Warning! 5 Online Used Car Scams Every Seller Must Know

(Photo credit: freepik)

Selling a car online offers incredible reach, but it also opens the door to a new generation of sophisticated scammers. Gone are the days of simple tricks; today's fraudsters use psychological manipulation and technology to steal your car—or your identity.

If you are posting your car for sale on social media or open marketplaces, beware of these 5 dangerous scams that are targeting sellers right now.

1. The "ABC" Triangle Scam (The Most Dangerous)

This is the #1 scam in Thailand currently.

• The Setup: A scammer acts as a "middleman" without you knowing. They copy your car ad and post it elsewhere at a super low price to attract a "Real Buyer."
• The Trap:
  • The Scammer contacts YOU (Seller) saying they want to buy the car.
  • The Scammer tells the REAL BUYER to transfer money to the Scammer's account (or a mule account).
  • The Scammer sends a truck or an agent to pick up your car, claiming they already paid.
• The Result: You hand over the car thinking you’ve been paid (or the slip is fake), or the Real Buyer reports YOU to the police for fraud because they transferred money but never got the car.

2. The Fake Transfer Slip (High-Tech Edition)

• The Setup: The buyer agrees to the price immediately without bargaining and sends a mobile banking slip.
• The Trap: Slip-generating apps are incredibly realistic. They have correct fonts, time stamps, and even QR codes that scan to error pages or fake websites.
• How to Avoid: Never trust a screenshot. Always log in to your own bank app to verify the money has actually landed in your account before signing any documents.

3. The "Phishing Link" to Receive Payment

• The Setup: A buyer claims they are using a corporate account or an international bank and says, "I transferred the money, but you need to click this link to accept the payment."
• The Trap: The link leads to a fake banking website designed to steal your username, password, and OTP.
• Rule of Thumb: You never need to click a link to receive money. Transfers are automatic.

4. The "Overseas Buyer" / Oil Rig Scam

• The Setup: A buyer claims to be a foreigner working on an oil rig or overseas. They want to buy the car for their child/wife in Thailand.
• The Trap: They "transfer" the money via PayPal or a foreign bank, but you receive a fake email saying "Funds are on hold. You must pay a shipping fee/agent fee of 5,000 THB to release the total amount."
• The Result: You pay the fee, and they disappear.

5. Identity Theft (The Document Hunter)

• The Setup: Before even seeing the car, the buyer asks for a photo of your ID card and Green Book (Vehicle Registration) to "check if the car is legal."
• The Trap: They aren't interested in the car. They use your unblurred documents to open illegal bank accounts, take out loans, or scam others (see Scam #1).
• How to Avoid: Only show documents in person, or watermark them heavily with "For selling car to [Name] only" across the image.

How to Sell Safely

1. Meet in a Safe Zone: Banks or Police Stations are best.
2. Verify the ID: Ensure the person picking up the car matches the name on the bank transfer.
3. No Cash? No Car: Do not sign the transfer papers until the money is confirmed in your app.

Too scary to handle yourself? Skip the risk entirely. Sell with Motorist Thailand. We act as the verified middleman, vetting buyers and handling the paperwork so you never have to deal with scammers.

Read More:  Sell your car for the highest price in 24 hours

Looking for a  car appraisal?  You can contact us for a free car valuation within 24 hours…