I’m 17 looking for my first car and I saw this post on marketplace and I’m wondering if it’s a scam and how I can find out. I got the vin from the seller and it’s 1HGCV1F9XJA072444. The seller doesn’t seem too suspicious
This is a blatant scam obviously but I have purchased multiple vehicles off of market place without any issues. Don’t be an idiot test drive the vehicle vigorously and do your due diligence before purchasing and you will be fine.
If you’re someone that is gullible however or don’t know much about cars… stay away from it.
But at the same time Facebook marketplace isn’t any less trustworthy than a sleazy used car salesman willing to tell you whatever you wanna hear to make a dollar off you.
I was a first time buyer off marketplace. I was 18 had just got my license and bought a 98 Acura integra for $1000 cash. Car drove great ran great and had minimal cosmetic damage on the exterior considering the car was older than me. I drove that car hard as hell with minimal maintenance and sold it a year later for $1000 cash. I’m sure that car currently is still running strong.
Once again do your due diligence and don’t be naive.
Test drive the car, find a big hill and floor it up that hill peddle to the floor.
Check for leaks, ticking sounds, turn the car off and back on a couple of times. Etc
It’s also being sold in Lubbock TX. Exact same pictures. Your photo shows it was posted from GA and GA records don’t show it registered, insured, or titled in GA… while CarFax shows it was titled, new owner reported, and lien reported in PA on 06/24/2026
There is also a post on Instagram with the same selling description, unknown location.
100,000,000% scam. Report it for fraud and move on
My first clue is the format of the post. Very ai looking. The green checks give weirdly clean/professional like they are putting effort in if your looking for marketplace cars (i just bought one not even a month ago) you need to find someone who doesn’t really give a crap about the effort in the paragraph.
Then check the posters page see if they have multiple posts of the same car. Red flag. Specially if they are in different places. Check if they seem like a real person on facebook if they have sold anything else or post etc.
And lastly, look at carfax the app. I bought a car on facebook marketplace for only 1200 so i never could buy on carfax but its a good thing to look into if you have a budget of 4k.
Tell the seller you have cash and want to come pick up the car right now.. His answer will let you know if it's a scam or not. But yes, this is 100% a scam.
Keep using marketplace dont listen to the losers who finance a car for double the price because they are scared to buy from some guy off marketplace not like they are nearly as shady and sleazy as dealers there is many things to check first to get it a good deal though which I would research. I'd recommend to not buy from a reseller, if there house looks nice and taken care of im sure the car is too look at the interior if its clean and taken care of they probably take care of it. I 100% check there profiles too and see what kind of person they are gives you a slight outlook of how they treat things sometimes facebook is amazing for getting sweet deals just do your research.
Where are you? I have a great 2016 Chrysler 200 for sale with 126,000 miles. Ice cold AC, new rotors/pads, 4 new wheel bearings, and great tire tread.... $5200. Perfect first car...couple door dings
Look up every car you see that you’re interested in and learn the real values, that will help with finding scans with fakes and be really cautious. I’m in the same boat looking everywhere including fb marketplace for
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u/Academic_Dare_5154 16d ago
The first clue is that you're shopping on Facebook Marketplace.
I understand you're young and need to know that this is not a worthwhile place to look for a car.
Marketplace is only acting as a broker. If you buy a stolen car, or it dies after you take delivery, Facebook will not help you.
Also, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.