Bankers drafts can be forged and then you will find your account will be credited, then the draft will be rejected and the credit removed. This is a well known scam and how the 'shipping agent' scam works. Bankers draft for 25% more than car value - you cash, pay the 'agent' then the draft is rejected and you are left out if pocket.
Eft from a uk account is best - or as I said go in partnership to bank to get funds as cash or bankers draft drawn in front of you in a high street branch and then pay in together.
In the end its about trust, doing my due dil on the buyer of the Aeromax I used my network of contacts to verify the buyer as someone known to them who had bought cars before. I spoke to a couple of dealers I knew and they confirmed the person was a real car nut and well known to them. He did the same on me.
Trust is all its about and verify through sources you trust if possible. A passport is easily forged (could you spot a forgery? What are you looking for?) official documents are the last resort and if they are all you have then I'd be worried.
I would utilise linked in, Facebook, talkmorgan profile, pistonheads profile, etc to verify the buyer as a 'real' person as well. What email address are they using? Isit abcd113@yahoo.com or is it bob.jones@abcenterprises.co.uk where he appears on the website as a long standing employee etc. google them. Lots of scammers are lazy - they use the same email address multiple times, if it doesn't come up it doesn't mean its ok, but if you get google hits linked to complaints issues then its pretty obvious you should run a mile. There are thousands more things to look for, none in themselves mean its a scam, the cumulative doubt of multiple signs is what drives a decision for me.
In the end, scams invariably play to greed on the part of the seller. If the buyer is behaving irrationally, overpaying or behaving unusually then ask yourself if you are really that lucky, or have they got something to gain.
The first rule in avoiding scams is
If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Walk away.
My second rule is
If they at any stage want to use an agent then it is a scam.
(Ok if you are selling collector cars to millionaires this is different but its the right rule to run by, and in those circumstances the agents are visible are verifiable themselves).
