Safety & Security centre

Payment

Never send money abroad - it's often the preferred method of a fraudulent seller acquiring money illegally. Pay for the vehicle when you physically collect it from the seller.

Price

Always check the vehicle's market value by getting a valuation or comparing the price with other similar models advertised on Auto Trader. If it's being offered at a much cheaper price, ask yourself why. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Visit the seller

It’s really important you physically check the vehicle and see the documentation. Never buy a vehicle without seeing or driving it first, preferably in daylight when it’s easier to spot damage.

• View the vehicle at the seller’s home and check the address is the same as the one listed on the registration document (V5C), also known as the logbook
• Check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the same as that on the V5C. This number is commonly found on the chassis, on the windscreen or on the floor by the driver’s seat

If you only do one thing make sure you carry out a vehicle history check. It will tell you whether the van is:

• Recorded as stolen
• Written-off
• Scrapped
• Subject to outstanding finance

It can also confirm registration details, the number of owners and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) allowing you to confirm these with the seller and the vehicle’s paperwork.

Paperwork

You must see the original V5C document, service history and MOT certificates before handing over any money. Ensure all documents are the originals and not photocopies.

• Examine the authenticity of the V5C by holding it up to the light where you’ll see a DVL watermark
• Ensure the seller is the recorded keeper - if not, they may not be legally entitled to sell the vehicle
• Check the serial number at the top right hand corner of the V5C and contact the police immediately if the number falls in the following range - it could be a stolen document: BG8229501 to BG9999030, and BI2305501 to BI2800000.

For more information contact Auto Trader by emailing customersecurity@autotrader.co.uk or calling 0845 071 0487.

Protect your PC

• Ensure security software is up-to-date, including anti-virus protection, anti-spyware software and a firewall
• Set a secure password for your wi-fi connection using a combination of letters and numbers
• Block spam emails and use an up-to-date web browser
• Encrypt your wireless network to protect against eavesdroppers and freeloaders
• Visit getsafeonline.org for more information on protecting your PC

Avoiding scams

If a van is being offered at a much cheaper price, ask yourself why. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

• Make sure the seller has a valid address and telephone number - be wary of mobile phone numbers, always visit the seller at home and never buy without seeing and driving the van first
• Be wary of requests for upfront payments or private information, a false sense of urgency or unnecessary details - it could be a vehicle export scam
• Never wire money abroad as it is often a 'fraudulent' seller

Protect your identity and privacy

• Avoid identity theft by using an up-to-date web browser and blocking bogus emails with a spam filter
• Use a secure password, with a mix of words, letters, numbers and punctuation, and avoid using names of loved ones or other easy-to-guess passwords
• Be careful about the personal information you give away online (such as on blogs and social networking sites)

What to do if you think you're a victim

If you think you've been targeted by a fraudster, contact Van Trader immediately by emailing scam@autotrader.co.uk or calling 0845 071 0487.

Typical scenario:

• The vehicle is advertised well below market value.
• The seller will ask you to email rather than call.
• The seller will claim they have had to move abroad or they don't have access to a phone due to the nature of their job (E.g. In the army, based on an oilrig.)
• They will ask for money to be sent abroad or via a false "Payment Protection Service" using legitimate company names such as Paypal, Ebay or Google checkout.
• The vehicle will never arrive and you will be out of pocket.

What to do if you think you're a victim?

If you think you've been targeted by a fraudster, contact Auto Trader immediately by emailing scam@autotrader.co.uk or calling 0845 071 0487.

Never let a buyer test drive your vehicle alone.

There is a risk they won't come back, even if they have left their keys with you as security - they could belong to another stolen vehicle.

Make sure all test drivers have valid driving licences and suitable insurance cover because you could be liable for any accidents they may have.

Fraudsters trick victims into leaving them alone with their vehicle - often by distracting the seller with a phone call or a request to see something - as soon as the seller leaves the vehicle, the thief drives away.

The Police advise vehicle sellers to:

• Keep hold of their keys at all times
• Avoid leaving their keys in the ignition

Fraudulent Buyers - Payment Fraud

Auto Trader is aware of fraudulent buyers proposing PayPal as a method of payment, often offering the entire value of the vehicle without viewing the vehicle. In our experience this is a scam, using accounts created with fraudulent credit card details. To protect yourself request that an interested buyer always meets you and views the vehicle in person. Never hand over the vehicle keys until your bank has confirmed the full value of the vehicle has cleared into your bank account.

Fraudulent van Buying Companies.

Sellers will receive a text message from a company offering to buy your vehicle for a reasonable price. Sellers are then invited to go online and enter their vehicle details.

You will then receive an email with your valuation asking you follow a link to a website. You will be asked to fill in your details so the company can collect the vehicle. You will be advised that a "refundable"" deposit will have to be paid via a Pay Point to complete the sale.

You are told that you will receive the refund on collection of your vehicle. The reality is no one will collect your van and you will not get your money back.

If you think you've been targeted by a fraudster, contact Auto Trader immediately by emailing scam@autotrader.co.uk or calling 0845 071 0487.

Remember:

• Never send money abroad
• Never pay a large deposit
• Don't hand over your vehicle until you're satisfied the funds are in your account - check with your bank that you can withdraw funds safely on the cheque
• Your bank will not honour fraudulent drafts or drafts that cannot be cleared through lack of funds
• Don't be pressured into releasing your vehicle - a genuine buyer will not mind waiting until the draft has cleared

Forged bankers' cheques

Sellers should be aware of the possibility of receiving a forged bankers' draft.

Typical scenario:

• You receive a cheque from the buyer
• Your bank informs you the cheque was forged days later
• The buyer has already taken posession of the vehicle and you're left without payment

Don't release your vehicle until you have confirmation the cheque is genuine and has been paid by the buyer's bank. Check with your bank to ensure the draft has been 'given value' rather than merely 'cleared'.

Be particularly wary of buyers who view your vehicle after the banks have closed and produce a bank draft already made out for the full asking price.

Fake escrow services

An escrow service mediates between a buyer and seller:

• The buyer transfers the payment to the escrow service
• The buyer takes delivery of the goods
• The escrow service releases the payment to the seller

Fraudulent escrow services appear legitimate but are run by fake 'sellers'.

The 'seller' places a fake advert with an unusually low price to grab the buyer's attention. When the buyer enquires about the vehicle they're sent a standard reply, promising to waiver the shipping costs and suggesting payment is made via a particular escrow service.

Signs it may be a fake escrow service includes false licence numbers, logos and copyright details, as well as a mobile phone number disguised as a foreign landline. After the money is sent, the buyer becomes impossible to contact and untraceable.

How to spot a legitimate escrow service:

• A legitimate escrow service will never ask you to wire the funds directly to another party
• Avoid sites which don't have a padlock icon at the bottom of your screen and a 'https://' at the start of the website address - this means the site is not secure
• If you're suspicious, type the company's name into a search engine - a legitimate escrow service will have a number of results listed - a fake escrow site will have very few

Auto Trader will never recommend escrow, payment services or payment protection as a means to send or receive funds for a vehicle, except if you chose to use the Quick Sale service, which will use Transpact.

Taking payment

However you take payment, you should always take care.

• Cash - ask for the cash to be handed to you in a bank, where the notes can be checked for forgeries and paid in immediately
• Cheques - never let the buyer take your vehicle until the funds have appeared in your bank account as the cheque could be forged, cancelled or stolen
• Bank drafts - contrary to common belief, they're not as good as cash, so treat them as a personal cheque
• Online bank transfers - one of the safest ways to pay as it avoids handling large amounts of cash and the problems associated with cheques

If you think you've been targeted by a fraudster, contact Auto Trader immediately by emailing scam@autotrader.co.uk or calling 0845 071 0487.

The scam usually involves a fraudster gaining the victim's trust over a period of several emails, convincing sellers they genuinely want to buy, sending a fake cheque or false PayPal payments to cover the cost before insisting on money for "shipping fees".

A number of sellers advertising vans have been contacted in this way, but the emails are easy to spot.

Typically they will:

• Originate from webmail accounts, such as Yahoo or Hotmail
• Be poorly written, or look as though they're being sent in bulk with the seller's vehicle details crudely pasted in
• Encourage sellers to use money transfer services such as Western Union

The scenarios vary, but usually follow this pattern:

• The "buyer" arranges for a cheque to be sent from a third party to the seller for the asking price of the van - plus extra to cover the cost of shipping abroad
• The seller pays the cheque into their bank and is pressured by the fraudster into sending the "shipping fee" abroad immediately via a legitimate electronic money transfer company
• A few days later, the seller will be informed by the bank that the cheque was a fake
• The seller hears no more from the fraudster

If you receive an email which you believe to be from a fraudster:

• Forward it to the abuse department of the sender's email provider
• Use your email software to block further emails from the sender
• Do not respond
• Forward it to the Auto Trader Customer Security team - scam@autotrader.co.uk

Phishing Emails

"Phishing" is someone trying to trick you into giving your personal information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details via an email that looks like it's from Auto Trader.

Common scenarios scammers invent in order to gain victim's log-in, credit card or other personal details include:

• Vehicle sellers are sent a duplicate of their advert, with a link to a bogus version of Auto Trader's sign-in page. Once supplied, the details will be used to change the advert's description and contact details.
• Sellers are contacted by scammers claiming to be from a credit card company's fraud department calling about unusual purchases. They will then ask for the card's details in order to make a refund.
• Calls from scammers requesting credit card details for refunds
• Emails detailing offers for Auto Trader customers, with a full refund if your van is not sold within three weeks

We do occasionally contact customers to ask for payment details over the phone. If you're unsure about a call, don't provide your card details and call Customer Security on 0845 071 0487.

Fraudulent Buyers

One of the most common online scams to affect all kinds of internet users is the Advance Fee Fraud, which encourages sellers to transfer "shipping fees" to "buyers" abroad. The scam usually involves a fraudster gaining the victim's trust over a period of several emails, convincing sellers they genuinely want to buy, sending a fake cheque or false Paypal payments to cover the cost before insisting on money for "shipping fees". A number of sellers advertising vans have been contacted in this way, but the emails are easy to spot. Typically they will:

• Originate from webmail accounts, such as Yahoo, Hotmail or Gmail
• Be poorly written, or look as though they're being sent in bulk with the seller's vehicle details crudely pasted in
• Encourage sellers to use money transfer services such as Western Union

Auto Trader will never recommend escrow, payment services or payment protection services as a means to send or receive funds for a vehicle, except for if you choose to use the Quick Sale service.

These can include Yahoo payment Protection, Google Checkout or PayPal Payments - although PayPal is available as a means to pay for your advertisement.

Text message premium rate scam

Be wary of text messages expressing an interest in your vehicle, but providing excuses as to why they can't call. Check any numbers you're asked to call and avoid premium rate lines.

What to do?

PhonepayPlus regulates the content and promotion of premium rate services in the UK. It investigates complaints and has the power to fine companies.

If you receive a text message asking you to phone a premium rate number, contact the free PhonepayPlus helpline on 0800 500 212. Alternatively, you can make a complaint to PhoneplayPlus or check a premium rate number.

If you receive a phone call asking for your credit card details or other personal information, end the call and call Auto Trader's Customer Security team on 0845 071 0487 or email scam@autotrader.co.uk immediately.

Stolen vehicles

The onus is on buyers to ensure their next vehicle isn't a stolen one. Even if a vehicle is bought in good faith, the police can seize it and if it has been bought on finance, the lender can still demand payment.

Stolen vehicles are usually passed on with their identity changed, but there are some golden rules to help reduce the risk of buying a 'hot' vehicle.

• Always invest in a history check - it'll immediately reveal if a van is stolen or written-off
• See an original copy of the V5C registration document - also known as the logbook - and check it carries its DVLA watermark
• Stolen vehicles are often sold without the logbook, with the seller claiming it has been sent to the DVLA for updating - it may be the case, but there's no way of checking
• Ensure the seller's address on the logbook matches that of their driving license, passport or utility bill
• Check the number plate and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) match those recorded on the logbook

Clocking

A clocked vehicle is one where an unscrupulous seller has 'wound back' the mileage recorded on the milometer.

That means vehicles with high mileage could be passed-off as having a low mileage to an unwitting buyer. But spotting a clocked vehicle can be straightforward with little more than a bit of detective work.

• Check the mileage appearing on the milometer in the instrument cluster tallies with its service history and old MOT certificates
• Ensure the numbered barrels are aligned correctly on analogue milometers
• Check the general condition matches its age and mileage - worn seats and steering wheel or lots of stone chips can point to high mileage
• If it has patchy or no service history, a history check can help verify the mileage
• Contact previous owners to verify the recorded mileage when they sold the vehicle

Vehicle ringing

A 'Ringer' is a stolen vehicle with its identification numbers replaced by a set from another written-off model and will be supplied with bogus documentation.

Ringers have their VIN replaced, so look for evidence of tampering around the VIN plates and etchings.

The VIN is on a small plate riveted under the bonnet and stamped on the vehicle's chassis, under the carpet beside the front seat. In addition, the VIN number will sometimes appear in the door pillar or at the base of the windscreen.

If you buy a ringer, in legal terms it doesn't belong to you, and will be returned to the owner or insurance company if and when it is traced back to you.

How to avoid buying a ringer:

• Ensure the V5 registration document (logbook) is genuine with a DVLA watermark running through it
• Check for tampering around the VIN numbers
• Make sure there is a satisfactory amount of paperwork

Cut and shuts

A cut and shut is where the remains of two or more vehicles have been welded together to create a 'new' model.

The structural integrity of such vehicles is seriously compromised, and can lead to serious injuries in a crash.

• Examine the windscreen pillars and the middle section of the vehicle for signs of welding and pull away carpets and trims for signs of hidden welds
• Look for poor paintwork or colours that don't match properly and check for overspray on glass seals and trim
• Watch out for badly fitting or mismatched trim
• A history check will highlight if it has been stolen or written-off - a cut and shut could be both

Cloned vehicles

A vehicle which wears the stolen number plates from an identical model is known as a clone.

Clones are not necessarily stolen vehicles, with some criminals using stolen number plates to avoid parking or speeding fines, leaving the owner of the genuine vehicle to pick up the bill.

Many owners are unaware they're a victim until fines begin arriving, and the onus is on them to prove their innocence.

• Always check the number plate and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) matches those appearing on the logbook
• Check for signs of damaged number plates, or evidence they have been recently removed or replaced
• A history check can provide clues to identify a clone, such as colour, trim specification and - in some cases - mileage

Citizens Advice

A government-funded website providing information on how to resolve consumer issues once goods or services have been purchased.

Action Fraud
Action Fraud is run by the government's National Fraud Authority. It offers a 24-hour online fraud reporting service and provides help and advice over the phone through the Action Fraud contact centre. You can talk to their fraud specialists by calling 0300 123 2040.

DVLA
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) maintains records of licensed drivers and registered vehicles for the Department of Transport.

Direct.gov Motoring
Government website offering advice about public services across England and Wales with a large section dedicated to motoring.

Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG)
An industry body initiated by Auto Trader designed to combat vehicle related fraud for buyers and sellers of cars, motorcycles and vans.

MOT Validity Check
You can check if an MOT certificate is legal or if a vehicle has failed its MOT test online with Directgov by submitting the MOT certificate number.

Direct.gov Buyer Beware
Tips on how to stay safe from fraud when buying a van, including an interactive guide to the Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C).

Metropolitan Police Fraud Alert
A Metropolitan Police website which is part of an initiative to tackle economic crime, providing useful information for van buyers and sellers across Britain.

Motor Codes
An industry body which operates codes of practice covering the sale of new vans, service and repair and vehicle warranties

Retail Motor Industry Federation
The RMI represents van dealers and is focussed on raising standards across the industry.

OFT Approved
The OFT Approved scheme means signatories are members of Office of Fair Trading approved trade associations. Members display the Approved code’s logo and customers will be treated fairly if problems arise.

Scottish Motor Trade Association
The SMTA represents van dealers in Scotland and seeks to "encourage, promote and protect” its members and their customers.

Trading Standards
A not-for-profit organisation which seeks to safeguard consumers' health and safety and wellbeing from unscrupulous businesses.

Companies House
Website allowing users to search for information on registered businesses, such as information on its accounts and whether it has been dissolved.

Get Safe Online
An initiative to help internet users stay safe online with information on avoiding scams and how to protect your computer.

Phonepay Plus
An organisation which regulates premium-rate phone services in the UK, providing information on the costs and how to complain about these services.