Fake vehicle auctions: the cheap car that never arrives
Sites that imitate official auctioneers advertise cars and motorcycles below market price and ask for quick payment after the bid.
Websites that look very much like official auctioneers’ sites advertise cars and motorcycles well below market price. Some use the name, the registration and even the photos of real auctioneers.
After the bid, you get a message saying you won the lot. To “secure” the vehicle, they ask for quick payment by Pix or boleto, sometimes in the name of an individual. The vehicle is never delivered, and the site changes address or goes offline.
Real auctions have a public notice, viewing rules and identified payments. Pressure and a price that is too good are the most common signs that something is wrong.
How to protect yourself
- Check that the auctioneer is registered with your state’s Junta Comercial (commercial registry) and use the website address listed there.
- Be suspicious of prices far below the reference value and of short payment deadlines.
- Do not pay into accounts belonging to individuals or to companies that are not the auctioneer itself.
- Read the auction notice and, if you can, inspect the vehicle before bidding.
- Keep screenshots of the site, the lot and the receipts, even if the site goes offline.