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Used car scams in South Africa, and how to avoid them

The most common car scam in South Africa does not involve a car at all. Here are the scams that catch first-time buyers, the warning signs, and the checks that keep your money safe.

The car that does not exist

A "seller" advertises a popular model at a very good price, with photos copied from a real listing. When you call, there is always a reason why you cannot see the car:

• the seller is "deployed", "relocated overseas" or "working on a ship", and the car is with a transport or storage company;
• a "deceased estate" must sell quickly;
• other people are interested, so you must pay a deposit to hold it;
• the car will be delivered after you pay a delivery, inspection or customs fee;
• payment goes to an "escrow" or "safe payment" company, which turns out to be the scammer's own website.

The car never arrives. The "transport company" asks for one more fee, then disappears.

How to stay safe

• See the car in person, at a real address, with the seller there.
• Never pay a deposit to hold a car you have not seen.
• Never pay delivery, storage, inspection or customs fees to receive a car.
• Do not use a payment, escrow or transport company that the seller chooses.
• Do a reverse image search on the photos, and search the phone number. Scammers reuse both.

A seller who cannot show you the car, and wants money first, is not a seller.

Too good to be true

A price far below the market is the scammer's best bait. A car priced R15 000 to R30 000 below similar cars is usually one of these:

• a car that does not exist;
• a stolen or cloned car;
• a car with finance owing, which the seller cannot legally sell;
• a car with a serious hidden problem, such as flood damage, a failing engine or a rebuild after a write-off.

Check the car's identity

Check that the VIN and the engine number on the car match the registration certificate and the licence disc, and that they look original. Check that the seller's ID matches the owner on the papers. If you are in doubt, ask a testing station or the police.

If a bank still owns the car

If a bank is the titleholder, the seller still owes money on the car.

1. Ask for a recent settlement letter.
2. Pay the settlement amount directly to the bank, using account details that you get from the bank itself.
3. Pay the seller the balance only after the bank confirms.

Check the odometer

A rolled-back odometer shows in the details: service records that do not fit, wear on the pedals and seats that is too heavy for the reading, and old service stickers with higher figures. Phone the last workshop in the service book.

If you are scammed

Report it to the police and to the platform where the car was advertised. If you paid, phone your bank's fraud line at once.

This article is based on Chapter 4 of Buying Your First Car, which includes a red-flag card to use every time you look at a car.