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Beware of Facebook Marketplace Car Scams: How to Stay Safe

By John Loughrey on April 24th, 2024 in News, Used Car Market

Considering a tempting deal on a used car via Facebook Marketplace? Before handing over your money, make sure you’re not falling for a scam by acquainting yourself with the warning signs. Explore our guide below to social media scams for essential insights.

Facebook Marketplace can indeed present appealing offers, especially for those seeking budget-friendly options. However, amidst genuine listings, lurk scammers eager to prey on unsuspecting buyers. Stay vigilant and educate yourself on the red flags associated with online car purchases.

While our guide primarily focuses on Facebook Marketplace, the precautions discussed are applicable across various online platforms, including Gumtree and eBay, ensuring your safety in any private car transaction.

Understanding Facebook Marketplace Scams While most listings on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are legitimate, a small fraction may hide malicious intentions.

Fraudulent sellers often employ tactics to coax buyers into parting with their money without delivering the promised vehicle. Some scams involve stolen images of cars to lure victims, followed by attempts to persuade buyers of the legitimacy of the deal through messaging. They may pressure buyers to leave substantial deposits or even pay the full price upfront, only to vanish with the funds.

This leaves buyers without a car and out of pocket. According to reports, losses due to Facebook car scams reached £479,964 in 2023, a staggering 93% increase from the previous year.

Responding to these concerns, a Meta spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to combating online scams, urging users to report suspicious activities promptly.

Protecting Yourself from Scams on Facebook To safeguard yourself from falling victim to scams on Facebook Marketplace or any other online platform, consider the following measures:

Exercise Caution: If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. Scammers often entice buyers with unrealistically low prices for desirable vehicles. Research similar listings to gauge the market value and be wary of significant deviations.
Stay on Platform: Avoid moving conversations away from the platform. Communicating via email or text makes it harder to track interactions and increases the risk of falling prey to scams.
Avoid Pressure: Refrain from succumbing to pressure tactics. Legitimate sellers won’t rush you into making payments before inspecting the vehicle in person.
Conduct Checks: Perform thorough checks before committing to a purchase. Consider obtaining a HPI check to verify the vehicle’s history and ensure there are no outstanding issues.

Responding to Scams Even cautious buyers may find themselves ensnared in scams. In such cases:

Contact Your Bank: Notify your bank immediately. Depending on the payment method, you may be eligible for refunds through schemes like Chargeback or Section 75 under the Consumer Credit Act.
Report the Scam: Report fraudulent listings and users through the platform. Reporting suspicious activities helps prevent others from falling victim to similar scams.

Choose Carlover.co.uk for Hassle-Free Car Buying

For a seamless car buying experience in Northern Ireland, consider browsing Carlover.co.uk. With a vast selection of new and used models from trusted dealers, you can find great deals and buy your next car or van safely.

The Most Affordable Used NI Cars

By John Loughrey on February 28th, 2023 in Used Car Market

If you’re in the market for a used car but have a limited budget, it can be tough to find a reliable option that fits your price range. However, with a little research and patience, you can find some great deals on used cars that won’t break the bank. If you’re in Northern Ireland and searching for affordable used cars, “Used Cars NI” is a great keyword to use on Google. Then for great local options click on Carlover NI for the best used car deals.

Should You Consider an Electric Car?

By David Henderson on April 27th, 2022 in Uncategorised

Should you consider an electric car? Have you been thinking about buying one? Here at Carlover, we understand how choosing the right electric car model is a difficult decision and that’s why we want to simplify it for you by giving you a comprehensive list on choosing the right electric car model, after all electric cars are on the rise.

Carlover know the importance of purchasing a functional and safe electric car and no one knows used cars in Belfast like we do.

Buying a Car: New, Nearly New or Used Car?

By David Henderson on April 26th, 2022 in Uncategorised

Buying a car is an exciting time whether that’s a brand new car, a near to new or a used car in Northern Ireland.

Before deciding on the option that’s best for you, it’s good to know what you’re getting and the prices you can expect to pay. With used cars being more popular within the UK and Northern Ireland in recent years (due to less cars being manufactured) prices are varying.

The Rise of Electric Cars for Transportation

By David Henderson on April 14th, 2022 in Uncategorised

Everyone is talking about the rise of electric cars, as the electric car market grows, with approximately 420,000 pure electric cars on UK roads since the beginning of 2022, the consumer demand grows with it, but used cars in Northern Ireland aren’t a thing of the past just yet and the new era of the used electric boom lurks in the distance.

Mobile Phone Detection Cameras

By David Henderson on April 12th, 2022 in News

With used cars sales in Northern Ireland continuing to soar, so are the methods of road traffic control and safety, mobile phone detection cameras are at the forefront with trials rolling out across the UK. These new technologies are now taking over motorways and catching people using their mobile phones while driving with penalties to be put in place in UK law.

Should You Buy A Used Car In 2022?

By David Henderson on March 30th, 2022 in Uncategorised

With less new cars available to purchase, which was a clear result of the pandemic, we saw a rise in popularity of used cars in Northern Ireland, so the question is, should you buy a used car in 2022?

Is an Extended Car Warranty Really Worth It?

By David Henderson on March 15th, 2022 in Uncategorised

An extended car warranty is used to help cover the cost of particular vehicle repairs when the manufacturer guarantee expires, this is available for both and used cars in NI. They are optional service contracts from third-party vendors. The question begs, is it worth it?

Fuel Prices Reach An All Time High – Should You Go Electric

By David Henderson on March 11th, 2022 in Uncategorised

With the current fuel prices and the pandemic induced volatility in the used car market in Northern Ireland and the world over, as the result of a chip shortage worldwide, the experts scurried to understand the changes, predict the impact and assure the public that there would be a return in stability.

Previously we have discussed the shift to electric vehicles and with the hike in fuel prices in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sitting at eye wateringly high price points, the obvious choice might seem to be – go electric -, it would certainly seem to be and with the looming ban of the sale of diesel and petrol cars, the question now is: Should I buy an electric car?

Over The Border: Purchasing A Used Car In Northern Ireland

By David Henderson on March 9th, 2022 in Uncategorised

The Best Used Cars NI — Man handing over the car keys

Purchasing a used car in Northern Ireland is not as easy as it once was, but not impossible and with the prices soaring, it could be your best option.

Finding a cheap used car in Northern Ireland would have been a task, however it’s not entirely impossible to navigate around this with Carlover’s smart used car search platform.

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