facebook dealership scams

Facebook ‘dealership’ scams are the automotive equivalent of a free sausage sizzle with no barbecue — looks tempting, ends in tears.

If a seller waves dealer credentials but won’t meet at a licensed yard or dodges paperwork, you’re not buying a car; you’re funding their next burner phone.

• Too-good pricing, urgency, or pressure to pay a deposit via bank transfer, gift cards, or crypto.
• No inspection, fake shipping/escrow, or they push you off-platform to WhatsApp/Telegram.
• Cloned business names, sketchy ABN/ACN, mismatched addresses, or reviews that read like they were written by a toaster.
• Blurry plates, no VIN, or refusal to allow a PPSR/REVs check and proper ID.

Stick to traceable payments, sight the car in daylight at the real premises, verify ABN on ASIC, and always do a PPSR check before handing over a cent.

If you’d rather skip the drama, listings on Tradingpost are easier to vet and don’t vanish faster than a meat pie at halftime.