Identifying Fraudulent Car Purchases: Guidelines from Kolesa.kz
Navigating Car Buying Scams: Your Secure Guide
Buying a car online should be an exciting experience, not a nerve-wracking ordeal. However, beware of crafty con-artists lurking in the digital underbelly, ready to snatch your hard-earned cash. Here's how to steer clear of their dangerous pitfalls, courtesy of the Kolesa.kz team.
You've stumbled upon the ideal listing: a budget-friendly price, impeccable photographs, and the seller responds promptly. Then, that classic trap - "Multiple interested parties, if you want to secure it, please send a deposit." Does this sound familiar?
Scammers often use large classified platforms as a stepping stone: they engage in conversation, build trust, and lure users to external messengers. That's why Kolesa.kz is dedicated to enhancing safety and reinforcing protection: we continuously refine filters, develop machine learning models, expand our moderation team, and monitor unusual behavior patterns.
In this article, we'll delve into the most common scams, equipping you with the tools to navigate the transaction with confidence.
1. Prepayment through Fake Services
Scammers adopt a chameleon-like approach, mimicking conversations with the Kolesa.kz customer care service and offering to channel funds through a non-existent "safe" service. They send a link to a fake website where they ruthlessly obtain your bank card details, including the CVV code. Afterwards, they effortlessly invade your account.
Important! You'll find no prepayment function on Kolesa.kz. Communicate exclusively with the seller via the in-app messenger to allow our team to swiftly intervene if any suspicions arise.
2. Unjustifiably Low Price
Scammers post listings with suspiciously cheap prices, fueling the illusion of an extraordinary deal. After prompt contact, they demand prepayment, vowing to "reserve" the car, only to vanish without a trace.
To purge such misleading listings from our platform, Kolesa.kz employs a two-stage moderation system: first, automatic checking, then manual. This allows us to maintain lightning-fast placements while filtering out suspicious offers.
We continue to beef up filters and devise more accurate algorithms to precisely identify unusual cases, particularly when prices deviate significantly from market norms. Our mission is to minimize the likelihood of encounters with scammers even before you contact the listing.
If the price in the listing appears too good to be true and the car lacks obvious reasons for being cheaper, we recommend utilizing the built-in service for determining the average price on Kolesa.kz. It's calculated based on real market parameters such as make, model, year, engine type, drive, transmission, and customs status. Listings with abnormally high or low prices are excluded from the calculation, giving you an objective view of the market.
3. "Buyer from Abroad" Offers a Deposit and Steals Data
At first glance, there's nothing fishy. A supposed buyer from China or Hong Kong makes contact, explaining they're currently abroad, investing in Kazakh real estate, and intend to momentarily buy a car. They communicate courteously, with a "foreign accent," and mention language barriers, creating the impression of a genuine individual.
After an exchange of messages, they request to move the conversation to a separate messenger and, in this chat, propose a deposit in exchange for temporarily removing the listing. Then they direct you to an "official money transfer service." However, this is a counterfeit site created to steal bank data.
As soon as you input your card details, the scammer gains access and disappears.
How to Protect Yourself: Tips from Kolesa.kz
Communicate solely within the Kolesa.kz app. In-app messaging is the safest way to communicate. It provides security and enables our team to respond promptly.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links, as phishing sites imitate the Kolesa.kz design in their URL but give themselves away in the address bar. Be cautious if you notice extra symbols, errors, or replaced letters.
- From now on, it's https://kolesa.kz. Be wary of http://coleso.kz/ or https://kolezo.kz.
- Revere the sharing of personal data. Never share your CVV code, SMS codes, passwords, or banking data with strangers. Transferring just the recipient's account number or card number is enough for a transfer.
- Stay abreast of updates in the "News" section on Kolesa.kz. We frequently publish information about new scam schemes in this section. Don't miss any articles to stay one step ahead.
- Verify the car's documents and history. Examine the documents to ensure their authenticity and be on the lookout for encumbrances. Seek out listings with the "Car history" mark, a new feature on Kolesa.kz. It unveils:
- the car's past accidents;
- whether the car is still under a loan;
- the number of previous owners;
- how the price has evolved since listing.
Choose Wisely: Tips for Making Well-Informed Decisions
- Never make an advance payment without assurances. Transfer funds only after signing the contract and receiving the car keys. If the seller insists on an advance payment for reasons unclear to you, beware - it's a sure sign of fraud.
What to Do if You've Fallen Victim to Fraud?
Report the incident to the police and have it officially documented. Upon request from law enforcement, we will provide all necessary data to aid the investigation.
Buying a car doesn't have to be taxing. Be thorough, ask questions, and proceed with caution - it saves valuable time and resources.
- For PR purposes
Enrichment Data:
Purchasing a car online requires vigilance and precaution to thwart crafty scams. Follow these guidelines to stay safe as you browse:
Steps to Avoid Scams
- Inspect the Car Thoroughly:
- Utilize video calls or in-person inspection to confirm the car's condition[1].
- Verify the Seller's Authenticity:
- Cross-check the seller's contact information and online presence across different platforms. If the details don't line up, it could be a red flag[3].
- Use Secure Messaging Platforms:
- Stick to online marketplace messaging platforms and avoid outside communications to safeguard your data[3].
- Stay Aware of Potential Red Flags:
- Eager Sellers: Be wary of sellers who openly express eagerness to sell or rush the transaction. This could be a sign they are looking to scam you[1].
- Public Location Transactions: If you must meet a buyer or seller, opt for a public location to minimize risks[3].
- Payment Requirements: Scammers may insist on payment methods like wire transfers or cash, which are risky and provide no buyer protection[4].
- Secure Payment Methods:
- Select secure payment methods like direct bank transfers or escrow services. These options offer protection and reduce the risk of scams[4].
[1] Ely, J. (2021, December 17). How Scam Artists Are Using Online Car Buying to Swindle Consumers. Retrieved April 02, 2023, from https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/how-scam-artists-are-using-online-car-buying-to-swindle-consumers/
[2] Humphreys, M. (2020, September 9). How Scammers Use Online Marketplaces to Steal Money and Car Keys. Retrieved April 02, 2023, from https://nypost.com/2020/09/09/how-scammers-use-online-marketplaces-to-steal-money-and-car-keys/
[3] Top Consumer Complaints About Online Car Buying. (2022, February 9). Retrieved April 02, 2023, from https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/media-resources/blogs/consumer-protection/2022/02/top-consumer-complaints-about-online-car-buying
[4] How to Avoid Online Car Buying Scams. (2021, September 16). Retrieved April 02, 2023, from https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car/buying/how-to-avoid-online-car-buying-scams/
[5] Rudebager, K. (2022, January 27). How to Avoid Common Car-Buying Scams. Retrieved April 02, 2023, from https://www.consumerreports.org/car-buying/common-car-buying-scams/
- Scammers on the platform Kolesa.kz mimic conversations with their customer service, offering to channel funds through a non-existent "safe" service. Be mindful to communicate exclusively within the Kolesa.kz app to ensure the safety of your transactions.
- Listings with suspiciously cheap prices may be from scammers who demand prepayment and disappear after taking your money. Use Kolesa.kz's two-stage moderation system - automatic checking followed by manual review - to help filter out such suspicious offers.
- Be cautious of buyers from abroad who request a deposit and direct you to a counterfeit money transfer service. Stick to in-app messaging, avoid sharing personal data, be aware of potential red flags, and verify the car's documents and history.
- As a business in the technology industry, we should strive to enhance user protection, develop machine learning models, expand the moderation team, and monitor unusual behavior patterns to ensure the safety of our users when purchasing vehicles on our platform.
