Ghost Listing Scams: How to Protect Yourself When Buying a Car from the UK

1. How does a ghost listing work?

A scammer posts an attractive listing using photos stolen from a genuine ad (or a car that doesn't exist at all). Once a buyer shows interest, they block any face-to-face meeting with an excuse like 'the car is currently abroad / with the military / in hospital', and only communicate via WhatsApp or email.

To build trust, they may send fake shipping/courier documents, or even corporate-looking emails mimicking something like an 'eBay Protection Programme'. The goal is always the same: get you to wire a deposit or the full price to a bank account before you've ever seen the car.

2. Warning signs

If several of the following signs appear together, you're most likely dealing with a scam.

• A price noticeably below market average (e.g. 30%+ cheaper than comparable cars)
• The seller pressures you: 'there's another buyer, decide today'
• They refuse a phone call or video call, insisting on text-only communication
• The car is 'currently abroad' or being sold on behalf of a relative who can't show it
• They ask for payment to a personal account, not one in the company/seller's name
• They direct you to an unfamiliar 'secure payment' website

3. Fake escrow sites — the 'secure payment' trap

Experienced scammers now set up fake websites that imitate real escrow companies, claiming 'we use escrow, your money is safe'. The site can look professional and even carry fake customer reviews.

The rule is simple: never trust any 'escrow' or payment site suggested by the seller that you haven't researched and chosen yourself. Genuine escrow providers are never imposed by the seller — the buyer chooses independently, or a trusted third party (like us) coordinates it.

4. How to verify the seller's identity

There are several concrete ways to confirm the car and seller are genuine.

• Does the name on the V5C logbook match the seller's identity
• Does the logbook address match the address the seller gave you
• Does the bank account name exactly match the seller's name (a mismatch is a major red flag)
• Can they show the car and the chassis number (VIN) live on a video call
• Does the address/region on past MOT records match the listing

5. The protection we offer against this risk

Our seller identity verification service performs exactly the checks above: V5C match, address confirmation, bank account name match. This check is already included in our Standard and Comprehensive packages.

With our escrow payment coordination, funds are held by an independent FCA-authorised provider until you approve the report — not a site suggested by the seller, but a trusted channel we coordinate. If the car sells before inspection, or you walk away, the money comes back to you.