EBay Vehicle Purchase Scam

Cars listed on Cars.com can never be paid for through an eBay vehicle purchase protection transaction. This program is only offered on transactions that are completed on eBay. If you are dealing with a seller who asks for payment through this program, it is a scam. You should discontinue contact immediately.

Please report any suspicious emails to reportascam@cars.com.

You can read more about eBay’s vehicle protection program by clicking the link below:

http://pages.motors.ebay.com/buy/security/index.html

Selling Your Car Safely

As we’ve said before, few people would buy a car from a dealer without test-driving it first, and the same is true when dealing with a private-party seller. If you’re selling your car by yourself, it may seem odd to hand your car keys to a stranger, but the process should run smoothly if you follow these tips:

• It's best to meet potential buyers somewhere other than at your home. When possible, bring along a friend or family member for peace of mind, and make sure family or friends know of your plans.
• You should accompany prospective buyers on the test drive. This is crucial; it gives you more selling time, and it spares you the distress of watching a stranger drive away in your car. When riding along, point out all the features you love about your car, including the things you didn't have room to mention in your ad. You've got a captive audience — make the most of your time. Again, make sure family or friends are on hand or know what you’re doing.
• Pre-plan a drive route that allows the buyer to experience a variety of driving situations during the test drive. Give the buyer the opportunity to drive on the highway and in local traffic.

There are other issues for private party sellers, so check out our Advice section for more information on selling your car.

 

Yahoo! Autos Transaction Scam

If you receive an email with subject:  "Transaction XXXXXXXXXXX" please report it immediately to reportascam@cars.com.

Yahoo! Autos does not have a "Condition Guarantee by Seller Program" and is not involved in the transaction or payment process between the buyer and seller. Yahoo! Autos also does not have an Escrow Department. 

We encourage sellers to use Dependable Auto Shipping and Escrow.com  for shipping and escrow services.

 

 

Buyer Beware: Purchase Protection Scam

In this scam, a buyer, who has purchased a vehicle from a seller is targeted with an offer for a fake purchase program. Cars.com does NOT offer any purchase protection programs.  Contact Cars.com immediately if you receive information regarding a purchase protection program from a seller. 

An example is below:

 

Additional information on purchase protection program scams can be found here: 

Cars.com Marketplace Safety Tips - Fake Email

Cars.com Transaction Scam

If you receive an email with subject: "Cars.com Transaction xxxxxx confirmed!," this is NOT an email from Cars.com.  Cars.com does not have a safe transaction program.

Cars.com provides an environment to bring car sellers and buyers in contact with each other. We do not have any involvement or influence in the actual vehicle transaction.

Example Email:

 

Check out AutoConsign.com with additional fraud tips

AutoConsign Fraud Tips

AutoConsign.com is the premier online location for buyers and sellers of privately owned vehicles.

AutoConsign.com has a significant experience in the listing and pricing of vehicles and the paperwork required with selling or purchasing a vehicle.

The value that AutoConsign.com can add is in their experience – they give you every tool you will need in order to buy or sell a vehicle on your own.

Seller Asking Price Scam

The newest fraud scam is when a fraudster is placing a legit ad with realistic asking price, but putting a lower price on the photos or in the additional selling points. 

Always make sure all pricing information within the ad is the same.  It is very common for a fraudster to ask for a down payment or a lesser amount of the value of the car to entice unexpected buyers.

Remember if the price looks too good to be true, then it is probably a scam. See image below.

Fraud using "CARFAX Buyback Guarantee Program"

Recently, we have seen a new scam geared around a fake “CARFAX Buyback Guarantee Program.”  Below is a description of the scam and an example of what you should beware of!

The SCAM

The “seller” claims to use the “CARFAX Buyback Guarantee Program” as a means of holding a deposit (made by the buyer) that will allow the buyer to inspect the vehicle during a grace period after it is shipped from the “seller” (sometimes referred to as an “escrow” service).  This is a scam.  Once you send your deposit, you will never hear from the “seller” again. 

The TRUTH

The actual CARFAX Buyback Guarantee comes with the CARFAX Vehicle History Report and does not require payment from you.   The CARFAX Buyback Guarantee protects consumers from unknowingly buying a used car with a branded title issued by a Department of Motor Vehicles. The CARFAX Buyback Guarantee is not an escrow service.  For more information on the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee, go to http://www.carfax.com/cfm/helpcenter.cfm.  If anybody asks you for money associated with the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee – it’s a scam!  Before sending money to any seller, check to make sure the seller is legitimate and ask for a copy of the vehicle title.

SCAM EXAMPLE

Here is an example of the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee Scam. The “seller” will send you an email with the following message or something similar to it:

The financial part of our transaction is going through CARFAX Buyback Guarantee Program and here are the steps:
- I need your full name and address to put on the title.
- I will forward our information to CARFAX Buyback Guarantee Program to register the transaction.
- CARFAX Buyback Guarantee Program sends you the invoice and the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee certificate.
- you will have to send a 20% refundable deposit to CARFAX BuyBack Guarantee Program to start the procedure..
- after they secure the deposit , they will notify me and I will start shipping.
- shipping will take no more than 10 days depending on your location.
- after you receive the vehicle you will have another 5 days to inspect it.
- when the inspection period ends CARFAX BuyBack Guarantee Program contacts you and if there are any issues with the car, they will fully refund you within 3 business days and the car will be shipped back at my expense. If all is good with the car, which I'm sure it will be, they will assist you with the title transfer and release the payment to me.

 

 

 

*New* "Contact Directly" Fraud Scam - Example of an E-mail Response from a Fraudster

Scam Alert!

A recent fraud tactic being used by many fraudsters is asking potential buyers to contact him or her (the seller/fraudster) directly by e-mail, not through Cars.com. A lot of times the fraudster will explain in the additional selling points that his or her e-mail inbox will mark Cars.com e-mails as "spam" or "junk", resulting in a message about their vehicle that this seller/fraudster won't receive. These type of comments are considered to be suspicious and are associated with fraudulent activity. 

An honest Cars.com seller is expecting to be contacted by us when a buyer shows interest in their vehicle. If you have contacted somebody recently that has included these type of comments within their ad, stop further conversation with this individual as a typical e-mail response from the seller/fraudster requests that the potential buyer engages in transactions through Money Gram or Western Union. Money transfers using Money Gram or Western Union are HIGHLY REGARDED as FRAUDULENT transactions. Cars.com advises buyers to NEVER engage in a Wire/Money Transfer before meeting with the seller of the vehicle.
---------------------------------------
Here is an actual example of a response from a fraudster after contacting him or her directly about purchasing his or her vehicle:

From: (fraudster's email address)
To: (your email address)
Sent: (Date)
Subject: Re: (Your subject-- Example: I'm interested in your car!)

Ok

So we have to options:

1: 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 $2,900 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.

2:  Go to Money Gram or  Western Union and your dad,mom,best friend you name it,one of them will be the Sender and you will be the Receiver in Houston, TX!
Once you e-mail me a scan copy of the Money Gram/ Western Union (as proof that you have the money) i will buy a plain ticket and fly to Houston, TX  to ship the car to your address, you will also receive the title, you will have 3 days to inspect, test drive it, take it to a mechanic, after 3 days you have to decide if you will keep it or not! If you will keep it (witch i am 100% you will)
then you will go at Money Gram/ Western Union  and change the Receiver's name with my name so i can pick up the money!
If for some reason you wont like it, then i will ship the car back on my expense and you will get your money back from Money Gram/ Western Union. I am risking here a: plain ticket and shipping fees,
you will risk only $100 Western Union fees!
So what  do you say?
You will inspect the car in person before i get paid, i cannot do more than this...

Please let me know witch one is better for you?

Thanks...
Anthony & Amber Watson
Houston, TX
(713) 568-2857
watson.amber79@Safe-mail.net

-----------------------------------------------

Again, Cars.com reminds all of our buyers and sellers never to engage in a wire or money transfer with somebody that they themselves have never met!

Fraud Toll Free Number and E-mail Scam: Update for Transaction through support@online-truste.com

Any e-mail received with the subject: “Update for Transaction #2994075813” and that lists the toll free number (800) 817-3531 should be regarded as fraudulent.  Cars.com would never ask a buyer to send a money transfer or be a part of the transaction process for a seller's vehicle (whether purchase, verification, shipping, etc.) Any e-mail or phone service line that states otherwise is fraudulent.

Cars.com simply provides an environment to bring car sellers and buyers in contact with each other. We do not have any involvement or influence in the actual vehicle transaction.

********************************************************

Example E-mail with Toll-Free Number

From: Cars Customer Support <support@online-truste.com>

Subject: Update for Transaction #2994075813

To: xxxxxx@yahoo.com

Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 7:07 PM

Dear xxxxx,

We are informing you that our service has been updated and we are providing you the new bank account details where you should make your transfer.

Make the payment via Bank to Bank Wire Transfer using the following bank account details::

Bank name:

Account #:

Routing #:

Name of beneficiary:

Bank address:

Centennial Bank

022109351936

124303065

Marian Popa

18837 Brookhurst Street, Suite 100

Fountain Valley

,

CA

92708

United States

E-mail us support@online-truste.com the scanned copy of the payment receipt Fax the receipt to : +1-877-640-4852 If you have any questions, please contact us at support@online-truste.com . When e-mail to us, please reference transaction# 2994075813.

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) 817-3531

support@online-truste.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------