Selling a used vehicle privately is always full of challenges even for people with prior experience of selling vehicles in the UAE’s used car market. The level of difficulty is understandably higher for inexperienced car sellers who can become an easy target for people with fraudulent intentions.
In recent times, many instances of conmen and fraudsters tricking innocent car sellers have been recorded across the UAE. Fraudsters remain on the lookout for vulnerable car sellers who don’t have any prior experience of selling a used car. It is, therefore, important for car sellers to understand how fraudsters can approach them and how they can develop a careful mindset to avoid car scams at the hands of fraudsters. Additionally, car sellers should evaluate all the available options and choose a reliable platform to sell their used cars in a safe manner.
Also read: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid While Selling a Car in the UAE
How Fraudsters Can Trick Car Sellers in the UAE?
Conmen and fraudsters mostly approach car sellers through classified websites and use different methods to trap them. Most of the inexperienced car sellers opt for classified websites to sell their used vehicles, which is not a reliable option for selling and buying of vehicles. Classified websites don’t have any authentication system to validate the identity of users, which makes it easier for fraudsters to exploit vulnerable car sellers.
These fraudsters can fake their identity and pretend to be potential car buyers. They approach sellers, show their interest in buying the used vehicle at a high price and request for a one on one meeting for the physical inspection of the vehicle. Such people with fraudulent intentions always maintain a convincing tone to gain the confidence of the sellers and can even agree to deposit a small percentage of money in advance. The ultimate aim of the fraudsters is to convince car sellers for a meeting to check the vehicle so that they can accomplish their fraudulent objectives.
Also read: Lookout for Car Dealers While Buying a Used Car in Dubai
Recent History of Car Scams in the UAE
During the last few years, a number of incidents have been recorded in the UAE where fraudsters used the modus operandi of running away with a vehicle while test driving it. These fraudsters presented themselves to the sellers as experienced car buyers and negotiated in a professional yet friendly way to win their confidence. They asked for the permission of the seller to test drive the vehicle so that they can check the ride quality, in-cabin experience and other attributes of the vehicle. On getting the permission, the fraudsters ran away with the vehicle, much to the disbelief and regret of the seller.
Another modus operandi of fraudsters involved offering a dud cheque for a used vehicle. Many conmen in the UAE approached car sellers through classified websites and offered a higher resale value for the used vehicle. With their convincing tone and by offering a higher value for the used car, they won the confidence of the sellers. They made the sellers agree to accept a cheque as the mode of payment against the vehicle’s value. The cheque turned out to be a dud cheque when sellers tried to cash it. Many such incidents were repeatedly reported across the UAE after which strong legal actions were taken by authorities against the fraudsters.
Also read: A Car Scam worth AED 2.3 Billion Exposed by Abu Dhabi Police
What is the Safest Way to Sell Used Cars in the UAE?
Selling a used car to specialist car buying companies is the safest way to sell a used car in the UAE. These car buying companies offer a hassle-free process for selling used vehicles and can buy used vehicles quickly to save time and effort of the sellers. Car sellers should look to find well-reputed car buying companies as it can help them avoid fraudulent deals while selling used vehicles in the UAE.
How SellAnyCar.com can help in selling a Used Vehicle?
SellAnyCar.com is the leading car buying company in the UAE with a wide network of nationwide branches. The company offers a hassle-free process to sell used cars and guarantees the purchase of every vehicle, regardless of its condition, age, make or model.
Car sellers just need to follow a stepwise procedure to sell their used cars to SellAnyCar.com in a safe and stress-free manner. The procedure begins with the evaluation of the vehicle through the online car valuation tool of the company that provides an average estimate for the vehicle’s resale value. After online valuation, car sellers need to book an appointment for physical inspection of the vehicle at one of its nearby branches.
Car sellers are offered a final price for their used car after the physical inspection, which attributes to the best market value of the car in the UAE. The whole process takes no time and if a car seller agrees with the final offer, he/she can sell their used car in just 30 minutes to SellAnyCar.com. The company handles the post-sale paperwork and the payment against the vehicle is made through electronic bank transfer. This is how car sellers can avoid fraudulent deals and sell their vehicles in the UAE safely and quickly. It is important to note that all services offered by SellAnyCar.com are zero-obligation services and car sellers can walk out at any stage without paying any fees.
If you are looking to sell your used car to buy a new one with advanced safety features and improved performance, then don’t forget that with us, you can sell any used car in just 30 minutes while all the post-sale paperwork is handled by SellAnyCar.com’s team.
