Safety tips and avoiding scams

Most buyers and sellers are honest, but like any market, some people try to scam. These tips protect you whether you're buying or selling.

Signs of a fake ad

The price is far below the market for no clear reason.
The seller is «travelling» or «outside the country» and wants to ship the car after you transfer money.
They ask for a deposit or any payment before you see the car.
They refuse calls or viewings and want everything done by message.
They pressure you: «Other people want it, transfer now».
The photos look copied from the internet, or don't match the car you see.

The golden rule: never transfer any money before you have seen the car with your own eyes and checked its papers.

View the car in a public place in daylight, and take someone with you if you can.
Make sure the name on the registration (mulkiya) matches the seller, or that they hold an official power of attorney.
Check the VIN and match it with the registration card and with the number on the car itself.
Ask whether the car has a bank loan on it or unpaid fines.
Have the car inspected at an approved centre before you pay.
Pay the full amount at the time of the ownership transfer, ideally by bank transfer so there is proof of payment.

Watch out for a «buyer» who wants to pay more than the price and asks you to send back the difference.
Don't send full photos of your registration or Emirates ID to anyone before you have agreed the sale.
Don't hand over the car or the keys until the full amount has reached your account.
Don't tap strange links that claim to be a «payment» or «sale confirmation».
Do the ownership transfer yourself with the buyer at a service centre or through the official app, and take the car off your insurance after the sale.

Tap «Report» on the ad, or write to us from the contact page, and we will review the ad quickly.
If you lost money, report it to the police right away through the official channels in your emirate, and call your bank to try to stop the transfer.