Scammed with a car sale Campaign
I ran a business that closed as it was not doing well. I had to sell the business vehicle that was financed under my personal name. It was initially insured and had tracker, but since I planned on selling the vehicle and close the business, I cancelled it. A gentleman approached me to buy the vehicle and I explained to him that it is still financed and getting the vehicle on his name would take some time as I would first have to settle the account at the bank. He was ok with that. He in turn told me he banks with Bidvest and that Bidvest does not do immediate payments. That the money would only reflect in 24-48hours. I phoned Bidvest. They confirmed what he said. This gentleman is from out of town, and when we set up dates to view the vehicle, he said he would not be able to visit himself as he has work commitments, and will send his brother instead. I believed him as his whatsapp profile pics was always of him in army uniform. I assumed his army duties do not allow him to leave during working hours, especially to another town, and he subsequently sent his brother.When his brother arrived, he inspected the vehicle and gave the buyer a call, explaining to him the condition of the vehicle. The man phoned me back, saying "I spoke to my brother, he said the vehicle is still in good driving condition. How much do you want for it". We negotiated and came to an amount of R85 000. I owe the bank R96 000 but I lowered my price because it took so long to sell it. The longer it takes to sell, the more payments I make to the bank. I'd rather sell it at a loss and pay in the R11 000 owed. It's better than keeping it indefinitely. I had the R11 000 due to a trailer and bakkie I sold recently also due to the business closing. The profit also covered some of the monthly installments on the vehicle I was struggling to sell. I was fine with losing the money and starting my life over.
We made the deal. He sent me a copy of his ID and proof of residence, I drew up a contract and make his brother sign on his behalf. He made payment and sent me proof. It was just for me to wait for it to clear from Bidvest which I understood would take 24-48 hours.
The brother then left with the vehicle.
In the week to follow, I chatted to the buyer. He actually contacted me first, everyday, to ask if the money cleared. I now understand that he was just stalling and buying time.
The money never cleared, the buyer blocked my number, my truck is gone, I owe the bank, and I now believe the identity document he produced was fake. In fact I believe it is that of a deceased person. In hindsight, I now know that he never came to look at the vehicle himself as he is not the person he portrayed to be.
I now am sitting with a R96 000 debt to the bank and no truck. I cannot afford to pay off this truck.
I am a 39 year old married mom of 2. I do work. My kids are in decent schools and we live a fairly normal middle class life. I started a side business with intention of deriving an extra income and it drained everything out of me financially. Paying off this truck for the 3 years remaining on the loan would mean me depriving my kids somewhere, and I cannot let them suffer because I made an error in judgement. Starting the business has been nothing but a curse and it has left me with a lot of debt. I can barely manage the debt with my salary, the added financial burden of paying for a truck that was stolen from me, will sink me. I only ask for assistance in the settlement of the truck. The rest I can manage. Please. I have been scammed.
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