Legit buyer or not? Once Driven.

Once Driven - How do I know if a buyer is legit?

There are many people on the Internet trying to scam individuals out of their vehicle and/or money. So how can you tell if a buyer is legit? After years of selling vehicles online, we've heard of many schemes and scams. Since the late 1990's, most of them have been transacted via email due to the ease and anonymity of setting up email accounts.

The simplest way to determine if someone is legit is to have them call you. If you are selling a vehicle on Once Driven and someone suspicious emails you, ask them to call you to discuss the vehicle. Considering most scams originate from overseas or foreign countries, the vast majority of scammers will move on to their next target. Phone numbers are traceable and it's difficult to hide their true intentions via phone.

If someone does try to perpetuate a scam via phone, it is typically done by pretending to call from a company.  Over the years, our staff has been alerted to individuals calling on customers on behalf of Once Driven.  If you ever receive a call from Once Driven, please listen for a name and phone number. No representative from our company will call a buyer or seller without leaving proper credentials.

If you would like to learn more about common Internet car buying scams, visit this page:

http://www.oncedriven.blogspot.com/2013/07/beware-of-common-used-car-buying-scams.html

If you feel a Once Driven representative contacted you errantly OR if you simply wish not to have a representative contact you, please visit this page:

http://oncedriven.com/quality-assurance/

If you have additional questions, feel free to chat live with representative on our website or call our Customer Support Team at 888-941-6515.

Don't Fall Victim to Used Car Buying Scams

Selling a used car online is the most effective way to get it in front of tons of prospective buyers. Unfortunately it’s also a great way to get it in front of scammers. With a little knowledge and caution, sellers can have a safe and successful experience.

The most common used car buying scam is…
the counterfeit cashier’s check scam. This one has unfortunately been around since the 1990’s. It remains effective because:

1) Most individuals perceive cashier’s checks to be as good as cash.
2) Banks do not have the ability to validate the authenticity of a cashier’s check instantly.

Here is how it works:
Scammers will contact a used car seller via email. Typically they are overseas or in a foreign country. They want to purchase a vehicle with a cashier’s check and have the seller ship it to them. The ‘Buyer’ will typically make the check out for the amount of the car plus the shipping costs and sometimes a little extra for the seller’s efforts.

Most sellers are cautious and wait for cashier’s check to arrive. They then take it to the bank and get cash. Once they have the cash in hand, they will call the shipping company to come pick up the car. Up to this point, things seem to be going well.

In a matter of days, the bank will determine that the cashier’s check was counterfeit. Unfortunately, it is up to the seller to give these funds back to the bank. In some cases, the car has already been shipped, the shipper has been paid and the seller is left to deal with paying back the bank.

What to watch out for:
- Messages from individuals in foreign countries
- Messages are typically via email or text
- Individuals who want to pay with cashier’s checks (foreign)
- Buyers that want to purchase the vehicle sight unseen and have it shipped