How to avoid deposit scams
The most common used-car scam starts with a request to pay before you've seen the car. Here's how to spot it.
The pattern
A seller says someone else is coming to view, so you need to pay a deposit today to hold the car. They ask for a bank transfer to a personal account, often with a story about being away or working offshore.
Once the money is sent, the seller stops replying. The car usually never existed, or the photos were copied from a genuine advert.
What to do instead
See the car, and its documents, before you pay anything. Check the name on the V5C logbook matches the seller and the address where you're viewing.
Keep conversations on Motorfolk. If someone asks you to move to WhatsApp or email straight away, be cautious.
If you're asked for a deposit to a personal account, report the message. We treat those reports as urgent.