Selling your old vehicle? Be wary of car-selling scams

SALT LAKE CITY — Selling a vehicle privately sometimes has benefits. For example, you may get more money than trading it in at a dealership. After listing your car on KSL Cars or a similar service, remain wary of car-selling scams. 

The unseen buyer

AutoTrader cautioned private sellers against buyers offering to buy the car before they see it. During this car-selling scam, the buyer may offer a seller cash before looking at the car. They may also attempt to arrange for someone else to pick it up and finish the transaction. 

Oftentimes, perpetrators of these car selling scams are trying to get the car’s title without paying for it. Do not transfer the title until you have verified the payment has cleared your bank account. 

Overpaying

According to KSL.com, one of the most common scams on KSL Classifieds is carried out by overpaying — well, sort of. 

These scammers often provide too much money, often in the form of a fake cashier’s check or money transfer. Then, they ask for some of the money back. However, the counterfeit payment will be rejected by your bank, meaning you’ve just sent them some of your money. 

Auto report requests

Sometimes, used car buyers will message sellers, pretending to have an interest in the vehicle. Then, according to AAA, they ask the seller to buy a vehicle report from an unknown website. Often, they include a link in their message. 

Do not click on the link or purchase a vehicle report unless it is on the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System’s approved report list. Buying a report through a fraudulent website enables scammers to gain personal information, such as credit card information. 

For example, one man told KSL.com that when he was trying to sell his old car, someone texted him requesting “NVAR papers.” 

When the man offered up the Carfax report he’d already obtained for potential buyers, the person declined, insisting he buy one from a very specific source. 

According to the Federal Trade Commission, car-selling scams attempting to employ a fraudulent website sometimes use a domain ending in “.vin.” They believe this will trick sellers, as a car’s vehicle identification number is often referred to as its “VIN number.” 

However, .vin is not a new domain for car reporting websites. Rather, it was established in France to be used for websites related to wine, as the French word for the alcoholic beverage is “vin.” 

If a vehicle history reporting website does not end in .com or .org, that is an immediate red flag. 

Furthermore, do not provide any personal information, such as your address, social security number, or credit card number, to a potential buyer. 

Don’t arrange payment plans

AutoTrader discourages sellers from agreeing to payment plans directly with buyers, regardless of the terms. Oftentimes, buyers will provide an initial payment before disappearing with the vehicle. 

If a potential buyer tries to organize a payment plan, direct them to a reputable financial institution, where they may be able to take out a loan to pay for your vehicle. 

Trust instincts to avoid falling for car-selling scams 

If something seems suspicious, it likely is. 

In addition to watching for these common car selling scams, NerdWallet recommended meeting potential buyers in a neutral area with surveillance, as opposed to at your home — examples include in a police station or supermarket parking lot. As the seller, you should select the location. 

Before letting a potential buyer drive your car, ask to see their driver’s license. 

Additionally, take a trusted friend or family member with you when meeting a potential buyer. 

If you encounter attempts to fraudulently purchase your vehicle, report the incident to the police. Although they may not be able to do anything, the information will help their fraud unit identify scam trends in your area. 

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