$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
car shipping deposit scam
A vehicle transport company collects a deposit to ship a car and then delays indefinitely, demands more money, or disappears entirely.
“car scam”
↑ 147%Key indicators
Usually targetsCar buyers
Often hitsTech workers and developers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
The buyer finds a vehicle online and hires a transport company to ship it.
2
The transport company collects a deposit but delays the pickup repeatedly with excuses.
3
Eventually the company demands additional fees, delivers the car damaged, or disappears entirely.
What to do first
Verify the transport company's FMCSA operating authority and insurance at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Related terms
auto transport scamcar carrier deposit fraudvehicle shipping fraudAuto purchase scamsWebsiteRisingCar buyersUsed car shoppersTech workers and developersOnline shoppersUnited StatesCanadaAustraliaauto transport scamcar carrier deposit fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
David, 35, a car buyers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate auto purchase scams situation while using Website. The buyer finds a vehicle online and hires a transport company to ship it.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The transport company collects a deposit but delays the pickup repeatedly with excuses.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Eventually the company demands additional fees, delivers the car damaged, or disappears entirely.
The outcome
David realized something was wrong when transport company demands full payment upfront before picking up the vehicle. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify the transport company's FMCSA operating authority and insurance at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. David's experience shows why transport company demands full payment upfront before picking up the vehicle and company cannot provide their fmcsa motor carrier number are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Transport company demands full payment upfront before picking up the vehicle
- Company cannot provide their FMCSA motor carrier number
- Online reviews show a pattern of no-shows or delayed pickups
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Verify the transport company's FMCSA operating authority and insurance at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.
- ✓Pay only a small deposit upfront and the balance upon delivery — never pay the full amount in advance.
- ✓Use a credit card for the deposit to preserve chargeback rights if the company fails to perform.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FMCSA regulates vehicle transport companies, and consumers can verify operating authority and complaint history through their database.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Verify the transport company's FMCSA operating authority and insurance at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.
- ✓Pay only a small deposit upfront and the balance upon delivery — never pay the full amount in advance.
- ✓Use a credit card for the deposit to preserve chargeback rights if the company fails to perform.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FMCSA regulates vehicle transport companies, and consumers can verify operating authority and complaint history through their database.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Car buyers, Used car shoppers
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
Website — Auto purchase scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Car buyers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FMCSA regulates vehicle transport companies, and consumers can verify operating authority and complaint history through their database.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about car shipping deposit scam
How does the car shipping deposit scam work?+
The buyer finds a vehicle online and hires a transport company to ship it. The transport company collects a deposit but delays the pickup repeatedly with excuses. Eventually the company demands additional fees, delivers the car damaged, or disappears entirely.
What are the warning signs of car shipping deposit scam?+
Transport company demands full payment upfront before picking up the vehicle Company cannot provide their FMCSA motor carrier number Online reviews show a pattern of no-shows or delayed pickups
What should I do if I encounter car shipping deposit scam?+
Verify the transport company's FMCSA operating authority and insurance at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Pay only a small deposit upfront and the balance upon delivery — never pay the full amount in advance. Use a credit card for the deposit to preserve chargeback rights if the company fails to perform.
Who is most at risk for car shipping deposit scam?+
This scam primarily targets Car buyers, Used car shoppers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, Australia and typically appears on Website.
Is car shipping deposit scam on the rise?+
car shipping deposit scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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