Craigslist Car Scams 2025: Complete Guide to Staying Safe

Craigslist Scam Landscape

Craigslist remains a valuable car-buying platform, but scammers target it aggressively. Approximately 12% of Craigslist car listings show scam indicators. The average victim loses $3,400, and recovery is nearly impossible. Understanding these scams protects your money and time.

The good news: scams follow predictable patterns. Once you recognize the warning signs, they become obvious. This guide covers every major scam type with specific red flags and protection strategies.

Common Craigslist Car Scams

The Out-of-Town Seller Scam

This is the most common scam on Craigslist. The pattern:

• Listing shows an attractive price—often 20-40% below market
• When contacted, seller claims to be out of town (military, work, family emergency)
• Seller offers to ship the car via eBay Motors, Amazon, or another "protection" service
• You pay via wire transfer, gift cards, or payment app
• The car doesn't exist, the money is gone

Protection: Only buy cars you can physically inspect. No legitimate seller ships cars to strangers. If they can't meet in person, walk away.

Fake Escrow Services

Scammers create convincing fake websites that mimic legitimate escrow services. They send you a link, you deposit money, and it disappears. These sites often have:

• Professional-looking design stolen from real escrow sites
• Fake customer service numbers
• URLs slightly different from legitimate sites (escrow-automotive.com vs. escrow.com)
• Requests for wire transfer or cryptocurrency

Protection: Never click escrow links provided by sellers. If you want escrow, independently find and contact a legitimate service like Escrow.com directly.

Overpayment Scam (Sellers Beware)

If you're selling, watch for this scam:

• Buyer quickly agrees to your price (no negotiation)
• Sends a check for more than the price
• Asks you to wire the difference back
• The check bounces days later—after you've wired real money

Protection: Never accept overpayment. Never wire money to a buyer. Wait 7-10 days for checks to fully clear before releasing the vehicle.

Title Washing and VIN Cloning

More sophisticated scams involve altering vehicle history:

• Title washing: Moving a salvage vehicle through states that don't transfer title brands
• VIN cloning: Placing a clean VIN over a stolen or salvage vehicle's real VIN

Protection: Run multiple VIN checks (CarFax + NMVTIS). Check VIN plate for tampering. Verify VIN matches all locations (door jamb, engine, dashboard).

Curbstoning

Unlicensed dealers pose as private sellers to avoid disclosure requirements:

• Multiple vehicles listed from same phone number
• Seller's name doesn't match the title
• Recent dealer auction paperwork in the vehicle
• No emotional connection to the vehicle's history

Protection: Ask for ID matching the title. Search the phone number—curbstoners often have multiple listings. Ask about the vehicle's history—legitimate owners know their cars.

Red Flags Checklist

• Price significantly below market value
• Seller cannot meet in person
• Requests for payment before viewing
• Pressure to act immediately
• Payment via wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency
• Emotional stories (military, divorce, death in family)
• Poor grammar and spelling in communications
• Stock photos or photos with different backgrounds
• Unwillingness to provide VIN before meeting
• Phone number doesn't match the area code

Safe Meeting Protocol

Location

• Meet at a police station safe exchange zone
• If not available, use a busy public parking lot
• Never meet at your home or their home
• During daylight only

Companions

• Always bring someone with you
• Tell a friend your plans and check-in times
• Share your location via phone

Communication

• Use a Google Voice number, not your real phone
• Email through Craigslist's relay system initially
• Don't share unnecessary personal information

Payment Best Practices

• Cash: Safest method for amounts under $10,000. Meet at bank to verify bills if concerned about counterfeits.
• Cashier's check: Meet at the issuing bank. Have the bank verify the check before completing the transaction.
• Bank transfer: Only after physically inspecting the car and holding the title. Never wire money first.
• Avoid: Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, gift cards, cryptocurrency—all are irreversible and preferred by scammers.