One of the biggest advantages of listing your trailer in the Vintage Camper Trailers classifieds is the built-in exposure. Between our website traffic, cross-marketing on social media, and the general visibility of vintage trailers online, your ad is seen by tens of thousands of genuine buyers nationwide.
Unfortunately, that same visibility means scammers also spot the ads.
While the vast majority of inquiries are legitimate, every seller eventually gets that one strange email — the one asking for personal info, offering a cashier’s check, or using oddly formal language. It’s frustrating, and we know it wastes your time. The good news is that with a few precautions, you can avoid almost every scam attempt that comes through.
What Scammers Want
Most scam emails have two goals:
1. To gain your personal information.
They may ask for your name, address, phone number, or other details that can be used for identity theft or phishing.
2. To pull off a money-exchange scam.
The classic is the “cashier’s check” scam, often paired with a story about someone else picking up the trailer, or needing a refund for an “overpayment.”
No matter how real the check looks, it’s always fake — and you’re left responsible.
The Golden Rule: Don’t Engage
If an email feels suspicious, it probably is.
Don’t reply.
Don’t give personal information.
And absolutely do not accept cashier’s checks, money orders, personal checks, or anything that isn’t truly secure.
When it’s time to complete a legitimate sale, stick to safe forms of payment such as:
- Cash
- Bank wire transfers
- Trusted digital methods like Zelle
Be cautious with platforms that allow easy disputes or reversals — some services (including PayPal in certain situations) may let a buyer reverse a transfer, even after they’ve taken possession of the item.
We’ve Got Your Back
To help you identify suspicious inquiries, we maintain several resources:
- Multiple articles on our website offering tips and examples
- A dedicated page listing current scammer email addresses reported by our community
- Regular updates as new scams pop up, and behind-the-scenes actions we are taking that we are not making public.
If you receive a message that seems off, you can check our scammer list anytime. Just use the search bar on our website and type “scam.”
The stronger our community’s awareness, the harder it becomes for scammers to succeed. Staying alert keeps our marketplace safe — and keeps your selling experience smooth, confident, and scam-free.
Let us know anytime you need help or want to report a suspicious email.
