 miles away. I never assumed anyone out of state would want to do a vehicle transaction late Saturday night with not allowing me the ability to verify funds, cash or otherwise, or legally transfer the title. He wasn't buying a wheelbarrow, it was a $23,000 vintage automobile.

 

[panthermike]

I think the bottom line is: you have certain criteria and so does the buyer; they BOTH have to be met. Sounds like you did what felt was right.

 

[andrew_j]

People work during week.

 

[Dinoburner]

How does registration and insurance get cancelled on a weekend. Is the buyer a dealer, sounds a little hinky.

 

[spasm3]

I like cash at the police or sheriffs office, if you can't make the bank on sat. I'd check each bill before handing over the title. 20k that will take a while.

If that's not ok, walk away.

 

[andrew_j]

A friend did a weekend transaction flying from Montreal to anew Mexico late Friday to pickup a E39 M5 with 160k. He made it home by late Sunday night.

 

[Brons2]

For me it's not even about it being a scam or not, it's about conducting business in a manner that is acceptable for all parties. His terms are not acceptable for you, or your state government, so move on to the next buyer. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

 

[mikeduf]

I sold a G35 to a guy from Arizona. He came here in a rental car, we went to a cash transfer bank. We signed papers, I followed him to the car rental drop-off. He went on his way. The DMV has an online title release feature it takes about 10 minutes to complete. This immediately releases you of any obligations. No more waiting a week in the mail Slow Boat method or letting a bank transfer the title that's all obsolete.

Long story short you basically take the money, release the title, and then go online and release your obligation to the vehicle. And have a margarita!

 

[dhldmoore]

Depends on if the buyer comes from a state with inspections. I would want my bank involved and a witness with 20k involved. Second from my understanding working for a dealership more than a certain amount of cash requires special paperwork to make sure money laundering/illegal activities aren't being funded.

The paperwork you refer to used to be called IRS Form 4789. - Currency Transaction Report (CTR). Apparently it has been retired and is now called FinCEN Form 104. More information can be found here: https://www.fdic.gov/news/financial-institution-letters/2021/fil21012c.pdf

 

[zzyzzx]

Many folks will take the cash, sign back of title and let them drive away.
I won't give up the vehicle until my name is cleared from the title.

Last car I sold, the guy got kind of pissy when I insisted we go to the courthouse together.

Little did he know I ran a background check from the Iowa Courts Online.
He had several citations for driving vehicles with improper title and no insurance.
Had it printed off and showed him. THIS is why we do it at the courthouse.
I don't want you to get into an accident with the car under my name and insurance.

Made his face red, but off to the courthouse we went.

Isn't removing your plates from the vehicle enough?