Car ads are the most common way to buy a used vehicle – and one of the most common ways to get scammed in the process. The good news: most scams follow recognisable patterns. If you know them, you can protect yourself.
1. Advance payment fraud – the vehicle doesn't exist
A vehicle is offered well below market value. The seller is friendly, communicates in German (often machine-translated), but explains that the vehicle is “gerade im Ausland” (currently abroad) or can't be viewed. Then comes the request: a deposit by bank transfer or PayPal Friends & Family – “dann sende ich das Auto” (then I'll send the car).
The vehicle doesn't exist. The photos are stolen. Anyone who pays loses the money.
Protection: Never transfer money before you've seen the vehicle in person. No reputable private seller asks for a deposit without a viewing.
2. Odometer tampering – the silent fraud
Odometer tampering is the most widespread form of fraud when buying a used car. A tampered odometer is barely detectable for laypeople – resetting it takes 30 minutes and costs 100–300 euros, but raises the selling price by several thousand euros.
Telltale signs: the mileage seems unrealistically low for the vehicle's year, the steering wheel and pedals show above-average wear, the service intervals in the service book don't add up, the oil change sticker shows a higher mileage than the ad. More on this: How do I spot odometer tampering?
3. Concealed accident damage
“Unfallfrei laut Vorbesitzer” (accident-free according to the previous owner) – this phrase appears in hundreds of ads and is no guarantee. Many sellers claim not to know about the damage. Some know exactly.
Repaired accident damage can be structurally weaker than the original, leave uneven panel gaps and only make itself felt years later through rust or handling.
Protection: Have the vehicle inspected by an independent garage before buying. A VIN check (CARFAX, AutoDNA) shows whether accidents or repairs have been recorded.
4. Dealers posing as private sellers
Anyone who sells vehicles commercially has to act as a dealer – including the statutory warranty. Some sellers still advertise as “Privat” (private seller) to get around this obligation. This is legally problematic, but hard to prove.
Telltale signs: several active ads on the same account, always the same vehicle category or price range, very professional photos, the vehicle's location is a garage. Also relevant: What does “im Kundenauftrag” (on behalf of a customer) mean?
5. Imported vehicles without disclosure
Vehicles from Eastern Europe, the USA or the Mediterranean region are advertised as normal German used cars. The result: missing or hard-to-trace service records, different equipment, unknown history and potentially tampered odometer readings.
Telltale signs: first registration abroad, no German service book, very few entries for the vehicle's age, price well below comparable German offers.
6. Project cars with a good facade
A fresh interior and exterior can turn a technically run-down vehicle into an attractive ad. Sometimes “Bastlerfahrzeug” (project car) isn't even mentioned any more – the buyer only notices once they've already paid.
More on this: Why dealers write “Bastlerfahrzeug” (project car) – and what it means.
How InseratCheck detects these scams
InseratCheck automatically analyses ads for over 30 fraud and risk signals. Mileage plausibility, accident wording, import hints, dealer-posing-as-private patterns, price deviations – all in one analysis, free of charge, in seconds.
Frequently asked questions about scams in car ads
How do I spot fake car ads?
Main features: unrealistically low price, vehicle can't be viewed, communication only by email or WhatsApp, pressure to decide quickly, request for advance payment. If several of these points apply, it's almost certainly a scam.
What is the most common scam when selling cars?
Odometer tampering is the most common and financially most serious scam – an estimated one in three used vehicles in Germany has a falsified mileage. Advance payment fraud is much rarer, but means a total loss.
Can the police help with car fraud?
Yes – fraud is a criminal offence. If you suspect it, report it to the police. Civil damages, however, are often hard to enforce, especially if the seller can't be found or is based abroad. Prevention is the better protection.