please move this if I've not put it in the right forum.
Just wondering if you could give us a little advice please. we have put our car up for sale on a site called Gumtree, someone has messaged us back saying they are interested in buying it from us but isn't going to come and view it.
this is the email he sent back -

Many thanks for the information on the car mate, I am very happy with the car present condition and ok with the price of £2,250. I am located in Swansea and that's there the car is going. No need to worry as my local pickup agent will come for the pickup of the car after payment has been made and cleared to your account. Do get back to me with your bank details or alternatively your PayPal email address and also the address for the car to be picked after funds have cleared to your account. thanks.

This has sort of got the alarm bells going, would you say this is to good to be true or legitimate? were not sure on what to do as never sold anything like this before.

Thanks

Heard of this before, its a scam, never give bank details to a ssttranger...

Giving bank details isn't a huge problem (your account number and sort code are on every cheque), however the next part of the scam (and this is, note the correct spelling but flamboyant use of language, signs of a translation program being used) is where it gets interesting.

This will work in one of two ways.

The first is they will send to you, or pay in from another bank, a cheque. They will accept that this will take a few days to clear and ask that you contact them once you have the money in your account, they may even have paid you extra because they are having the car collected and it's easier for you to pay the shipping agent. As a sign of good faith, they may even give you a little more for your trouble (very nice of them). This works on a very old flaw in the banking system, cheques are "cleared" in your account very often before they have been shown to be worth anything (given value), and so a cheque, especially from a foreign bank, may clear in your account before it has reached the issuing bank, once it has, and bounces, the bank will pull it's money back from your account, by then you've already lost money, and perhaps your car.
The rules changed a few years ago only giving them a very limited time to do this, but it does still happen, and you're responsible for it.

The second is that they will talk with you for a while, then "send" the funds, this will cause them to go over their PayPal/Bank etc limit and it will take a few days to confirm all their details and would you mind keeping hold of the car for them.
A day or so later they will let you know that they've sent all the details and it should be with you anytime, HOWEVER, the agent who is collecting the car needs to be paid to keep the collection date, would it be possible for you to pay him (by bank transfer, Western Union etc) and he will add the amount to the funds that have already been sent, oh yes and he loves the car and is looking forward to getting it.

Mixed in with this you might have stories of work, having to travel, the car being a present etc, but pretty much it's to get you to part with your cash, your car, or even both.

Oh yes, Account Number & Sort Code are all that is needed to set up a direct debit, but your bank will protect you, and refund you, if this is set up fraudulently.

ok thanks for all your advice, I wont be sending any of my details over to them.

I have sold many cars and have never taken anything but cash. Even if the person is genuine a cheque could be a problem if it bounces or in the unlikely event that the person has had a heart attack and pops his clogs before it clears.P.S. I am a pessimist.

Play them at their own game - tell them to give the cash to their "pickup agent" who can give it to you when they collect the car.