Car Scams
Facebook Marketplace Car Scams UK: Warning Signs And How To Stay Safe
5 min read
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CarVerified Team
Facebook Marketplace is full of genuine used cars, and some scams. Here are the patterns to watch for, how to check a car before you travel, and how to pay safely.
Facebook Marketplace is a popular place to buy a used car because it is local and often cheaper. Most sellers are genuine. But because anyone can list a car for free with a new profile, it also attracts scammers. The same patterns appear on other classified sites such as Gumtree and eBay, so this guide applies there too.
This is general advice based on common scam patterns, not a claim about any specific seller or platform.
The common patterns
The price is far too low
The car is listed well below similar cars, usually with a reason such as a quick sale, moving abroad or a divorce. The low price is the bait. Compare the car with several similar ones before you get excited.
The seller will not meet you
You are told the car is with a relative, a shipping company or “the army” and will be sent after payment. A genuine seller lets you see the car. If you cannot, walk away.
Pay-first, “protected” payments
The seller sends a link to a website that claims to protect your payment, or asks for a deposit through a messaging app. The site is fake, and the money goes to the scammer.
Copied photos and adverts
Scammers copy photos and descriptions from real adverts. Search the photos online, and ask for new pictures of the car with a handwritten note or today’s date visible.
A brand-new profile
A recently created profile with no history, no friends and a single car for sale is a flag. It is not proof of a scam, but it is a reason to be more careful.
The cloned car
Some listings use a real registration from a genuine car. The details match the number plate, but the car you see is a different, often stolen, vehicle. This is why you must match the VIN and not just the plate. Read how to spot a cloned car.
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What to do before you travel
1.
Ask for the registration and run it through a free check at carverified.co.uk. The make, model, colour and year should match the advert.
2.
Ask for photos of the V5C (with the VIN and the keeper details), and check that the address matches where you are going.
3.
Run a full report for finance, write-off, stolen and mileage markers. See the finance check and write-off check.
4.
Check the MOT history, and look for mileage that rises evenly. See signs of a clocked car.
5.
Tell someone where you are going and take a friend.
At the viewing
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Meet at the seller’s home address from the V5C, not in a car park.
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Check the VIN on the car (windscreen or door pillar) matches the V5C and your history report.
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Ask to see the seller’s ID and proof of address if the V5C is not in their name.
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Do not feel rushed. A genuine seller expects questions.
Paying safely
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Do not pay a deposit before you have seen the car.
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Avoid gift cards, cryptocurrency and any “escrow” site the seller suggests.
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A credit card can give extra protection for purchases from traders, but private sales have fewer protections.
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Transfer the money only once you hold the keys, the V5C section for the new keeper and a written receipt.
Check the history first
A good-looking car on Marketplace can still have finance, a write-off marker or a clocked odometer. The quickest protection is to run the registration before you travel.
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Free check of the registration at carverified.co.uk
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Read the complete used car scams guide
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Use the free used car checklist at the viewing
Which CarVerified report covers this?
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Free check: start with the free vehicle check for the make, model, colour, year and MOT and tax status, so you can confirm the car matches the advert.
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Silver: the core vehicle history check. Finance is not part of Silver, but it can be unlocked separately.
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Silver Plus: adds the outstanding finance check, which matters most for deposit and “seller owns it” scams.
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Gold: the most complete report, adding ex-taxi, salvage and valuation checks.
See exactly what each report includes on the pricing page or in the sample report, and use the used car checklist when you view the car.

Free tools for this guide

Used Car Checklist
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Car Finance Calculator
Estimate monthly payments for a car loan, HP or PCP.
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Car Tax Calculator
Work out a car's road tax (VED) from its reg or CO₂ figure.
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Buying a used car?

Check the vehicle history before you buy: MOT history, mileage, outstanding finance, write-offs and theft records.
CarVerified Silver Plus (£5.99) covers write-off, stolen and outstanding finance checks.
Start with the free check - upgrade only if you want the full report.
Viewing a car? Use our free used car checklist →
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Still running your stock from a spreadsheet?
Stop using spreadsheets: record stock, costs and profit per car in one free dashboard, and list the same cars on your live public page.
Stock, costs and profit per car in one place - no spreadsheet needed
Free public stock page - your cars, prices, mileage and photos
Add a car by reg - DVLA details filled in for you
Buyer enquiries land straight in your dashboard
Invoices included (up to 5 a month free)
Analytics on the Professional plan: sell-through, stock ageing and margin
No card needed. Paid plans only if you need more.
Related Guides
Table of Contents
1.
The common patterns
2.
What to do before you travel
3.
At the viewing
4.
Paying safely
5.
Check the history first
6.
Which CarVerified report covers this?
Related Guides
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