Auto & Vehicle Scams

Fraudulent car and vehicle listings on classifieds sites designed to collect deposits or full payment for vehicles that don't exist or aren't for sale.

Fake escrow or payment-protection services used in online vehicle sales to collect full payment for a vehicle that is never delivered.

A stolen or salvaged vehicle is given the identity of a legitimate vehicle by copying its VIN, making it appear to have a clean history.

Unsolicited calls or mailers pushing worthless 'vehicle protection' policies that cover almost nothing and are nearly impossible to claim on.

A vehicle with a salvage, flood, or lemon title is re-registered in a different state or country to obtain a clean title, hiding serious damage history.

Scammers posing as vehicle buyers who overpay by cheque, then request a refund of the excess — leaving the seller out of pocket when the cheque bounces.

Unlicensed dealers posing as private sellers to flip problem vehicles without dealer regulations, warranties, or consumer protections.

Fraudulent logistics or transport companies used in remote vehicle sales to collect delivery fees for vehicles that are never shipped or collected.

Fraudulent vehicle listings that request a holding deposit or direct you through a fake escrow service to collect payment for cars that do not exist or are not for sale.

Vehicles with a concealed accident history, stolen identity, or fraudulently cleared title sold as clean cars to unsuspecting buyers.

Dishonest repair shops and mobile mechanics who invent faults, perform unnecessary work, or massively overcharge for simple repairs on vehicles brought in for service.

Online vehicle sellers who are actually scammers introduce a fake transport or shipping company to extract additional fees after an initial deposit has been paid for a vehicle that does not exist.

Unsolicited robocalls claiming your vehicle warranty is expiring and pressuring you to purchase a worthless extended service contract from an unregulated third party.

Fraudsters sell counterfeit or manipulated vehicle history reports that conceal written-off, stolen, or finance-encumbered vehicles, leaving buyers exposed after purchase.

Fraudsters request a small deposit before allowing a buyer to view a vehicle, then disappear with the money and the viewing never takes place.

Fraudulent breakdown cover policies or opportunist roadside operators that charge for non-existent or overpriced recovery services, leaving motorists without genuine cover or out of pocket.

The recorded mileage on a used vehicle is fraudulently reduced to inflate its apparent value and conceal accelerated wear — leaving buyers with a vehicle worth far less than they paid.

Vehicles written off as total losses are cosmetically repaired and sold without disclosure of their salvage status — exposing buyers to structural safety risks and insurance complications.

A car dealer lets a buyer drive away with a vehicle on provisional financing, then contacts them days later to demand higher payments or the return of the vehicle — exploiting a financing shortfall that may never have existed.

Fraudulent QR code stickers placed over genuine codes on parking meters, tickets, and signage that redirect drivers to a lookalike payment page designed to steal card details.

Fraudulent QR codes and cloned apps at electric vehicle charging points trick drivers into entering payment details on lookalike sites or installing malicious apps.

Bogus online vehicle auction sites, including fake government or police 'seized vehicle' auctions, charge buyers a registration or winning-bid deposit for vehicles that don't exist.

Criminals fit duplicate registration plates matching a genuine vehicle to another car of similar make, model, and colour, leaving the innocent registered keeper facing fines, tolls, and penalty notices for offences they never committed — often followed by phishing scams that exploit the fear this creates.

Phishing texts and emails impersonating a national vehicle licensing authority, such as the UK's DVLA, claim a tax refund is owed or that vehicle tax is overdue, designed to harvest card details or extract fraudulent payment.