It’s no secret that the main reason many people hesitate to buy and sell used cars online is the fear of scams and the frustration of dealing with scammers.

We get it, ever since used car marketplaces became commonplace on the internet, there have been stories of people getting scammed (or worse) when buying and selling used cars.

Now, many scams and suspicious ads are easily ID’d if you spend much time online browsing cars for sale.  Also, if you have ever listed a car for sale on the current marketplaces, you have no doubt received an email or text from a potential scammer.

If you don’t spend much time on the marketplaces, then you may not be able to spot the scams as easy, and that is where Wyndscreen comes in.

Wyndscreen was created to make car buying and selling easier and less frustrating, and we work to minimize scams, fake ads, old ads, vague ads, and (not limited to) spam postings.

For many reasons, Wyndscreen is the best used car marketplace, but if for some strange reason you find yourself on other marketplaces, here are a few ways to weed out the obvious scams and traps when dealing with private buyers and sellers:

When looking for a car: 

1. Be very skeptical of  ads with no pictures (remember: this is not an issue at wyndscreen.com)

If the seller can’t be bothered to include at least one picture of the car, then what else are they hiding?

2. Be very wary of ads with no price or a super low price

A 2023 Mercedes for $5000?!     Be very wary!  That old saying “If it seems too good to be true, it usually is” is very relevant to used car sales.

3. Watch out for ads with very little or no details, or wrong details

If the seller can’t even bother to list the milage or get the make correct, then you may be dealing with a flaky or scammy seller.  

4. Never send any money until you have seen the car and met the seller

You’ll never see that money again!

5. Always make sure the title/paperwork matches the car and you have at least internet searched the VIN to see if the car is being ‘listed’ anywhere else…..or old photos show up

Often times you can find an older ad, pics of the car from auctions, or pics from past wrecks or repairs

6. Do not put a deposit down unless you can afford to lose that money

There are very few re-courses for a private buyer/seller interactions if it goes sideways

When selling a car

1. Never deal with people who insist on sending you the full asking price before looking at the car
2. Never deal with anyone who wants you to download a code/app/history check

This is a definite scam attempt, 100%

3. Always meet the buyer to do the deal at a bank or DMV to ensure money and paperwork transactions are legal

4. Never deal with anyone who offers half the asking price right off the bat

5. Be up front with all details and info on the car for sale.   

This minimizes tire kickers and other shady people that would otherwise waste your time

6. List your car at wyndscreen.com, so you get valid leads and less non-sense

Of course this is not all you can do to protect yourself, but it is a great start and these steps are valid in all private buyer and seller transactions.

Checking the carfax/autocheck  and getting a Pre Purchase Inspection is another great idea if you need a bit more reassurance in your purchase.

If you need any more insight or have any questions, please reach out!

info@wyndscreen.com