Strange call regarding sale of bike

fox · Spanner Monkey Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Karma :

I just got a very strange call from a guy who was interested in buying my bike.

The call started off pretty standard. Asked me if it had any outstanding hp, etc. The call then got a bit weird.
He went on to tell me he planned to ship the bike to Turkey and asked me if he would be able to break the bike up and ship it in bits! And if I knew if this could be done.
He said he didn't have a clue about bikes, but wanted one to ride in Turkey.
Of course, I told him that should he give me the asking price for the bike, he could do what he damn well pleases with it.
He said he was going to get back to me to see the bike.

Not sure if serious? Confused

Scammer?
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Sold: 2003 satin black Yamaha R6
Current rides: 2006 blue Triumph Sprint ST 1050, 2003 Yamaha WR450F

Alpha-9 · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Jan 2012 Karma :

Can you be arsed with all that?
Unless you're struggling to sell it I wouldn't bother doing that even if it was genuine, buy it and pull it apart yourself or pay me labour on top Wink

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Fzr-600 1999

Zen Dog · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Karma :

Almost certainly a scam, or an attempt at one. But if he turns up with cash in his hand, as you say, he's entitled to do whatever the hell he likes...

Zen Dog
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fox · Spanner Monkey Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Karma :

Spudly · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Karma :

Last I heard of this scam, it involved some form of wire transfer of the cash. They send too much through wire transfer, you send the bike, they reclaim the money, you are left with nothing. Something like that, I may have details wrong. Certainly a scam though.
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The Old Apprentice

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Sell him the bike complete, take cash and wave it goodbye.

If you break it up for him you're a bigger nut-job than he is.
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132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good Very Happy

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Guy bought my WR450F, came to get it, took it to pieces and shoved in his car as said its ok, its going to Thailand tomorrow.

Laughing

Paulington · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Karma :

That screams of scam or something similar to me, if you don't mind the hassle then keep that avenue open but expect "Receive my wire from the Bank of Nigeria in ten working days" at some point.

Also, do remember that even can go awry, counterfeit money and all that.

If he wants to see the bike make sure you take the bike to somewhere away from where you normally keep it, just in case?

Best of luck with selling the bike.
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Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Seems very plausible... quite likely a way to avoid paying the full amount of import tax... orjust getting it into a smaller space.

Az · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Karma :

Only sell it to him for cash (check the notes aren't fake ofc) and then he can do what ever the fuck he wants with it, it'll be his bike Smile

Edit: A quick google shows that importing a bike or car to turkey can be very very expensive, so he's probably trying to save on cost. So he's probably going to put down that he's not importing a bike but sending bike spare parts and i can only assume that it would be much cheaper to send the bike in parts than importing the whole motorcycle.

fox · Spanner Monkey Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Karma :

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

As said if he pays in cash let him do as he pleases.
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nofear · Derestricted Danger Joined: 31 Aug 2010 Karma :

If it was any other country I would say it was a scam but since you said Turkey it may be genuine.

I have a Turkish friend (moved from Turkey to England and then back again). They have funny rules about importing foreign vehicles. Something like only being able to use it for 6 months at a time before it must leave the country for 12 months before returning, which can only be done twice.

Perhaps he is trying to get round this by shipping a load of bike bits. But as the others have said if he is paying cash nothing to worry about.

Cars and bikes aren't cheap over that way.