Scam Warning

Unfortunately, we live in a world where scammers are commonplace. All marketplaces are targets and none can fully protect themselves from fraudsters. The car market is particularly attractive to scammers because of the large amounts of money that are involved. We will endeavour to spot them and remove them from the website but there will always be a few that will evade detection. We advise that you take great care when agreeing a sale or purchase. If you can, get extra information on the buyer/seller in the form of recommendation or reviews. Thers is a community here, make use of fellow members knowledge.

Things to look out for

• The most common red flag is price. Is the car/item much cheaper than you would expect.
• Is there pressure to complete the deal quickly. Any exchange shouldn’t feel pushed or uncomfortable.
• A seller demands you to transfer a deposit to hold the car/engine/gearbox.
• The seller isn’t keen on you visiting to look at a car or part.
• Clocking. Some cars look in worse condition than their mileage would usually suggest. These may have been adjusted.
• Overpaying buyers. The scammers lure sellers in by offering over the asking price. They may then try to use a forged banker’s draft for the payment.

Ways to avoid being scammed

• Don’t respond to buyer’s that are abroad, or somebody that’s offering over the asking price.
• They often request that they send you the money through a third-party payment app. These can be confusing and hard to track when the money doesn’t arrive.
• Don’t hand over your car or any documents until you have been paid in full.
• If you’re buying, check a car’s history with a website like Car Vertical. This will give a detailed history of the vehicle and highlight any crash damage or outstanding finance. It will also show the mileage at the last MOT.
• Ask for a photo of the V5 document and a video of the car.
• Research car dealerships thoroughly. Scammers are known to create websites with similar names to trustworthy traders.
• Avoid accepting large cash payments. This could be money laundering.
• Ask the buyer to make a direct money transfer using a reputable platform or a CHAPS/BACS electronic payment.

In most situations trust your instincts. If you have doubts, they’re probably for a good reason. Make sure you get the answers you need. Don’t give out information about yourself that isn’t required. Buying can be very emotive which can be used for manipulation, focus on facts and don’t be afraid to ask someone you trust for their opinion.

Please contact admin if you are aware of a scam or suspect one.