Before you buy or sell

Read our comprehensive guides on Buying Tips and Selling Tips to help you prepare for you next car purchase or sale.

We don't ask you for personal or financial information via email.

Online fraud often begins with a spoof email requesting financial information. These spoof, or scam, emails often impersonate a reputable company such as carsupermarket.com.au by illegally displaying a company's name, logo or trademark.

The intent is to deceive customers into revealing information such as:

• Username
• Password
• Personal details
• Bank account details
• Credit card details

The only time we'll ever request your credit card information is when you're in the process of purchasing an ad on our website which is encrypted and secure. We will not take down your listing because you don't provide account information. If you receive an email that asks for the kinds of information listed above, please don't respond. Instead, report it to us and to local authorities.

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Common Sense Advice for Buyers

Buying a car you find online is a lot like buying a car through a classified ad in the newspaper. In either case, use your best judgment.

Know the car's market value

Be suspicious of a vehicle priced significantly below market value. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Obtain a vehicle history report

A vehicle history report can provide useful information, such as who holds the title to the car and whether the car has been in an accident reported to authorities. You'll also find out whether the car was ever reported stolen, salvaged or damaged.

Inspect the car

Schedule an inspection with a professional mechanic or an inspection service if the car is not in your area. An early inspection can help you identify potential problems. However, keep in mind that an inspection isn't a warranty and won't guarantee a car is free from defects or that inspectors have identified all existing problems.

Confirm contact information

Before you hand over any payment, verify the seller's street address and phone number- an email address is not enough. post codes, area codes and addresses should match up. Be wary if the seller is selling locally, but currently located overseas.

Use email wisely

Avoid sending sensitive personal or financial information (such as your credit card number or bank account details) to a seller via email. Remember that email communications are not secure and can be easily forwarded to others.

Get a detailed receipt

Ask the seller for a receipt that states whether the vehicle is being sold with a Roadworthy certificate.

Get title to the vehicle

Make sure you know what's required in your state to transfer title to the vehicle you're buying.

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Common Sense Advice for Sellers

Selling a car you find online is a lot like selling a car through a classified ad in the newspaper. In either case, use your best judgment.

Confirm contact information

Be particularly wary of buyers willing to purchase your car sight-unseen, especially buyers located overseas. Always verify the buyer's street address and phone number.

Secure payment first

Do not transfer the title or release your vehicle until you have payment in hand at the agreed upon price.

Verify that a cheque is genuine

Before you deposit a cheque, verify authenticity with the issuing bank-not just your bank. Make sure the account contains sufficient funds and the issuing bank guarantees payment on the cheque. It may take a week or more for the cheque to clear. It hasn't cleared just because your bank has accepted it and credited your account.

Beware of overpayment or other complicated payment schemes

Don't agree to any plan where the buyer asks to send a cheque for more than the sale price and requests that the seller refund the difference. And be suspicious of any buyer who proposes making payment through a friend or agent of the buyer.

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We don't require payment to enter a competition or promotion.

carsupermarket.com.au may offer promotional contests from time to time, but we'll never require payment to enter a competition or to claim a prize.
If you receive an email that claims we're holding a promotional contest or sweepstakes:

Check our website or call Customer Service at 1300 227 332 (Mon-Fri 9 am.-5 pm. AEST) for accurate information. If you don't get confirmation from us that we're holding a contest, don't participate.
Don't click any links embedded in email messages. A link may look correct, but the code behind it could take you to a different website. Copy and paste a link into your browser's address bar.

If you think you've received a fraudulent email involving a promotional contest, report it to us and to local authorities.

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How to Report Fraud

Help us stop fraud. If you receive a suspicious email, let us and local authorities know right away.

Step 1: Forward any suspicious emails to us immediately at . Don't change the subject line or send it as an attachment-doing so could prevent us from identifying trends and preventing similar scams. To speak directly to a Customer Service representative. call 1300 227 332 (Mon-Fri 9 am.-5 pm. AEST)

Step 2: File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center to inform federal and state law enforcement agencies. Report the fraud to local authorities as well.
We strongly recommend that you report fraud to local authorities (Step 2). carsupermarket.com.au investigates all reports in an effort to protect our customers against future fraud. However, it's not likely we can help you get your money back. And we can't arrest the thieves who stole it.

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Internet Fraud Resources

Visit the sites below to learn more about Internet fraud.

Federal Government SCAMwatch (Australia)
Scamwatch

Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) (United States)
Internet Fraud Preventive Measures

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (United States)
Practical Tips to Help You Be on Guard Against Internet Fraud

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) (United States)
Fake Seals and Phony Numbers: How Fraudsters Try to Look Legit

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