Suspicious SMS from a buyer

If you have received some suspicious SMS messages from a buyer who is pushy, yet cannot meet or speak with you over the phone and insists you send them an email to communicate further, it is most likely they are a scammer. Some SMS scammers may also ask for money upfront before an inspection or for you to pay freight or transport costs. 

We recommend that you attempt to speak with the buyer over the phone before exchanging any money. If you are engaged in ongoing communication with a suspicious buyer, we urge you to exercise caution. Do not provide any personal or financial information or part with any money in advance of taking possession of a vehicle.  

Here are some recent examples of suspicious SMS messages:

Example #1

Example #2

Example #3

Example #4

Reporting a suspicious buyer

There a several ways you can report a suspicious buyer. You can contact our Trust & Safety team by sending an email to safety@carsales.com.au. Make sure to include screenshots of the messages. Our team will investigate the message and advise you on its validity.

You can also contact our Customer Service Team on 13 72 53 for further advice.

Australian Government Websites 

• Contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (ACCC) on 1300 302 502 
• Report a scam through Scam Watch 
• You can also report online fraud to the Australian Government via ReportCyber 
• Sign up for the Stay Smart Online email alerts 

Related articles: 

Safety tips for buyers
What do I do if a seller seems suspicious?