How it works

CarSaleScam is a free lookup of vehicle and farm-equipment sellers that buyers have reported for fraud. Here is what happens to a report, from the moment it's filed.

1. A buyer files a report

Anyone can file a report, with or without a name. We ask for the seller's details (phone, website, email, the name they used), what was being sold, how the buyer paid and how much they lost. Evidence like screenshots and invoices can be attached privately.

2. A moderator reviews it

Nothing goes live automatically. A moderator reads every submission and:

• checks that it describes a first-hand experience with a vehicle or equipment sale;
• compares the phone number, domain and email with existing listings, so reports about the same operation are grouped together;
• removes personal data such as account numbers, the reporter's contact details, and names of uninvolved people;
• rejects spam, competitor attacks, threats and reports we can't support.

Moderators may email the reporter for more detail if they agreed to be contacted.

3. It's published on a seller listing

Approved reports are attached to a seller listing. Each listing shows one of three statuses:

• Reported — buyers have reported this seller; the pattern hasn't been confirmed yet.
• Confirmed scam — a moderator has seen enough to be confident: for example several independent reports, evidence of payment with no delivery, a cloned website, or action by authorities.
• Cleared — after review, we no longer consider the listing a warning. Earlier reports remain for the record.

4. Businesses can respond

Any business named here can dispute the listing or post a public response. If scammers were using a real company's identity, we correct the listing and can add a notice clearing that company.

What we don't do

We don't audit the dollar amounts. They're what buyers told us. We aren't a law-enforcement agency and can't recover money. We don't charge businesses to remove or change listings, and never will.