Scammers sabotage my car then try to knock the price down (1 Viewer)

[Delboyarapaho]

I post this experience in the hope that anyone trying to sell their Moho privately is alerted to be on their guard against scammers who will screw you over given half a chance. Reluctantly we have decided to sell our beloved Audi after having it for 10years. It has been a fantastic car and never missed a beat. Imagine my horror when two scum bags arrived yesterday after telling me they were really interested and wanted a reliable car to get them between here and Belarus. I made the mistake of parking the car on my neighbours drive as ours was full and clearly with hindsight they got to the car and squirted oil up one of the exhaust pipes before coming to my house (I got a photo of a trail of fresh oil coming from the rear of the car on my neighbours clean drive). With hindsight I now believe one of them distracted me by asking to look at the spare, while the other squirted oil in the coolant overflow tank. While we test drove the car (with me oblivious to what they had done) he complained that there was smoke coming from the exhaust, which never happens, and then as he checked the oil and coolant to my horror he had thick black oil on his fingers from the coolant. He started telling me the head gasket had gone. They offered me £1500 less than the asking price and fortunately I wasn’t conned. I knew the car was sound and couldn’t believe the head gasket could have gone in the 2 mile drive we had taken. It wasn’t until I returned the car to my neighbours drive that I found the trail of oil on his drive. Even then it took me a couple of hours to work out what had gone on. They continued to offer to buy the car claiming that I must be mad to keep the car and spend £1500 only to sell it at the same price. To my amazement they have continued to call me and send texts asking if I have consulted my mechanic yet. A Narrow escape and I spent today getting the oil out of the coolant before I can show the car to other interested buyers. Unfortunately it is going to need a full flush as some must have got circulated into the system on the test drive. Please share this widely as most of us just don’t expect people to be so unscrupulous and it’s easy to get caught out. My daughter found the article below on the internet and this is exactly what happened to me. It isn't new but since this is something most of us do every 10 years or so we aren't all as savvy as we need to be against these scum bags. Take care

https://www.google.co.uk/.../scammers-try-to-trick.../amp/
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[In a Pickle]

What a world we live in. Thanks for sharing as it may help out someone else and sorry that you now have the expense of sorting it out.

 

[ambulancekidd]

I post this experience in the hope that anyone trying to sell their Moho privately is alerted to be on their guard against scammers who will screw you over given half a chance. Reluctantly we have decided to sell our beloved Audi after having it for 10years. It has been a fantastic car and never missed a beat. Imagine my horror when two scum bags arrived yesterday after telling me they were really interested and wanted a reliable car to get them between here and Belarus. I made the mistake of parking the car on my neighbours drive as ours was full and clearly with hindsight they got to the car and squirted oil up one of the exhaust pipes before coming to my house (I got a photo of a trail of fresh oil coming from the rear of the car on my neighbours clean drive). With hindsight I now believe one of them distracted me by asking to look at the spare, while the other squirted oil in the coolant overflow tank. While we test drove the car (with me oblivious to what they had done) he complained that there was smoke coming from the exhaust, which never happens, and then as he checked the oil and coolant to my horror he had thick black oil on his fingers from the coolant. He started telling me the head gasket had gone. They offered me £1500 less than the asking price and fortunately I wasn’t conned. I knew the car was sound and couldn’t believe the head gasket could have gone in the 2 mile drive we had taken. It wasn’t until I returned the car to my neighbours drive that I found the trail of oil on his drive. Even then it took me a couple of hours to work out what had gone on. They continued to offer to buy the car claiming that I must be mad to keep the car and spend £1500 only to sell it at the same price. To my amazement they have continued to call me and send texts asking if I have consulted my mechanic yet. A Narrow escape and I spent today getting the oil out of the coolant before I can show the car to other interested buyers. Unfortunately it is going to need a full flush as some must have got circulated into the system on the test drive. Please share this widely as most of us just don’t expect people to be so unscrupulous and it’s easy to get caught out. My daughter found the article below on the internet and this is exactly what happened to me. It isn't new but since this is something most of us do every 10 years or so we aren't all as savvy as we need to be against these scum bags. Take care

https://www.google.co.uk/.../scammers-try-to-trick.../amp/
See less

Horrendous.

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[Gellyneck]

This scam was featured on the TV a few weeks back, one of the daytime consumer programs.

 

[TheBig1]

Similar used to happen regularly at car auctions but security is now pretty good and they also check the wiring under the bonnet has not been unplugged if a car wont start

 

[Rapido925M]

This scam was mentioned on RipOff Britain a few weeks ago: one person even had a video from security cameras of the potential purchasers doing their dirty deed.

Certainly we all need to beware!

Gordon

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[Cherub]

There’s no limit to how low some will go. Have they never heard of earning an honest living? So sorry you had this experience. Thanks for alerting us to this scam.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Its a fairly common scam apparantly

 

[Scotch mist]

When they phoned back I would have told them it sold for £2,500 less than the advertised price
& thank them for pointing out the problems, that really annoys them

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[WESTY66]

Ive heard of swapping plug leads on a Volvo 240 at an auction many many years ago! I Did get it for a great price tho dunno who swapped em, had a look under bonnet, swapped em round and drive it home

 

[TheBig1]

When they phoned back I would have told them it sold for £2,500 less than the advertised price
& thank them for pointing out the problems, that really annoys them

or tell them that you couldn't risk selling it if faulty, so it went to the scrap yard. Then when they ask which one tell them one 50 miles away so they waste their time too

 

[pappajohn]

Make sure you have a few mates over then invite them back on the pretence of accepting their offer.
When they arrive tell them you sold it a few minutes ago for the asking price.

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[Campervan_man]

Years ago I was driving from S.Wales to Home in North Wales with a newly bought classic Elddis Autoquest motorhome. It's a 4 hour drive. Half way home I noticed a car following Me and it did follow Me for about 20 minutes. I was just taking My time home and there was a few places the car could have easily over took Me but didn't. The car following did eventually over take Me on a long straight with a blind bend.
As I drove around the bend the car was 'parked' in the middle of the road and the driver and passenger were sat in the 'brace' position by a Right hand T junction waiting for Me to hit them.
Luckily I slammed on the anchors { brakes } and some how managed to stop just short of hitting them.
The Elddis even though it was a classic had only done 18,000 miles so the brakes were spot on.
The Ambulance chasers didn't get out of there car they just turned Right down the T junction and sped off.

 

[Delboyarapaho]

When they phoned back I would have told them it sold for £2,500 less than the advertised price
& thank them for pointing out the problems, that really annoys them

There's still time for that they keep ringing

 

[Ivory55]

This is one of the reasons we just px, really don’t need the hassle. I know we probably don’t get as much money but we are not dealers so take the easy life.

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[Delboyarapaho]

This is one of the reasons we just px, really don’t need the hassle. I know we probably don’t get as much money but we are not dealers so take the easy life.

Yes I may end up doing something similar but too late to px

 

[Jaws]

Another one often used at auctions and no doubt other places is to draw a line up the side of a spark plug using a pencil
The grafite line will course the spark to short and a misfire occurs

 

[pappajohn]

Another one often used at auctions and no doubt other places is to draw a line up the side of a spark plug using a pencil
The grafite line will course the spark to short and a misfire occurs

Difficult one today.
Very few, if any, modern cars have a distributor and HT leads.

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[Jaws]

Difficult one today.
Very few, if any, modern cars have a distributor and HT leads.

Thats true, but they still have spark plugs
Pull up a coil pack, stripe the plug and push the pack back on

 

[jollyrodger]

Or know what to unplug so the engine management light stays on

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

I post this experience in the hope that anyone trying to sell their Moho privately is alerted to be on their guard against scammers who will screw you over given half a chance. Reluctantly we have decided to sell our beloved Audi after having it for 10years. It has been a fantastic car and never missed a beat. Imagine my horror when two scum bags arrived yesterday after telling me they were really interested and wanted a reliable car to get them between here and Belarus. I made the mistake of parking the car on my neighbours drive as ours was full and clearly with hindsight they got to the car and squirted oil up one of the exhaust pipes before coming to my house (I got a photo of a trail of fresh oil coming from the rear of the car on my neighbours clean drive). With hindsight I now believe one of them distracted me by asking to look at the spare, while the other squirted oil in the coolant overflow tank. While we test drove the car (with me oblivious to what they had done) he complained that there was smoke coming from the exhaust, which never happens, and then as he checked the oil and coolant to my horror he had thick black oil on his fingers from the coolant. He started telling me the head gasket had gone. They offered me £1500 less than the asking price and fortunately I wasn’t conned. I knew the car was sound and couldn’t believe the head gasket could have gone in the 2 mile drive we had taken. It wasn’t until I returned the car to my neighbours drive that I found the trail of oil on his drive. Even then it took me a couple of hours to work out what had gone on. They continued to offer to buy the car claiming that I must be mad to keep the car and spend £1500 only to sell it at the same price. To my amazement they have continued to call me and send texts asking if I have consulted my mechanic yet. A Narrow escape and I spent today getting the oil out of the coolant before I can show the car to other interested buyers. Unfortunately it is going to need a full flush as some must have got circulated into the system on the test drive. Please share this widely as most of us just don’t expect people to be so unscrupulous and it’s easy to get caught out. My daughter found the article below on the internet and this is exactly what happened to me. It isn't new but since this is something most of us do every 10 years or so we aren't all as savvy as we need to be against these scum bags. Take care

https://www.google.co.uk/.../scammers-try-to-trick.../amp/
See less

This is a common scam that our European cousins seem to be quite fond of doing.
Never leave the car unattended and follow the guy who isn’t interested in asking the questions.
The easy way to get rid of the oil is to put some washing powder in with clean water and run it till warm. Drain and repeat once cooled down until the header tank looks like new then replenish the coolant

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[alvinlee01]

....so what car is it for sale? Details needed!

 

[68c]

Years ago in Lagos Nigeria I was warned about a scam. Your driving slowly through the crowded streets when a boy runs up and says something is hanging down from your car, he ducks down reaching under and after a very short while pops up with a half melted plastic bag. It was stuck to the exhaust he says. Being a generous European you of course give him a tip and drive on. A few hundred yards later a car nearly pulls out in front off you so you brake sharply, then your engine stalls and will not restart. The other car drives off so you try again to start the motor, no luck. A friendly looking guy in oily overalls walks over and offers to help, he fiddles under the bonnet then declares the coil has failed, probably when you stopped hard. He has a shop nearby so takes your coil and soon returns quickly fitting a new one. All is well, the car starts OK. You pay him and drive off happily thinking how nice the locals are and how cheap the spares are. The mechanic then gives the small metal clip that had been slipped on the fuel pipe back to the boy who waits, with his plastic bag, for the next victim. Every one is happy, the boy, the mechanic and you. The only outlay the mechanic had was the aerosol paint to respray your original coil.

 

[Delboyarapaho]

....so what car is it for sale? Details needed!

I wasnt trying to sell it on this site just to make people aware to watch out for this when trying to sell their Mohos. It is an Audi A8, 3.0 TDI, 2007, 95500. I have had it since 2010. If interested pm me

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[34127]

Another one often used at auctions and no doubt other places is to draw a line up the side of a spark plug using a pencil
The grafite line will course the spark to short and a misfire occurs

Many years ago I was looking at a car for sale at an auction. The car was less than 1 year old, low mileage, excellent condition. When I looked under the bonnet the engine rocker cover was covered in oil and drips falling on the ground. I was talking to one of the auction staff and said it was a regular problem, potential buyers pouring oil over engine trying to give impression of major engine fault to get car at reduced price.

 

[nicholsong]

Many years ago I was looking at a car for sale at an auction. The car was less than 1 year old, low mileage, excellent condition. When I looked under the bonnet the engine rocker cover was covered in oil and drips falling on the ground. I was talking to one of the auction staff and said it was a regular problem, potential buyers pouring oil over engine trying to give impression of major engine fault to get car at reduced price.

How does that work if the seller left the car there days ago with a reserve on it? Unless it just put off other bidders, but the reserve still stood.

 

[34127]

How does that work if the seller left the car there days ago with a reserve on it? Unless it just put off other bidders, but the reserve still stood.

If they got the vehicle for the reserve price they would probably be quite happy.

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[Jaws]

How does that work if the seller left the car there days ago with a reserve on it? Unless it just put off other bidders, but the reserve still stood.

If it does not reach the reserve cos bidders get put off, the scammer then goes in with a low bid 'off the books'

 

[ivorantony]

A customer of mine many years ago brought an old Rover from the auction cheaply because it
Was missing, when he got home he removed the plugs and found one oily with no gap,
He thought result Put a new plug in and started her but still missing,
That’s when I got involved, no compression at all on number 2 so removed the cylinder head,
Looking down the bore their was no piston or conrod and the crankshaft journal was badly worn,

the oil feed to the crankshaft on number 2 cylinder had been welded up so it had oil pressure for the
Other three cylinders, Basically the engine was scrap, so the cheap buy at the auction was anything but,
Caveat emptor,

 

[The Dotties]

Another one often used at auctions and no doubt other places is to draw a line up the side of a spark plug using a pencil
The grafite line will course the spark to short and a misfire occurs

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