Sell car privately through occasion portal? Beware of foreign text messages!
Tips from readers
On the editors of AutoRAI.nl we have regularly received tips from people who put a car up for sale through an occasion portal and then receive text messages from neighboring countries, such as Germany. At first it sounds quite realistic: someone indicates in their own language that they are interested in the car. Once you start the conversation, it quickly becomes more vague. Because whoever asks a question doesn’t actually get an answer. The text messages are generated automatically.
Example of such an SMS conversation
Below is a sample of text messages you may receive. For privacy reasons, we have made the occasion platform, sender, car model and replies unrecognizable. We have highlighted these words in bold capital letters.
Guten Tag, ich habe Ihre MODEL Anzeigen auf OCCASIONPORTAL gesehen und bin daran interessiert, dieses Auto bei Ihnen zu kaufen. steht es noch zum Verkauf?
Translation: Hello, I have your AUTO on OCCASIONPORTAL and I am interested in buying this car from you. Is it still for sale?
Wie lang verwenden Sie es schon? Sind Sie der Eigentümer oder verkaufen Sie für jemanden? Gibt es ein Problem, das ich berücksichtigen sollte, und wie hoch ist Ihr Festpreis?
Translation: How long have you been using the car? Do you own it or are you selling for someone? Is there any problem I should consider and what is your fixed price?
Ich bin daran interessiert, es bei Ihnen zu kaufen und bin mit dem Preis einverstanden. Ich würde es gerne abholen und in bar bezahlen, aber aufgrund der Art meiner Arbeit bin ich nicht für eine Abholung verfügbar und befinde mich im Ausland. Ich werde die Abholung aber mit einem Transportunternehmen organisieren. Sobald ich die Zahlung geleistet habe, kommen sie zur Abholung zu Ihnen nach Hause. Ist das in Ordnung?
Translation: I am interested in buying the car from you and I agree to the price. I would like to pick up the car and pay cash, but due to the nature of my work, I am not available for pickup and am abroad. However, I will organize the pickup with a transport company. Once I have made the payment, they will come to your home to pick it up. Is that okay?
ich kann die Überweisung heute noch durchführen Ihre Daten, um die Zahlung zu erhalten Name des Kontoinhabers: IBAN and E-Mail-Adresse.
Translation: I can make the transfer today. Your information to receive the payment Name account holder: IBAN and e-mail address.
Ich were eine Banküberweisung vornehmen und Transportunternehmen informieren, um Sie mit dem Datum und der Uhrzeit der Abholung des Fahrzeugs zu kontaktieren, wenn Sie die Zahlung erhalten.
Translation: I would do a bank transfer and inform the transport company to contact you about the date and time to pick up the vehicle when you receive the payment.
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Never share your IBAN and email address
So much for the conversation via SMS. What stands out? The party indicates they want to pay cash, but cannot pick up the car themselves. This is strange, of course, because how else will you pay cash in advance? They do ask for your IBAN and email address. This is strange of course. Never accept this, because they can misuse this information. Never respond to these text messages and block the sender. You can still report the email address if necessary.