top of page

5.  STAY SAFE

This page is filled with all the unfortunate stuff that we would prefer not to talk about.  However, we can't hide the fact that scammers exist, so we want to provide as much information as possible to protect ourselves.  The majority of online auction transactions go off without a hitch. In most cases, the buyers and seller sniff out the scammer and avoid them.  

​

The FBI documented a record $3.5 billion in losses due to internet crimes in 2019.  Scammers are active and creative and think up new scams every day.  The best way to avoid scammers is to educate yourself and learn to recognize the most common scams.  Below are a few of the most popular scams on auction sites.

​

Personal Safety

  • Never meet a buyer at your home or anyone else's home.​  

  • Arrange to meet in a public place

  • Only meet in the daytime in places that are well lit

  • Always take someone with you to meet buyers.  You don't know each other, so you have no idea what their real intentions are

 

Fake Check or Money Transfer 

You list your vehicle on an auction website and complete what you think is a successful auction. The winning bidder contacts you and sends a check or cashier's check for more than the final purchase.  A "Friend" is sent to collect the vehicle; this person is just a middleman.  You receive the scammer’s check and a panicked call explaining that the overpayment was a mistake. The scammer asks that you just send the difference via wire, Venmo, or some other immediate cash option.  Eventually, you find out the check has bounced or is fake, and you have to pay the bank back in full.  You are now out of a vehicle, the cash you sent, and the cost of the bounced check.

  • Never accept payment for more than your selling price.

  • You should opt for a secure form of e-payment, such as PayPal or Google Wallet, to ward off scammers.

  • Use a reliable escrow service like escrow.com to verify payment and protect your property

​

Fake Auctions

In a fake auction scam, the scammer copies pictures from another site, maybe even a closed auction.  The winning bidder sends their money, and no vehicle is ever shipped.  

  • Before bidding, buyers should do a Google Photo Search and see if the same vehicle photos pop up on other sites.  

  • Motonexus conducts a photo search before posting an auction to protect buyers from scammers, but it's a good idea to run your own search as well.  

  • Motonexus also asks that sellers provide a photo of the vehicle title so that we can confirm that all the details align. Motonexus deletes the title picture before posting the auction.

  • In most cases, the buyer and seller will never meet.  However, beware of the seller who refuses to meet or has suspicious excuses.  Excuses like, "I'm in the military and deployed," "I have a sick family member at home," and "I work at sea and won't be home for several weeks."  Any of these explanations can be true, but a real seller would simply have a friend or family member meet you when an in-person meeting is a necessity.

​

Fake Test Drive

There are several things you can do to avoid being scammed during a test drive.    

  • Beware of tag-a-long friends.  When you go for a test drive with the buyer, the friend may be up to no good at your house.  Always conduct a test drive at a safe location like a shopping center or other public place.

  • Just because someone wants to test drive your vehicle doesn't mean you should let them. Always go with the buyer to prevent losing the vehicle to theft.  In every case, use your best judgment before allowing a stranger to drive your vehicle.

  • Motorcycles present a different challenge as it may be hard or dangerous to ride with a stranger.  When allowing a test ride on a motorcycle, Motonexus recommends that the seller check that the buyer has a motorcycle license and a helmet.  The seller should take some collateral; we recommend cash in hand for the purchase price.  Tell the buyer up front that you will require these things for a test ride so there are no surprises when the buyer arrives.

​​

The Bum Rush

One thing you can always trust, scammers are in a hurry.  Scammers want to get your money and disappear as quickly as they can.  There are several payment options that scammers like to use; avoid all of these.

  • Western Union

  • One Vanilla Card

  • Direct Bank Transfer

  • Green Dot Money Pak Payments

  • PayPal MyCash Card

  • Walmart card

  • iTunes card

  • eBay gift cards

  • RELoadit Card

  • Moneygram

All of these methods are a way to get cash quickly.  A car dealership would never accept your Walmart cards as payment for a used car, and neither should you.  Be clear about the payment methods you accept, and do not waiver.  If a deal falls through, Motonexus can attempt to connect you with the next highest bidder, or we'll rerun your auction for free.

​

Standard payment methods when meeting in person are cash, credit cards, PayPal, and financial loans through a bank or other reputable lender. You can also use escrow accounts for a secure transfer of funds.  Direct bank transfers and wire payments are an excellent way to receive money, but only if you have previously inspected the vehicle.  To avoid all the fuss, meet the seller, inspect the vehicle and provide payment when you accept the vehicle.

bottom of page