car buyer scams australia

Buying a car in Australia? The scams are as common as magpies in spring, but easier to dodge if you know the tricks.

• Overpayment/PayID refund: scammer "accidentally" pays too much, begs a refund—their first payment later bounces.
• Fake escrow/shipping: bogus transport or escrow site; money gone, car imaginary.
• VIN cloning/identity: stolen plates or doctored VIN; paperwork looks tidy, history check doesn’t match.
• Deposit-only sellers: pressure to pay a holding deposit sight-unseen.
• Phishing links: links to "verify" identity or pay fees; harvests your details.
• Curbstoning: unlicensed sellers flipping problem cars with dodgy roadworthy.

Protect yourself: meet in person, inspect and test-drive, and never pay before you’re satisfied.

Run a PPSR check, confirm the seller’s ID matches the rego, insist on proper receipts, and avoid gift cards, crypto or wire transfers.

Use secure, traceable payments and reputable platforms like Tradingpost; if anything feels off, walk away and keep your money.