Beware scams when buying/selling bikes

[geoffcnc]

Just a reminder.....beware there are numerous scams around when either buying or selling. I know this is common knowledge, but just a few things I have noticed are very prevalent these days.

I looked at a second hand bike, via BikePoint. The bike was listed as being located in WA, and as soon as I made an enquiry the bike was suddenly in Darwin, and the owner was inconventiently overseas for Xmas. As soon as you notice something strange, either make full enquiry or run away. I got a bit keen, although a bit suspicious at the same time. The supposed owner even sent a certificate from VCheck to authenticate the vehicle. Only thing was, a VIN check gave me details of a different model BMW bike, and when I actually checked up with VCheck in QLD, I found that the certificate was a very nice reproduction and they had no records of the report number. In the end, the advert was for a bike that didn't exist, and the VIN number was from someone elses bike in Victoria.

Then, put my bike up for sale, and get three emails in 3 days from various interested parties, all prepared to buy the bike sight unseen and get an agent to pick it up. Bottom line is that if someone doesn't give a phone number and an email address that is a gmail, hotmail or something like that, just ignore them. They are scammers after details and they apparently have schemes to get you to pay money towards a forwarding agent who will pick the bike up.....yeah sure.

...just hope I don't tell a real prospective buyer to flock off in the process......
So, you can check VIN numbers, you can get certificates of authenticity etc....do not go by faxes or emails of rego details, or anything like that, before parting with any cash. There are so many dodgy things going on in this sad world of ours that the only thing that talks is cash in hand, or cleared bank cheques. Don't accept any PayPal, or even any direct deposits unless you can get the cash out before actually handing over the bike.

I haven't been burnt.....just thought I'd share some wisdom that we all are aware of, but sometimes get caught up in the moment of the sale or purchase of a new toy.

Geoff

[Bry]

Yeah, it's amazing how much this occurs, on other forums I hear quite a bit about it. If they want to view it, meet at a public location. I heard of one group they would turn up on a bike they had gotten from someone else (Bike shop, another test) and leave that whilst they took yours for a test ride.

And never came back.

Shame yours wasn't a 12GS... gonna get another one.

[gsrider]

No shortage of theives and conn men on the net. Good advice!

[Intrepid Ken]

I love it when someone says that the bike is in another city as I respond that that's where my brother lives. What address I'll have him pop over to inspect the bike.