It is a listing service that handles the transaction between a private buyer and seller. The pandemic just gave it a new twist, and now it may seem reasonable for the seller not to allow you to see the car before asking for money.ĮBay does not sell cars for people nor does it offer a guarantee on used cars. This scam is so common it has a name: The eBay Motors scam. I called her phone and she wasn't answering anymore," Wallace said. Wallace did that, reading off $1,200 worth of gift cards to the seller. The eBay page told her to buy eBay gift cards at the drugstore and reply with the card numbers.
The seller sent Wallace to an eBay Motors page, which promised full buyer's protection and said it would handle payment and shipping. She wanted to handle the whole sale virtually, so there would be no risk of virus transmission. "But because of COVID-19, she didn't want to do any actual in-person transactions." "She said her son had passed away, and she needed to sell the car," Wallace said. She contacted the seller, who responded that the price was so low because she needed to unload the Accord fast. "So I have to hurry up and get this car." They're offering phony used cars for sale online, with the pandemic as an excuse for not allowing you to take a test drive.ĭaisha Wallace needed a car to buy groceries and take her two young children to the doctor, so she started searching for cheap used cars on Craigslist, Facebook and various selling apps.Ī 2008 Honda Accord listed for just $1,200 caught her eye. Have you checked out used-car prices lately? With supplies tight and demand high during the COVID-19 pandemic, used-vehicle prices are hitting an all-time high.Īs a result, scammers are stepping up their game and targeting people who are searching for inexpensive cars online.