Scam check
Selling or buying a car and something feels off? Tick what is happening and see straight away how big the risk is.
What is happening to you?
Scam risk
You have not ticked any known warning signs. Keep following the basic rules until the handover is complete.
The basic rules
- Hand over keys, registration card and code only when the full amount is in your own account.
- Ride along on every test drive and keep the key with you.
- Transfer the registration together and only release the car once you hold the indemnity certificate.
Already scammed?
- Call your bank straight away: the sooner, the better the chance a payment can still be stopped.
- Report it to the police (buying and selling fraud, can be done online).
- Report it to the Fraudehelpdesk (the Dutch fraud helpline) and the platform where you advertised.
- Shared the registration code? Contact the RDW and check in MijnRDW whether the car is still in your name.
- Keep every message, name, account number and screenshot.
Which scams are most common when selling a car?
It nearly always comes down to money that never really arrives, documents handed over too early, or a car that is not what it seems. These twelve tricks are widely documented, including by the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) and AutoScout24.
| # | Trick | Warning sign | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fake proof of payment | Screenshot or ‘scheduled’ transfer | Wait until the money is in your own account |
| 2 | Overpayment | Buyer asks for the difference back | Refund nothing, call your bank |
| 3 | Transport agent | You must pay fees upfront | Never pay upfront, cut contact |
| 4 | Buyer abroad | Can't come, sends a go-between | Only settle in person |
| 5 | Test-drive theft | Wants to drive alone, in a hurry | Ride along, keep the key |
| 6 | RDW phishing | Link to an ‘RDW’ or payment page | Go to rdw.nl yourself |
| 7 | Fake payment platforms | ‘Safe payment’ site or payment link | Plain bank transfer |
| 8 | Rolled-back odometer | Mileage doesn't match wear or history | Check the RDW odometer verdict |
| 9 | Cloned listing | Low price, seller unreachable | View the car, check the plate |
| 10 | Deposit fraud | Deposit before viewing | Pay only at handover |
| 11 | Counterfeit cash | Large cash sum, time pressure | Feel, look, tilt |
| 12 | Code before payment | Buyer wants the code ‘to check’ | Code only after you're paid |
Read the explanation of each trick in car-selling scams.
How does the scam check work?
Each signal has a weight. Signals that almost always mean a scam, such as a request for the tenaamstellingscode (registration code) before payment or a deposit before a viewing, make the risk high straight away. Other signals, such as haste or a buyer abroad, raise the risk. If you tick nothing the risk is low, but the basic rules still apply.
| Risk | When |
|---|---|
| Low | No signals ticked |
| Elevated | One or more signals that often come with scams |
| High | A clear scam signal, or several signals together |
Why share the registration code only after payment?
With the registration card and the full registration code, the car can be put in someone else's name. According to the RDW, you give both to the buyer at the handover. Anyone asking for the code earlier, ‘to check’ or ‘for the insurance’, does not need it. Do the transfer together using the handover checklist.
What should you do if you have been scammed?
Call your bank straight away: the sooner you act, the better the chance a payment can still be stopped. Then report it to the police, to the Fraudehelpdesk (the Dutch fraud helpline) and to the platform where you advertised. If you shared the registration code, contact the RDW as well. Keep every message, name, account number and screenshot.
Frequently asked questions
Is a screenshot of a bank transfer enough proof?
No. A screenshot or the buyer's banking-app screen proves nothing: it can be edited or show a scheduled payment that is later cancelled. Hand over the car, keys, registration card and registration code only once you have seen the amount in your own banking app with your own eyes.
Can a private buyer pay for a car in cash?
Yes. The ban on cash payments of €3,000 or more, in force since 1 January 2026, applies only to traders such as car dealers, not between private individuals. Cash is still risky, because a counterfeit note is worthless. Check notes with feel, look, tilt, or better, agree on a bank transfer you verify on the spot.
When do I give the buyer the registration code?
Only at handover, once the full amount is in your account. With the registration card and the full code, the car can be transferred. Nobody needs the code to check that the car is yours. Ideally do the transfer together with the buyer right away, and keep the vrijwaringsbewijs, the RDW proof of transfer.
What should I do if I have sent money to a scammer?
Call your bank straight away. The sooner you call, the better the chance the payment can still be stopped. Then report it to the police, the Fraudehelpdesk and the platform where you found the car. Keep every message, name and account number as evidence, because your bank and the police will ask for them.