Shopping for a car online can save you a lot of time and running around, yet it can also open the door to scams.

You can make buying online a lot safer by going through a reputable online marketplace. A quick web search will turn up several good options, including many that have strong policies that protect buyers and sellers alike. They’re your best bet.

Buying and selling through online classifieds like Craigslist or on Facebook Marketplaces remains an option. Many of these transactions can be safe and legit, but other classifieds often lack the kind of protective measures that car sales platforms have. For that reason, plenty of scammers prowl among them.

Craigslist offers the following advice when it comes to using their online classifieds: “Deal locally, face-to-face — follow this one rule and avoid the vast majority of scam attempts.” It’s good advice in general, and it’s even better advice for a big-ticket purchase like a car or truck. That advice, and the following, can help you make a purchase with confidence.

How to avoid car sales scams

Buying a car—whether new or used—can be exciting, but it also comes with risks if you’re not careful. Scammers often use fake listings, forged documents, or high-pressure tactics to trick buyers into handing over money for cars that don’t exist or aren’t as advertised. By learning how these scams work and taking a few key precautions, you can protect yourself and make a confident, scam-free purchase.

Get a vehicle history report

Many scams involve poorly restored cars that have been in an accident or seen other damage, like from floods. Selling cars while deliberately hiding key info about the vehicle’s history is illegal and potentially dangerous based on the nature of the repairs or lack thereof. A vehicle history report can help you uncover that kind of damage. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers several reputable resources where you can get one.

Use a safe trading or dealing zone

Many police and sheriff’s departments have set up monitored locations designated as safe places to finalize purchases made online, not just cars. In many cases, you can find these on the grounds of the department itself, which can offer even more protection.

When selling, make sure you’re actually getting paid

Many scammers use age-old phony check scams or fake cashier’s checks to rip off their victims. Another common scam entails a fake escrow service to transfer money and the vehicle title. Have the buyer pay in cash and in a safe trading zone. If the buyer insists on paying with a cashier’s check, complete the deal at a bank and ensure the check is real and backed by actual funds. Likewise, if the buyer further insists on using an escrow service, use a reputable one that you suggest.

When buying, also watch out for payment scams

Some scammers ask for payment via a wire transfer, which makes recovering your money highly difficult if the deal goes sour — such as if the vehicle isn’t as advertised or if the entire listing was fake and the vehicle was never for sale in the first place.

Watch out for identity theft

Some scammers use car sales as a front to steal personal and financial info. They might ask for bank account numbers or get so bold that they ask for your Social Security number. Keep this info to yourself. When handing over any kind of documentation as part of the sale like maintenance records, make copies and then black out any personal info on them.

Other signs of a possible car sales scam

Not all car scams are obvious at first glance—some use subtle tactics to deceive unsuspecting buyers. Beyond the usual red flags like high-pressure tactics or requests for wire transfers, there are lesser-known warning signs that can signal a potential scam. Being aware of these additional clues can help you spot trouble early and avoid becoming a victim of fraudulent car sales.

A low, low (too low) price

This is another age-old trick that scammers use in phony car sales. It’s an attention getter and often leads to a high-pressure sales pitch because “at this price, someone’s gonna scoop it up quick.” This opens the way for requests to pay upfront, share personal info, or money down to “hold” the vehicle. In all, a “too low” price is a sign of a scam.

Lack of details and a tough time arranging a meeting

In cases where there’s no car for sale at all, the scammers might find themselves short on details. Questions about maintenance records, driving history, and other specifics often go unanswered because the scammer hasn’t thought through their scam that far. Another sign of a phony deal is the seller’s refusal to meet and demonstrate the car but still asks for some kind of payment or info from you.

Blurry or cropped photos

In a phony car sale online, scammers source the pictures of their “cars” in several ways. Some are grabbed from actual online listings. In other cases, they’ll take pics of cars parked on the street. Sophisticated scammers know that savvy shoppers will do reverse image searches to sniff out a scam, so they blur the photos, crop them or hide important details that identify the car, making it harder to find the source image. Again, these are signs of a scam.