Welcome to Cars.com's SAFE Blog for Buyers & Sellers!

Thanks for finding us! We're here to help you shop for and sell cars safely. We do our best to eliminate fraud from Cars.com before it gets to you, but unfortunately, it sometimes slips through. In this forum we'll let you know how to recognize some tactics scammers use and what to do when they're being used on you.

A few general ground rules for safe selling and buying:
1) If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is -- trust your instinct.
2) If your communication with a buyer or seller makes you suspicious, cease all communication with that individual.
3) Report any activity that makes you suspicious to reportascam@cars.com.
4) NEVER, EVER wire money to a buyer or seller.
5) NEVER, EVER accept a check for more than the value of the vehicle.

Following these tips will help protect you from most scams. Search through our categories to find information pertaining to your situation.
Thanks, and good luck.
-The Cars.com Team

Questions or concerns? Call (888) 780-1286 or email us.

Phone Scam

Fraudsters recently have been asking buyers to contact them via phone. We recommend that you talk to a live person before buying a car. Never wire money through Western Union or Money Gram. Always take a test drive and get a copy of the person's drivers license.

SAMPLE PHONE SCAM -------------------------

Hi Recently i got the opportunity to open a franchise in Canada with a partner, so i had to move here for few months.

I have decided to sell the car back in US, because it will cost me to much to ship and register it here in Canada. With the money i will get from selling it, i can easily buy a car here in Canada without spending extra on shipping, registration and other fees.
I had a interested buyer 5 days ago who said he will buy the car if i come back to Texas to ship it, so i got a plane ticket to Texas, and guess what? When i arrived there, he didn't show up and after 2 days he gave me a call and said that he is sorry but he cant buy it anymore because his loan was rejected by the bank!

Now i don't want to buy another plane ticket to come and fall for it once more,maybe you wont show up.

So this is what i suggest,i think this is the best and safest way for the two of us.
You must find the nearest Money gram agency and you will go there with a relative, best friend, someone you trust.

Her comes the best part: your friend or relative will be the Sender and you will be the Receiver in Houston,TX.

This way you will have total control of your money, since you are the Receiver you are the only one that can pick them up!

I will be 100 % sure that you are a serious buyer, and that you will be in Houston,TX. because once the money is sent to you, you have to be in Houston,TX to pick them up.
Once you show me a photo or a scan copy of the receipt from Money Gram in the amount of $3,300 in your name, i will fly back home and meet with you and make the deal in person,then you will pick up the money from Money Gram and pay me cash in hand.
Or, if you are busy or for some reason wont be available to pick up the car from my place, then i can ship the car at your door and you can pay me after you receive and inspect it in person.I will pay the shipping fee and you pay the Money Gram fee.
If you understand and agree with my terms please reply with:"LET'S DO IT":)
Thanks...

Gary S. Newman
Houston,TX
xxx-738-4540
garygary2005@gmail.com

Cars.com Full Package Scam

Cars.com is not involved in the payment process of the vehicle. If you receive any email from Cars.com about payment, then this is a scam.  All Cars.com emails will have a cars.com domain. I.e. reportascam@cars.com. If you see any emails with support@carsbillings.com or payment@carsbilling.com, these are scam email accounts.

Please review sample scam emails below.

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SAMPLE SCAM EMAIL FROM SELLER

Hi,nice to meet you!

I've advertised my car nation-wide (this is a full package from Cars.com for more exposure), and have been overwhelmed by the number of emails I got from interested buyers.

I almost had the car sold but the buyer changed his mind last minute due to financial reasons (loan rejected by his bank), But there is a good part in all this: he sent me 700$ to cover the shipping fee before he got the bad news from the bank, and now he said i should keep it: "this is my way to show my appreciation for your effort" he said.

I must avoid the cheap-chat as I don't have time for it, so i hope i can answer to all the questions you might have regarding my car.

The car is in excellent condition, clear title, the engine is immaculate, no leaks, no accidents, no dents or hidden defects.

Here you have some more photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/garygary2005/Oddyssey1999

The last price is $3,300 no less!

Info on my car:

1999 Honda oddyssey

Miles: 81638

Transmission: Automatic

Engine: 3.5L V6 PFI SOHC

Options:

CD Player, Leather Seats, Passenger Airbag, Driver Airbag Air Conditioning, Power Windows, Power Seats, Power Locks, Cruise Control

Finished in Canyon Stone Silver Metallic exterior with a Gray leather interior.

Loaded with all the power equipment you'd expect from a luxury van including power windows, dual sliding doors, full leather interior, alloy wheels, CD player, front and rear climate control, rear captains chairs and the bullet proof reliable 3.5 liter fuel injected engine. Safety and reliability are behind the Honda nameplate.

Runs and drives perfectly. No issues. Garage kept and well maintained.

support@carsprepayment.com

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SAMPLE EMAILS FROM CARS.COM SCAM -support@carsbillings.com

Dear XXXX,

This attached PDF file contain the balance invoice details of your transaction with Janus Rogucki. Please print and keep both for your records.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (800) 808-1487 or e-mail at support@carsbillings.com . When e-mail to us, please reference transaction# 81408284.

Thanks for using cars.com, and best of luck with your purchase!

Sincerely,

Customer Service

Cars.com

175 W.Jackson Blvd

8th Floor

Chicago, IL 60604

Phone: (800) 808-1487

http://www.cars.com/

support@carsbillings.com

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SAMPLE SCAM EMAIL

Dear XXXXX,

WESTERN UNION SERVICE HAS BEEN SELECTED BY THE SELLER, CANNOT BE CHANGED.

Transfer $1,700.00 via Western Union. Deposit must be sent Cars.com Representative Details:

XXXXX

Via Donatello 22

Milan , LM 20100

NOTE: The above mentioned representative in our Agent for the Italy are, your funds will be held in our Financial Department custody from Italy.

Scan and Fax us the second Western Union receipt info at +1-877-350-7457 so we can validate the payment or e-mail us the transfer details at support@carsprepayment.com

If you have any further questions, please contact us at (800) 808-1487 or e-mail at support@carsprepayment.com. When writing to us, please reference transaction# 81408284.

Thanks for using cars.com, and best of luck with your purchase!

Sincerely,

Customer Service

Cars.com175 W.Jackson Blvd

8th Floor

Chicago, IL 60604

support@carsprepayment.com

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SAMPLE SCAM EMAIL

Hello there,

I am willing to let the car go for $3,400.00.

For the moment i work in Europe in Italy for next eight months as a family practice physician.

Due the nature of situation and gas being high, I only accept to open an agreement offered by Cars.com (the same company i used to post the car for sale).

The car is in excellent condition, clear title, the engine is immaculate, no leaks, no accidents, no dents or hidden defects.

For CAR INFORMATION, VIN NUMBER OR PHOTOS, JUST ENTER ON THIS LINK:

Please let me know if you're interested so I can provide you with further details regarding the transaction.

Thank You

XXXXX
http://www.geocities.com/teldetel9/honda/Odyssey.htmlhttp://www.cars.com/

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SAMPLE SCAM EMAIL

Dear XXXX,

This attached PDF file contain the invoice details of your transaction with Janus Rogucki. Please print and keep both for your records.

The PDF contains the following information:

- A summary of transaction details

- Payment instructions (needed for complete it with success)

If you have any questions, please contact us at (800) 808-1487 or e-mail at support@carsprepayment.com . When e-mail to us, please reference transaction# 81408284.

Thanks for using cars.com, and best of luck with your purchase!

Sincerely,

Customer Service

Cars.com

175 W.Jackson Blvd

8th Floor

Chicago, IL 60604

Phone: (800) 808-1487
http://www.cars.com/

Western Union Fraud

Please refrain from using Western Union for ANY transaction. We recommend meeting with the seller with the title of the car.

SAMPLE FRAUD EMAIL BELOW
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Hello,
If you really like the car but you don't trust an escrow, I have something SAFE and fast for you because I want you to be sure that you will receive the car and I hope we will collaborate in the future too. You will make the $1900 transfer to my location(Leeds, United Kingdom) but not to my name (you will use your best friends name for example George Bush as receiver's name) so you can be sure that I will not pick up the money until you get the car; so you make a deposit at Western Union and you will give me the transfer's details (SENDER'S NAME AND MTCN) so I can check that the deposit was made.
After I verify it I will book a flight and meet you. Only after you will receive the car and check it if it OK, you will have to change the receiver's name of the transfer to my name so I can collect my money. So until you will have the car in your hands the money will be deposited on your best friend's name at Western Union Agency. I think it is better to not inform Western Union that you will change the receivers name in a few days because it is possible they ask you to pay the fees twice (fees that are quite big for such an amount),also when you go to a Western Union office to make the transfer,please don't tell there the reason you send the money because here in this country I must pay some additional taxes when I receive the funds. Please say you send the money to your friends or to your partner.
If you agree with these terms, let me know and I will be more than glad to start and complete the transaction with you. Thank you and I hope that you will have the pleasure to drive this car.
I am waiting your answer ASAP.
Thank you and kindly regards!

Payment Invoice for Transaction

We have reports of car buyers receiving a scam email with a subject line of "Payment Invoice for Transaction ID# XXXXXXXX."  If you receive an email with this or a similar subject, please refrain from further correspondence with the seller.  Never wire money to a buyer or seller regardless of any assurances they make.

Cars.com is ONLY a classified listing service and NEVER is involved in payment between the seller and buyer.  Despite contrary appearances, this email was not sent by Cars.com.

SAMPLE FRAUD TRANSACTION EMAIL (Click on Image to Enlarge)