How to avoid scams when buying or selling a vehicle online

Most people you meet on a classifieds site are genuine buyers and sellers. A few are not. The good news is that almost every scam follows one of a handful of patterns, and once you know them they are easy to spot.

The golden rule

Never pay any money before you have seen the vehicle and the original documents in person. Not a token amount, not a booking fee, not a delivery charge. Flystore does not take payments or hold money for anyone, so anybody who asks you to pay before you meet is asking you to take a risk.

Common scams to watch out for

1. The army or transfer story. The seller says they are a soldier, a government officer or someone who has just been transferred to another state, so the vehicle is with a courier or at an army camp. You are asked to pay for transport or clearance first. The vehicle does not exist.

2. The price that is too good. A nearly new car or bike priced far below everything similar is the bait used in most scams. If the price looks unbelievable, it probably is.

3. Pressure to move off the platform. The other person quickly asks to continue on another app, or to pay by a link they send. Stay in the Flystore chat until you have met in person.

4. The fake payment. When you are selling, a buyer sends a screenshot of a payment, or asks you to scan a QR code to receive money. Scanning a QR code or entering your UPI PIN only ever sends money, it never receives it. Always confirm the amount in your own bank account before you hand over the keys.

5. The OTP request. Nobody genuine will ever need the one-time code sent to your phone. Not a buyer, not a seller, and not Flystore. Sharing it can give someone access to your account or your bank.

6. The overpayment. A buyer pays more than the agreed price by mistake and asks you to refund the difference. The original payment is often reversed later.

Safe habits for meeting in person

Meet in a busy public place during the day, and take a friend along. Check the RC, the insurance and the chassis number against the vehicle before any money changes hands. For a large amount, use a bank transfer and wait until it shows in your account.

If something feels wrong

Trust your instinct and walk away. On Flystore you can block a user and report an ad, a chat or a profile with one tap. Our team reviews every report and removes accounts that break the rules. If you have already lost money, report it to the national cyber crime helpline on 1930 or at cybercrime.gov.in as soon as possible.