Avoid Being Scammed When Buying a Car on Facebook

You’re looking for a good second-hand car and scour the internet in search for a good deal. Meanwhile unscrupulous individuals are preying on people like you to swindle out of your hard-earned cash. 

Facebook Marketplace has become rife with scammers on the platform posing as car dealers or private sellers. Many of their victims have spent years saving up enough cash towards this one goal of owning a car, and they never see a car in return, or their money ever again. 

How fake car scams work

A typical scenario of a fake car dealer ad:

1. You’ll come across a page advertising a car with the name and logo of a popular dealership displayed. 

2. An advertisement appears with an immaculate-looking vehicle at a bargain price.

3. When you show interest by clicking on the ad, it tells you to make a deposit which will secure the vehicle so you don’t lose out. This should be a clear warning sign that this is a scam. Never part with any of your money before you see the actual item, meet the actual seller, have the actual documents or contract in hand, and even better, have the actual item in your possession. 

Without any buyer protection, which Facebook does not offer, you’ll be waving goodbye to your money. For anyone suffering a scam on MarketPlace, Facebook’s advice is not exactly helpful, because by then, the scammer’s profile has already been deleted. 

This is what Facebook advises:

“…you can report the seller to us in Marketplace. To do that, visit the seller's profile, which can be found at the bottom of the product profile. Tap on the “Seller Info” section, and there you'll find a “Report” button. Facebook will review the case.”

5 signs to spot a scam

Look for any suspicious signs before going any further. 

1. The price is too good to be true.

2. An upfront deposit is required.

3. Deposits are asked to be done through a system like PayPal.

4. They refuse to allow you to view the car in person.

5. The website address is fake.

3 basic rules to avoid car scams

Be diligent, be on the alert, most of all, look before you jump (be cautious).

1. Never make any payments in advance. 

2. Never buy a car before test driving it. 

3. Never give your personal and banking details to anyone.

As keen and eager as you are to own your own car, scammers are equally motivated to get hold of your money with nothing in return. Don’t give them that chance. Rather contact a reputable dealer and ask them for advice on a car that suits your budget. Remember that owning a car means you will have to think about insurance. Dialdirect offers a range of vehicle insurance options to suit your needs.

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