How to Spot Car Scams on Craigslist

Car scams on Craigslist are popular ways that scammers easily trick potential car buyers out of thousands of dollars. Car scams can leave potential buyers without money and the security of knowing that their identity is safe.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Log on to Craigslist and look for a deal on a car. Some of the most successful Craigslist car scams involve used cars that are rare or "classics."

2. Look for expensive cars listed for a price well below their market value. Scammers use very obvious deals to get potential victims interested in doing business with them.

3. Respond to the ad. Get an immediate reply from the scammer telling you the reason why he is selling the car, even though the details are irrelevant. Scammers usually refer to an overseas move and difficulty in transferring the car into the new country.

4. Note that that the scammer is only willing to give you a limited amount of information about his identity. In some cases, the scammer may give you more information than is needed, but the information will be fake or unverifiable.

5. Refuse to close the transaction without seeing the car. The seller will try to convince you to use a supposedly secure escrow service to transfer and hold your money until the transaction has been completed. The escrow service will be associated with a company that you've never heard of or based in a foreign country. In some cases, the scammer will insist that you wire money.

6. Understand that if you use the escrow service or wire money to the scammer the car will never be delivered and you'll lose your money.

Tips & Warnings

• Car sellers may also be targeted on Craigslist. Scammers that claim to want to buy the vehicle may send them fake checks that bounce days or weeks after the completed transaction.
• Scammers may also ask for your financial information to take funds out of your bank account.
• Scammers may refer to a buyer protection plan to cover your purchase. However, Craigslist does not offer a buyer protection plan.

[anarchist316]

on 2/11/2009 These scumbags a re using "ebay" to lure people nto buying cars out here in Los Angeles. You get the same replies, either army personel, or the car is out of state. They also give you a vin number and tell you they will ship car out to you. Do not fall for these either.