Car sales in Neunkirchen: Man cheated out of 1,000 euros!

Car sales in Neunkirchen: Man cheated out of 1,000 euros!

A car seller from Neunkirchen-Seelscheid fell victim to fraud when he offered his car for sale on a large online portal. A large proportion of fraud occurs in the digital world, as experts from ADAC report. The seller had agreed to a supposed offer and was convinced of the credibility of the buyer, who posed as Lena and supposedly lived in the USA.

The fraudulent prospect pretended to want to buy the car as a birthday present for her brother in Belgium. To prove her identity, she even sent the seller a copy of her ID. Finally, she was able to convince him to advance the costs of a shipping company of almost 1,000 euros. After the money was transferred to a specified account, contact with the buyer was immediately lost and the seller was left with the financial loss.

Car sales scams

The police warn urgently against such scams when selling cars online. It is important to note that online platforms typically do not verify the identities of buyers and sellers, which increases the risk of fraud. The ADAC informs that buyers should not make advance payments and recommends only exchanging money in person when handing over the vehicle and documents.

The “Safer Car Buying on the Internet” (ISAK) initiative, which includes ADAC partners, aims to inform consumers about safety issues when buying a car. Fraudsters often use a variety of methods to get money. Important scams include:

• Keine Vorkasse: Verkäufer sollten nie Vorauszahlungen akzeptieren.
• Treuhandkonto: Betrüger könnten vorgeben, ein Treuhandunternehmen zu sein und dazu bewegen, auf eine gefälschte Seite zu zahlen.
• Anbieter im Ausland: Verkäufe aufgrund angeblicher Todesfälle, mit vorher zu zahlenden Transportkosten.
• Gefälschte Fahrzeugpapiere: Hier können Käufer auf falsche Dokumente hereinfallen.

Scammers not only target buyers, but also sellers. There are numerous cases in which buyers request email confirmations of the purchase contract or arrange for the vehicle to be picked up by a third party. It is often claimed that the car did not arrive.

The ADAC also recommends not sending vehicle documents by email to avoid identity theft. As a safety measure, it is advisable to conclude a written purchase contract and not to allow yourself to be put under pressure. It is also advisable to deregister the car before selling it to prevent further risks.

In summary, selling vehicles online is a quick and easy method, but it also involves significant risks. Consumers should always be vigilant and educate themselves about the most common scams to avoid costly mistakes. The warning from the police and the advice from the ADAC are information that you should take seriously in order to protect yourself from financial losses.