I think someone is trying to scam me.

Topic: I think someone is trying to scam me. (Read 870 times) previous topic - next topic

I think someone is trying to scam me.

May 21, 2008, 10:29:04 AM

I have my truck for ale on autotrader, and I get an e-mail from a guy from Las Vegas. He has offered to purchase the truck sight unseen, no test drive no nothing, and he would send the money to my paypal account. (I told him I don't have PayPal) I then proceeded to tell him that I would only accept cash, or a certified cashier's check. Either way, there would be a 12 business day hold on the truck or title before I would release it to make sure the funds are good. I also told him I would not accept over payment for the truck to pay a shipper for him, that he would have to make all arrangements and payments for shipping on his own. He agreed to my terms and the shot me what I consider to be a lowball offer. My biggest thing is if I decide to sell the truck to him, how do I prove I sold it? If he decides to load it with explosives and try to blow up the Hoover dam without transferring the title, the VIN would still come back to me. And why would someone in Vegas where there is no salt buy a vehicle from the land of salty winter roads? Things just don't seem to add up. What are my responsibilities as the seller? If the guy has 23 DUI's, and a lifetime license suspension could I get dinged for selling him a vehicle?

I think someone is trying to scam me.

Reply #1 – May 21, 2008, 11:28:33 AM

Make up a receipt and print two copies. Make sure you put the selling amount and terms of sale (paid in full, as-is, where-is, no warranty expressed or implied, you declare the vehicle free of any liens, etc) on the receipt. Have yourself and the buyer sign both copies, and then you keep one and they keep the other. This protects the buyer (he can prove he bought the vehicle from you and paid for it) and yourself (if he stuffs it into a school bus full of kids and then takes off you can prove he bought it from you, and that it's no longer your vehicle). This could be difficult with him being from out of town, but even still you should be able to have the shipping company driver sign something indicating that he is taking possession of the truck and delivering it to the buyer. If this is what you end up doing I'd make it a point to indicate in whatever you have the shipper sign that you are no longer responsible for the vehicle.

I don't know how Ohio's DMV works, but in Nova Scotia the CR (Certificate of registration) has a detachable part that the seller sends to the DMV when the vehicle is sold. This detachable part has to have the new buyer's name, address, driver's license #, sale amount, and so on. When the DMV receives this part of the CR the vehicle is "delisted" from your ownership.

If you're uncomfortable with the deal, don't accept it. You have an excuse (his lowball offer). If you do choose to accept it, and he pays you by cashier's check or money order, make sure it clears before allowing him to take possession of the truck. By the way, if he's desperate enough to buy that particular truck that he'll pay to have one shipped from Ohio to Vegas, he's likely willing to pay more than a lowball offer.

I think someone is trying to scam me.

Reply #2 – May 21, 2008, 01:10:34 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;220034

I don't know how Ohio's DMV works, but in Nova Scotia the CR (Certificate of registration) has a detachable part that the seller sends to the DMV when the vehicle is sold. This detachable part has to have the new buyer's name, address, driver's license #, sale amount, and so on. When the DMV receives this part of the CR the vehicle is "delisted" from your ownership.

Minnesota is the same way. Make sure you get that detachable part filled out. My buddy sold a car and a few months later, the cops showed up at his house with the cuffs in hand. His car had been used in some illegal activities and they were going to arrest him. He showed them the detachable part of the title, signed by the new owner, and the cops went away. If the guy never transfers the title into his name, you need "proof of sale" to CYA.

I think someone is trying to scam me.

Reply #3 – May 21, 2008, 05:17:54 PM

In Ohio, we don't have the little detachable part. You fill out the back of the title with the owners name, address, etc, etc, and they sign it, go to the BMV and transfer it into their name. Every other time I sold a vehicle, I met the person at the BMV, and had the title transferred before they got the keys.

I think someone is trying to scam me.

Reply #4 – May 21, 2008, 07:05:12 PM

contact a notary and ask him about this situation reguarding the title, hell likely be in posession of the facts.