Selling a car online has never been riskier, according to a private investigator
Whether you are upgrading your vehicle or just looking to free up some cash, selling a car online has never been easier. But according to one private investigator, it has also never been riskier. Paul Jones from ARF Private Investigators has warned that criminals are targeting private car sellers with increasingly clever scams, some of which can leave you without a car, without payment, and with no way to get either back.
Most people selling a car privately expect a buyer to transfer the money by bank, but Mr Jones says that is exactly what scammers are taking advantage of.
“One of the most common tricks we see is the fake bank transfer,” he explained.
“The scammer shows you a screenshot on their phone, or a fake email that looks like it has come from their bank. It says the money has been sent or is pending, and they push you to hand over the keys there and then.”
But once the car is gone, the money never arrives.
“There is no transfer, no pending payment, and no way to trace the scammer,” Mr Jones warned.
“By the time the seller realises, the car is already miles away and probably sold on to someone else.”
The overpayment trap
Another common scam involves sending too much money on purpose — and then asking for the difference back.
“Let’s say you are selling the car for five thousand,” Mr Jones said.
“The scammer sends seven thousand and says it was a mistake. They ask you to refund the extra two thousand.
“What most people don’t realise is that the original payment was made with stolen details, or a fake account, and will later be reversed.”
This scam leaves sellers not only without their car, but also out of pocket for the so-called refund.
“Once the bank investigates the fraud, the money is taken back, and the seller is left with nothing,” he added.
How stolen details and fake deposits are used
Mr Jones explained how scammers often use stolen bank details or hacked accounts to make payments that seem legitimate at first.
“These might show as ‘cleared’ in your bank account, but later get flagged and removed,” he said.
“Some criminals will even use a mobile banking app to create a fake deposit screen, then flash it at the seller to build pressure. It’s quick, convincing, and dangerous, because once the car is in their hands, it’s gone.”
Avoid being caught out
Mr Jones said the most important thing is to never release the vehicle until you have confirmed funds in your account.
He said: “Don’t rely on screenshots, emails or what the buyer says. Wait until the money has properly cleared and is visible in your bank. If they’re genuine, they will understand.”
He also recommends using secure payment methods and being cautious of anyone rushing the process.
“If someone is trying to get the deal done too fast, or making excuses for why you need to hand over the keys immediately, that should be a red flag,” he said.
“Once the car is gone, your chances of recovering it are slim, especially if you willingly handed it over thinking you had been paid.”
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