ScamScan
Gumtree • eBay • AutoTrader Fraud Detector
The Definitive Marketplace Anti-Scam Guide
Fraudsters on platforms like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and AutoTrader rely on psychological manipulation, false urgency, and digital distance. Master these defense strategies to stay safe.
🚨 Universal Red Flags (Spot Them Early)
The Sob Story or Elaborate Excuse
Sellers who over-explain why they are selling cheap (e.g., "selling for my deployed son," "moving abroad urgently," or "won it in a corporate raffle"). If it feels like a movie script, walk away.
Moving Off-Platform
Insisting on moving conversation immediately to WhatsApp, Telegram, or text message "because I don't check notifications here." This strips away platform protections and hides bad actor accounts.
Fake Escrow / Delivery Services
Sending a link to a lookalike phishing website (e.g., fake Royal Mail, DPD, or eBay escrow payment pages) claiming the money is "held safely until you confirm delivery."
Pressure Tactics & FOMO
"I have 5 other people coming tonight, you need to send a £50 deposit right now to hold it." Scammers weaponize urgency to stop you from thinking critically.
🚗 Buying Cars & Vehicles (AutoTrader / Gumtree / FB)
- •Always view at the registered home address: Never meet in a random Morrisons car park, a service station, or a dark industrial estate to buy a car. Check that the address on the V5C logbook matches where you are standing.
- •Zero deposits sight-unseen: Never transfer a holding deposit before you have physically walked around, inspected, and test-driven the vehicle yourself.
- •HPI / History Checks: Run an independent check to verify outstanding finance, insurance write-off categories (Cat S/N), mileage discrepancies, and stolen markers.
- •Verify ownership documents: Ensure the VIN/chassis number on the car body matches the V5C logbook and MOT history certificates.
📱 Buying Electronics, Phones & Laptops
- •Meet in secure public spaces: Opt for a well-lit public space, inside a bank lobby, or outside a police station when exchanging cash for high-value items like iPhones, MacBooks, or gaming GPUs.
- •Inspect activation locks: Ensure phones are fully factory-reset and not bound to an active iCloud or Google account. Log into your own temporary account to test connectivity.
- •IMEI & Blacklist check: Verify the physical IMEI code on the device settings against online checker tools to ensure it hasn't been reported lost or blocked by network operators.
- •Avoid PayPal "Friends & Family": Never use peer-to-peer payment modes that waive buyer protection. Pay via secure platform methods or cash on collection after thorough inspection.
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