Used Car Scams: How Buyers and Sellers Lose Thousands with Fake Checks

Common Used Car Scams

• ⚠️ Be extra cautious when buying or selling a used car, especially during peak season like July.
• 💡 Scammers target both buyers and sellers using counterfeit checks.

Scams Targeting Sellers

• 🎯 Sellers may receive a check for more than the asking price, with a request to send the difference to a shipping company.
• ❌ The buyer then arranges transportation, but the initial check bounces after the seller has already sent funds.
• 🚗 An example involved a 1948 Packard where the seller was asked to cash a fake check and send part of it to a shipper.

Scams Targeting Buyers

• 🔍 Buyers looking on platforms like Facebook Marketplace can also be targeted.
• 💰 A scammer might pose as a seller needing to sell quickly due to a family emergency and offer a deal that seems too good to be true.
• 💸 The buyer is then asked to cash a check and pay a shipping company, but the check is counterfeit.

How to Protect Yourself

• 🚫 Be suspicious of buyers or sellers who avoid meeting in person or arranging a test drive.
• ❌ Never cash a check and send money back to a stranger.
• ⚠️ Avoid wiring money or using payment apps like Venmo with unknown individuals.
• ✅ Always prioritize seeing the car in person and conducting a test drive before any transaction.