Scam alert: vehicle-buying scams on the rise

Navigating a task such as car buying can open up a can of worms, let alone the worry of being scammed. But fraudulent vehicle listings are littering the internet.

In fact, vehicle scams shot up by 74% in the first half of 2023 compared with last year, with victims losing an average of £998, according to data from Lloyds Banking Group.

Lloyds data found that most car-buying scams started on Facebook. It also found that the Ford Fiesta is the car model most used in fake listings. Other popular fake listings were for Audis and BMWs.

These sneaky scams can be hard to spot. Here we explain how a typical vehicle-buying scam works and how to avoid falling victim to one.

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Car scams data and trends

According to Lloyds, vehicles and car parts are the most common type of online shopping scam reported to the bank. 

More than two thirds of all car and van scams reported to Lloyds were advertised on Meta-owned platforms including Instagram, Facebook and Facebook Marketplace, while one in seven vehicle scams reported to Lloyds beginning on eBay.

Lloyds data also found that vans are commonly used in scam posts, which the bank suggested is likely to be driven by people looking for cheap models to convert into campervans.

A Facebook Group called 'Facebook vehicle scam alerts' has more than 5,000 members, all sharing information about vehicle scams spotted on the platform. The group’s creator told us that the Volkswagen Transporter T5 was the most-scammed vehicle they see. 

How online car-buying scams work

Typically, these scams involve criminals posting non-existent vehicles or vehicle parts on social media.

Scammers will use stolen images of genuine vehicles and sometimes even feature a fake address. 

Mark (a pseudonym) spoke to Which? after he lost money to a car-buying scam on Facebook. 

Mark was looking to buy parts for his Ford Fiesta. He came across a car engine advertised on Facebook Marketplace and decided to buy it.

The ‘seller’ lived quite far away from Mark, so they discussed delivery. Mark explained that he could collect the item and pay in cash, but the seller told him he was unavailable for a few days due to having to look after his children.

Mark was then asked for a £100 deposit. Mark asked for a link to the seller's business on Google, explaining that he had been ripped off before. The seller replied saying that he wasn’t on Google but would send a picture of his driving licence as proof of identity, as well as his mobile number.

Mark received a photograph of the seller’s driving licence and a link to the Facebook page for his business. 

Convinced that the post was legitimate, Mark paid the £100 deposit, which the seller insisted was paid via bank transfer.

Mark tried to arrange a collection but the seller came up with excuse after excuse, then claimed his brother could deliver the item but would need an extra £50 for petrol. 

At this point, Mark realised he'd been scammed and blocked the scammer.

Which? contacted Facebook about Mark's experience, but it didn't respond by the time we went to press. 

Spotting and avoiding car scams

Scammers are driven to con you out of money. They will pile on the pressure for you to 'buy', and will either ask for a deposit upfront or the full payment. Then they will make excuses as to why they can’t arrange a viewing or collection.

Usually, payments in these scams are made via bank transfer, which is a fast payment that offers very little protection and opportunities for reimbursement if you're scammed. Once money has been transferred, the fraudster makes off with it and blocks you.

To avoid falling for these scams, use our top tips when browsing online for a new car:

• Be wary of a bargain, as this is a common tactic scammers use to lure you in.
• Be especially careful when using an online marketplace – see our guide on where to buy a car.
• Check documents – ask to see the seller’s vehicle log book (V5C). This is needed when a vehicle is sold, so legitimate sellers should have it.
• Ask for the registration number and check that the details match up on the DVLA's vehicle enquiry service. 
• Look out for pressure-selling tactics, such as telling you that a lot of other people are interested in the vehicle, or you only have a limited time to buy it.
• Don't pay for anything until you've inspected the vehicle. During your inspection, check that the documents and vehicle details all match up.
• Don’t pay via bank transfer, as it offers little protection. Instead use a platform such as PayPal or a credit card for additional protection if things go wrong.
• See our guide on how to buy the best used car for further information on things to look out for. 

If you do spot a scam listing, you should report it to the platform. On Facebook, you can report a scam by selecting the three dots on the right and pressing ‘report’.

If you've been scammed, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card. Also report it to Action Fraud or, if you're in Scotland, call the police on 101.