Vehicle Checks Online - Am I Out of Date

[E55BOF]

I hasd a call (text exchange, in fact) on the CLS 63, which is up for sale, yesterday evening. The caller asked me to send him the 'HAR'.

"What's an HAR?"

He replied with the link for an HPI check. I actually use TotalCarCheck, and I always do a check on a car I'm thinking of buying, but I've never done one as a seller, and have never been asked before. Are sellers expected to do that these days?

( I declined politely, and said I would take the cost off the price if he would like).

 

[liamt]

Really the buyer should do a HPI check. If the 'buyer' provided you with a link then this sounds like a well known phishing scam that is going around, the 'buyer' asks you to complete a HPI check using a link they provide, it takes you to a fake HPI check site that steals your card and personal details when you enter them. If you do a HPI check, use a reputable checker of your own choice. Never use a link provided by a potential buyer as it will most certainly be a scam.

 

[Skd884]

I hasd a call (text exchange, in fact) on the CLS 63, which is up for sale, yesterday evening. The caller asked me to send him the 'HAR'.

"What's an HAR?"

He replied with the link for an HPI check. I actually use TotalCarCheck, and I always do a check on a car I'm thinking of buying, but I've never done one as a seller, and have never been asked before. Are sellers expected to do that these days?

( I declined politely, and said I would take the cost off the price if he would like).

Fraud/scam.

 

[abecketts]

Definitely a scam, prospective purchasers should do their own research.

 

[oldguy57]

It's becoming a common scam. The scammers probably do this hundreds of times every day.

 

[E55BOF]

Oh ye of little faith... The actual link is <Home - hpicarhistory.com>, and that brings up what looks to be the genuine HPI website, <HPI Check - Used car history check, UK's No 1 - checks for Finance / Write off / Mileage discrepancy/>. He also said, when I told him I used TotalCarCheck, that I could use whatever check I wanted. I'm inclined to think it's a genuine request.

Message this morning that he's been some distance to see cars twice recently that were not as described, having done HPI checks, and he's about an hour away from me, and not prepared to waste time and money again. I'd be pretty pissed off if that were me... On balance, I think he's a genuine buyer. I'll do a TotalCarCheck check and let him have that, and see what happens.

Curiouser and curiouser... the actual link given was not quite what appears above - no 'Home -', just https://, and the one above (changed by the MB Club website ...) defaults first to a site 'Car-Checking.com'. So does 'TotalCarCheck' in the Google search bar ... HPI was second in the first search, and TotalCarCheck fourth in the second. Anyway, I now have the check I want, as I have had several times in the past.

 

[Ted]

It’s a scam. I posted up a conversation a few weeks ago. Ended up blocking the guy.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Oh ye of little faith... The actual link is <Home - hpicarhistory.com>, and that brings up what looks to be the genuine HPI website, <HPI Check - Used car history check, UK's No 1 - checks for Finance / Write off / Mileage discrepancy/>. He also said, when I told him I used TotalCarCheck, that I could use whatever check I wanted. I'm inclined to think it's a genuine request.

Message this morning that he's been some distance to see cars twice recently that were not as described, having done HPI checks, and he's about an hour away from me, and not prepared to waste time and money again. I'd be pretty pissed off if that were me... On balance, I think he's a genuine buyer. I'll do a TotalCarCheck check and let him have that, and see what happens.

Curiouser and curiouser... the actual link given was not quite what appears above - no 'Home -', just https://, and the one above (changed by the MB Club website ...) defaults first to a site 'Car-Checking.com'. So does 'TotalCarCheck' in the Google search bar ... HPI was second in the first search, and TotalCarCheck fourth in the second. Anyway, I now have the check I want, as I have had several times in the past.

It’s a scam. I posted up a conversation a few weeks ago. Ended up blocking the guy.

Car Checking is rated "Bad" with 1.1 / 5 on Trustpilot

 

[E55BOF]

It’s a scam. I posted up a conversation a few weeks ago. Ended up blocking the guy.

Was it in this thread: WVN vincheckup.uk phishing scam | General Discussion

If so, that was not the same scenario; no attempt was made to persuade me to use the website link provided.

 

[Ted]

That’s the one
Apologies if I’ve misled you.

 

[liamt]

Oh ye of little faith... The actual link is <Home - hpicarhistory.com>, and that brings up what looks to be the genuine HPI website, <HPI Check - Used car history check, UK's No 1 - checks for Finance / Write off / Mileage discrepancy/>. He also said, when I told him I used TotalCarCheck, that I could use whatever check I wanted. I'm inclined to think it's a genuine request.

Message this morning that he's been some distance to see cars twice recently that were not as described, having done HPI checks, and he's about an hour away from me, and not prepared to waste time and money again. I'd be pretty pissed off if that were me... On balance, I think he's a genuine buyer. I'll do a TotalCarCheck check and let him have that, and see what happens.

Curiouser and curiouser... the actual link given was not quite what appears above - no 'Home -', just https://, and the one above (changed by the MB Club website ...) defaults first to a site 'Car-Checking.com'. So does 'TotalCarCheck' in the Google search bar ... HPI was second in the first search, and TotalCarCheck fourth in the second. Anyway, I now have the check I want, as I have had several times in the past.

I would tread very carefully, the first link (hpicarhistory) is almost certainly questionable. You are correct in thinking that scammers normally apply pressure and a sense of urgency to coerce you into using the link they provide. Whilst that doesn't appear to have happened in you case (as he said you could use totalcarcheck) there are a few other red flags given off by this person:

1. It sounds you are only communicating with him via text messages and you have not spoken to him on the phone? Again this is the modus operandi scammers use for communication.

2. In your initial post, you mentioned he referred to the HPI check as a 'HAR'. As far as I am aware that isn't correct and quite often scammers (mainly offshore) will use incorrect terminology which often trips them up. Even someone who isn't knowledgeable in purchasing vehicles would probably say 'vehicle check' if they didn't know what a 'HPI' is.

3. Whilst no pressure was applied when you said you would use totalcarcheck rather than the link he provided, he has said that is quite a way from you and his "not prepared to waste time and money again". Whilst he could be genuine, that statement could be interpreted as a pressure tactic to try and keep you engaged with him.

I hope he is genuine but do please be careful, these scams can take in quite a few people. A car trader I watch on Youtube nearly fell foul to this scam so it is very easy for a private seller to become a victim also.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Not worth the risk IMHO.

If this potential buyer doesn’t want the hassle of viewing another “wrong car” and believes that HAR, HPI or bag of chips would reassure him that it’s worth the drive this time, then why not do it himself. If it were genuine then he would.

Why would you want independent assurance from a HPI type check but not source it independently? Worse still, ask the vendor to supply it? We’re talking about £20 or so, which is nothing compared to the price of a CLS 63 and running costs.

Phishy.

 

[TrueSpirit]

If you wanted to do one check yourself with a reputable company and hand out the pdf to real interested buyers. In terms of this Pricing - hpicarhistory.com it looks like BS to me.
They can come up with whatever reason they like regarding why they don't want to pay for an HPI check but ultimately you could simply forge a report and send that across so it's in a buyer's own best interest to get their own check done.

Does his phone number show up as linked to any social media eg Facebook etc picture on WhatsApp messenger ?
If he wants to buy the car it's up to him to spend the money on due diligence. A check is cheaper than paying for petrol or a train ticket and he's surely willing to do that if he's genuinely interested. CLS sellers with Ads on auto trader are less likely to be conmen than random folks asking for HPIchecks.

 

[tonysmb]

I wouldn't even consider using a link sent to me. If the buyer is that serious he (she/ they, insert preferred pronoun) they would speak with the seller and do their own checks.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I wouldn't even consider using a link sent to me. If the buyer is that serious he (she/ they, insert preferred pronoun) they would speak with the seller and do their own checks.

Wise words

 

[Gollom]

I would tread very carefully, the first link (hpicarhistory) is almost certainly questionable. You are correct in thinking that scammers normally apply pressure and a sense of urgency to coerce you into using the link they provide. Whilst that doesn't appear to have happened in you case (as he said you could use totalcarcheck) there are a few other red flags given off by this person:

1. It sounds you are only communicating with him via text messages and you have not spoken to him on the phone? Again this is the modus operandi scammers use for communication.

2. In your initial post, you mentioned he referred to the HPI check as a 'HAR'. As far as I am aware that isn't correct and quite often scammers (mainly offshore) will use incorrect terminology which often trips them up. Even someone who isn't knowledgeable in purchasing vehicles would probably say 'vehicle check' if they didn't know what a 'HPI' is.

3. Whilst no pressure was applied when you said you would use totalcarcheck rather than the link he provided, he has said that is quite a way from you and his "not prepared to waste time and money again". Whilst he could be genuine, that statement could be interpreted as a pressure tactic to try and keep you engaged with him.

I hope he is genuine but do please be careful, these scams can take in quite a few people. A car trader I watch on Youtube nearly fell foul to this scam so it is very easy for a private seller to become a victim also.

What a sad world we live in that we have to scrutinise things so carefully to avoid getting scammed.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

What a sad world we live in that we have to scrutinise things so carefully to avoid getting scammed.

Sad indeed. I suspect it’s always been the case, it’s just that there are no more ways to be scammed.

 

[E55BOF]

No risk involved. Either he's a genuine buyer, in which case he'll be coming to buy the car (bank transfer only), or he isn't, and he won't. Ball's in his court...

Now this one is definitely a scam. Text message; "Andrew Barratt wants to buy your car" and a link. What could possibly go right...

 

[DSM10000]

Wise words

But if the seller pays for the checks then the buyer will not benefit from the protection that the majority of these checking services provide in the event of something coming to light later that may have been missed.

 

[Skd884]

No risk involved. Either he's a genuine buyer, in which case he'll be coming to buy the car (bank transfer only), or he isn't, and he won't. Ball's in his court...

Now this one is definitely a scam. Text message; "Andrew Barratt wants to buy your car" and a link. What could possibly go right...

We know, see post no3 slim.