Wheel ScoutThe scams, and the tell for each
Scams hidden in the car itself
| Curbstoning | Unlicensed dealers posing as owners, often selling damaged cars bought at auction. Maryland's MVA, Missouri's Department of Revenue and Washington's DOL all warn buyers about it. Signs: the title isn't in the seller's name, the same phone number shows up on several ads, or the seller "is selling it for a relative." |
|---|---|
| VIN cloning | A stolen car gets the VIN of a similar car that isn't stolen, copied onto a new dash plate and fake papers. Signs: a dash VIN plate with scratches or odd rivets, a door sticker that's missing or doesn't match, and a history that shows the car registered somewhere else at the same time. Stolen car check. |
| Title washing | A salvage or flood car is retitled in a state with looser rules so the brand drops off the new paper. The federal title record (NMVTIS) keeps the old brand. How title washing works. |
| Odometer rollback | Digital odometers can be reprogrammed. Readings recorded at title transfers and inspections show the drop. VIN check. |
| Flood cars | After big storms, cleaned-up flood cars move to other states. How to spot one. |
| Rebuilt sold as clean | "Clean title" in the ad, a rebuilt brand in the record. Salvage vs rebuilt. |
Facebook Marketplace car scams
- No checkout protection on cars. Facebook's Purchase Protection covers purchases made through Facebook checkout, not a car you pay for at a meet-up.
- New or borrowed profiles. A profile created last month, with no friends and a car far below market, is the classic shape of a fake listing.
- Moving the chat off Facebook right away, to text or email, makes the conversation harder to report.
Craigslist car scams
- Out-of-area sellers. Craigslist's own safety advice is to deal locally with people you can meet in person. A seller who can't meet is the scam.
- Fake "Craigslist protection" or escrow. Craigslist doesn't hold payments or guarantee sales. An email saying it does is fake.
- Dealers in the by-owner section, which is how curbstoners reach buyers who think they're dealing with an owner.
OfferUp car scams
- Leaving the app. Requests to move to text or email right away, or to pay through a link, are the common start.
- Trust the badge for what it is. TruYou means OfferUp checked the seller's ID. It doesn't check the car or the title.
- Shipping offers on a car. Treat any offer to ship a car after payment as a scam.
If you've been scammed
- Call your bank right away; card and some bank payments can be disputed.
- Report the listing on Facebook, Craigslist or OfferUp so it comes down.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
- A stolen or cloned car? Call the police non-emergency line where you bought it.
The reports
Check the car before you pay anyone anything.
Basic history report
By VIN or license plate · official NMVTIS record · shows right away
- Salvage, junk, flood and rebuilt title brands
- Title history by state, with dates
- Odometer readings and rollback flags
- Total-loss records from insurers
- Theft check
- Market value for the car
Full vehicle history report
By VIN or license plate · Not instant: emailed or texted to you within two hours
- Every owner, how they used it (personal, lease, rental or fleet) and where
- Accidents and damage reports
- Title brands: salvage, junk, rebuilt, flood, fire, hail, lemon
- Odometer readings over time, checked for rollbacks
- Service and maintenance history
- Open recalls and common owner complaints for the model
Used car scam questions
What are the most common used car scams?
Cars that don't exist (shipping and escrow scams), deposits to hold a car, payment by gift card or wire, curbstoning by unlicensed dealers, VIN cloning, title washing and rolled-back odometers.
How do I avoid getting scammed buying a car on Facebook Marketplace?
See the car in person before paying anything, run its VIN or plate, match the title to the seller's ID, and pay at a bank. Facebook's Purchase Protection doesn't cover a car paid for at a meet-up.
How do Craigslist car scams work?
Most use a low price to rush you into paying before you see the car: a seller who's out of town, a fake shipping company or a fake Craigslist escrow. Craigslist doesn't hold payments; deal locally, in person.
What is curbstoning?
Unlicensed dealers posing as owners to sell cars, often damaged ones. The title usually isn't in the seller's name. Several state motor vehicle agencies warn buyers about it.
What is VIN cloning?
Putting a real VIN from a similar car onto a stolen one, so the stolen car looks clean. Check that the VIN plate, the door sticker and the title match and look untouched, and run the history.
Where do I report a car scam?
Your bank first, then the marketplace's report button, the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov. Stolen or cloned cars go to the local police.
More ways to check a car
Buying guides
Find the deal, then check it.
Wheel Scout alerts you the moment an underpriced car posts on Marketplace, OfferUp or Craigslist near you, and runs the history right in the app.
The basic history report uses NMVTIS data from an approved NMVTIS data provider. NMVTIS records come from states, insurers and salvage yards; not every event is reported to it. Vehicle specs and recalls come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Wheel Scout is not affiliated with any marketplace or government agency.