The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been alerted to a concerning scam targeting individuals selling their vehicles online. Here’s how it works: sellers receive calls or texts from supposed buyers expressing interest in purchasing their vehicle, but with a catch – they request a vehicle history report first. The seller is directed to a specific website where they must enter personal information and pay a fee by credit card to obtain the report. After sending the report to the buyer, the seller never hears back.
What makes this scam particularly deceptive is the use of websites ending in ‘.vin’. While it might seem logical that ‘.vin’ relates to vehicle identification numbers (VINs), it’s actually a domain primarily intended for wine-related sites. Scammers exploit this by redirecting unsuspecting sellers to these domains, hoping to capitalize on the association with VINs. (Not all scam websites may end in .VIN so beware of others ending in .COM or .NET, etc.)
If you find yourself in a similar situation when selling your car online, exercise caution. Always question why someone requests a specific site for a vehicle history report, especially if it’s unfamiliar. It could be a ploy to obtain sensitive personal information, including your credit card details, or to gather data for lead generation purposes.
If you receive one of these suspicious requests, don’t engage. Block the number immediately and avoid replying to any messages. Responding—even just to say “no thanks”—can confirm that your number is active, potentially leading to more scam attempts. If the message came through a sales platform like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, report the user to help protect others as well.
To protect yourself further, visit ftc.gov/usedcars for reliable information on vehicle history reports, recall notices, and salvage declarations. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) at vehiclehistory.gov is a trusted source for approved providers of vehicle history reports. Not all reports are available through NMVTIS, and some providers may offer additional details such as accident and repair history.
Before using any unfamiliar service, check online for reviews and complaints about the company. Look up the company’s name alongside terms like “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” or “scam” to gauge its reputation and reliability.
