Scams12 Aug 2026 · 11 min
How international dealership scams actually work
The car is rarely the product. The deposit is. A field guide to bait listings, cloned lots, advance-fee clearing, and the pressure scripts used on overseas buyers.
Buyer protection
Handle the deal like a desk, not a wish
International vehicle sales fail in predictable ways: fake lots, advance-fee shipping, mismatched engines, and wires that cannot be recalled. Use the checker, then read the matching brief.
Live desk
Deal risk checker
Answer eight questions about the deal in front of you. Nothing is stored on a server — this runs on your device. It is a briefing, not a legal opinion.
01
Have you (or an independent mechanic) inspected the car in person?
Photos and a video walkaround are not an inspection.
02
Is the asking price far below the current market for that year and spec?
A 'too good' number is the oldest bait in the book.
03
Are they asking for a deposit, shipping fee, or 'clearing' payment before you see the car?
Advance-fee is the core international dealership scam.
04
Do they want payment via personal account, crypto, gift cards, or a 'family' wallet?
Real dealers use named business accounts and paper trails.
05
Can you independently verify the dealer's registered name, lot address, and phone?
A WhatsApp number and a borrowed showroom photo is not a dealership.
06
Have you matched the VIN on the car, the documents, and a history report?
Mismatched VIN, chassis, or engine numbers are a hard stop.
07
Are they rushing you — 'another buyer is coming', 'price expires tonight'?
Urgency is how scams skip inspection and paperwork.
08
Have you seen original title / custom papers, not screenshots or 'on the way' PDFs?
Cloned documents are cheap. Originals are not.
Answer every question to score the deal.
01
Before you pay
Verify the seller, inspect in person, match VIN / chassis / engine, itemise landing cost.
02
While you buy
Named business account or escrow. No crypto. No last-minute account changes.
03
If it goes wrong
Bank fraud desk first. Police report. Never pay a recovery agent.
The library
Scams15 Aug 2026 · 8 min
Deposits, wires, and the payment traps used on car buyers
How to move money for an international vehicle without becoming the next advance-fee case. Escrow, named accounts, and the channels you should never touch.
Aftercare25 Aug 2026 · 7 min
If you already paid: a calm aftercare playbook
What to do in the first 48 hours after a vehicle scam — banks, police, platforms, and what not to do when someone offers to 'recover' the money.
Scams22 Aug 2026 · 7 min
Private sellers: the red flags that show up before the test drive
No lot, no company, still a deal — sometimes. How to buy from a private party without inheriting someone else's problem car or a phantom listing.