Car buyer from online auction, trying to scam me?

[Just Dropped In]

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?

 

[methusaleh]

Did your terms of sale include your payment arrangement needs?

 

[I<3oil]

Maybe he works during the week and can't make it. Maybe weekends are his only time.

 

[tcp71]

I would do the cash transaction on the weekend. At the police station. Ask him to meet you there. You've met his needs and the desk officer can watch him pass you 20 large.

 

[Just Dropped In]

Did your terms of sale include your payment arrangement needs?

Nothing more than having to be paid within 7 days. As I see it now, I will spell things out a little better as to the details of payment the next time I list something.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

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?

Some people simply don't want a paper trail. Maybe consider an escrow service? Does EbayMotors have an escrow service?

 

[Lubener]

I would meet him at your bank on a weekend as he wanted. At that time you can deposit the cash in your account. You can have the title notorized at that time with a copy for yourself. In my area, the title agency is open on Saturdays. If he insists on Sunday, tell him you will be in church...sorry.

 

[Jdeere562]

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.

 

[cptbarkey]

I use consignment auction houses to protect all that nonsense you are going through. I can even bid and apply that to my payout, pretty nice. Ebay too is far too risky now if that is what you did.

 

[Just Dropped In]

Some people simply don't want a paper trail. Maybe consider an escrow service? Does EbayMotors have an escrow service?

They might.

 

[demarpaint]

Saturday morning at your bank should work, and cash is king!

 

[Just Dropped In]

Last week I had a Craigslister say he would be bringing cash in hand. Then, two emails later the CIH turned into a "cashiers
check".

Saturday morning at your bank should work, and cash is king!

My bank (Credit Union) has no Saturday hours. I wish they did.

 

[demarpaint]

Last week I had a Craigslister say he would be bringing cash in hand. Then, two emails later the CIH turned into a "cashiers
check".

My bank (Credit Union) has no Saturday hours. I wish they did.

Wow, mine is a credit union too, they're open until 1:00 on a Saturday. I wonder if you can use a bank that is open just to check the cash isn't counterfeit and notarize papers for a fee.

 

[Chris142]

I would do the cash transaction on the weekend. At the police station. Ask him to meet you there. You've met his needs and the desk officer can watch him pass you 20 large.

Your police station is open on weekends?

Why can't the OP meet the guy at the bank on Saturday morning?

 

[Just Dropped In]

Wow, mine is a credit union too, they're open until 1:00 on a Saturday. I wonder if you can use a bank that is open just to check the cash isn't counterfeit and notarize papers for a fee.

There's a Wells Fargo, but they close at noon Saturdays. The guy was 10-12 hours away from me, so the WF would not do. Plus, I hate Wells Fargo!

 

[Rand]

its just a scammer move on.
cash turns into cashiers check or some other nonsense.

You dont have to know how every scam works to know its likely a scam.

 

[Just Dropped In]

Your police station is open on weekends?

Why can't the OP meet the guy at the bank on Saturday morning?

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.

 

[JavierH19]

Sounds like a scam. I'd forget about this guy.

 

[BHopkins]

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.

 

[goblin]

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.