Checked October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ by province, and the links below go to each official page.

Most people searching for a car are simply excited to find one, and it is stressful to stop and wonder whether a listing is real. Here is what Canadian regulators and the CAFC say the common online car scams look like, and what to check before you send any money.

The short answer

The scams the regulators describe share one feature: you are asked to commit money before you have seen the car, the seller and the paperwork. A price far below the market is the bait. A story that stops you inspecting the car in person (it has been moved, it will be shipped, escrow will protect you) is the trap. So the defence is simple: verify the seller, the vehicle and the paperwork yourself before you pay, and use a payment method with fraud protection.

How big is the problem in Canada?

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) collects information on fraud and identity theft. In 2025 it received over 112,000 fraud reports with more than $704 million in reported losses. Its "merchandise" fraud type had 2,596 reports, 2,222 victims and $11.7 million in reported dollar loss. The CAFC's merchandise page says the items in these fake ads can be almost anything and lists motor vehicles among them. Its table has no separate line for vehicles, so treat these numbers as the wider picture, not a car-only figure.

They also count only what was reported. The CAFC estimates that only 5% to 10% of fraud is reported, so the real impact is likely much greater. That estimate covers fraud of all kinds, not car scams alone.

What do online car scams look like?

Price too good to be true

The CAFC's rule of thumb for online sales, which lists motor vehicles among the items, is that if the asking price is too good to be true, it is. The free Is this used car price fair? tool shows what share of similar used cars listed in Canada cost less than your asking price.

Shipping, escrow and "I can't show it to you"

OMVIC, Ontario's dealer regulator, says online scams routinely target Ontario car buyers with ads that seem to come from a private seller. When you make contact, you are told the seller has relocated and the car is in storage, or that the seller is really a dealership in the United States. OMVIC says the seller, the dealer and the vehicles are not real, and that scammers can build professional looking dealer websites with extensive inventory and testimonials.

OMVIC's warning signs include an ad posted locally for a car that is far away, excuses why no inspection is possible, an offer to ship the car with a money-back promise, photos that do not match the season or location, and a price below market value. Do not trust that the seller will honour the promise or that a trust or escrow account exists. If you cannot travel, OMVIC suggests hiring an appraiser or mechanic to inspect the car and confirm the seller is who they claim to be.

Deposits before you see the car

OMVIC advises never sending money online for deposits unless you have done your due diligence. Alberta's AMVIC says you should never have to pay a deposit just to test drive or negotiate a price, should have a written sales agreement before paying one that states whether it is refundable, and should get a receipt. For more on payment methods, see how to pay safely when buying a car online.

Cloned listings

OMVIC's July 21, 2026 post says scammers regularly copy dealership listings and the identities of real salespeople. The seller may say several buyers are interested and push you to send a deposit or full payment immediately. After the money is sent, communication stops, and buyers later find the dealership never listed the car or the contact details in the ad had been changed. OMVIC's red flags include a price well below similar listings, a seller who will not meet at the dealership, and contact details that do not match the dealership's official website.

Before you send a deposit, OMVIC says to confirm the seller is registered using its dealer search, contact the dealership using the details on its official website, and ask the dealership to confirm the car is for sale.

How do curbsiders pose as private sellers?

A curbsider (a curber in Alberta and British Columbia) is an unlicensed dealer who pretends to sell privately. OMVIC says many of the vehicles they sell are previous write-offs with undisclosed repairs or tampered odometers, and that buyers who deal with one are not protected by OMVIC, its compensation fund or the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act.

The regulators' signs overlap:

• Several cars for sale. OMVIC, AMVIC and the VSA all point to one seller with several vehicles, or one phone number on several ads. AMVIC adds that legitimate private sellers usually have only one vehicle for sale.

• Not their name on the registration. All three list this. The VSA says the seller will claim to be selling for a friend or family member.

• No inspection, no history report. OMVIC lists a seller who discourages a vehicle history report or a Used Vehicle Information Package, or refuses your mechanic.

• Pressure and cash. The VSA lists insisting on cash, a rush to sell, and meeting at a parking lot or mall, never at home.

AMVIC says that in Alberta even one car bought to resell requires a licence. Its database search shows whether a seller is registered. The VSA has a public search in British Columbia.

What about odometer, VIN and lien problems?

Odometer roll-backs. OMVIC says devices that reprogram odometers are readily available, roll-backs are increasingly offered online and an altered odometer can be very difficult to spot. Signs include worn upholstery or steering wheel, worn suspension parts, a pitted windshield and worn pedal pads. OMVIC also warns that some sellers have altered a UVIP to remove odometer or lien information, so get your own.

VIN checks. The B.C. RCMP advises checking the VIN on the manufacturer's site and on the Canadian Police Information Centre to see if it was reported stolen, and confirming both VINs on the car match. It also says to insist on the original registration (not a photocopy) and check photo ID against the name on it. The VSA lists tampering signs such as loose or mismatched rivets, scratched numbers, and tape, glue or paint over the VIN.

Liens. A lien is a lender's claim on the car. Ontario's government says the UVIP will tell you if money is owing, and OMVIC warns that if you buy privately you may be responsible for the debt and the lender could repossess. The VSA says a lien registered in another province could still be seized.

If you are the one selling

Sellers get targeted too. The CAFC says fraudsters send fake payment notifications, including spoofed e-transfer messages and QR codes, that ask for a tracking number or a scan to release the payment. It says the payment is not real.

What should you check before sending money?

1. Is the seller real? Check the dealer in your regulator's search, and use the contact details on the dealer's own website. See how to check a car dealer is licensed.

2. Does the price make sense? Use the Is this used car price fair? tool.

3. Can you see the car? Inspect it yourself, or hire a mechanic or appraiser.

4. Do the papers match? Registered owner, ID, VIN, history report and lien search. Doing this for every listing and every seller is slow, and checking with the dealership is the kind of legwork Uobo does by text.

5. Ask the right questions. The Questions to ask a private car seller list covers ownership, liens, accidents and payment.

6. Scan the listing. The Used car scam spotter checks the price, photos, payment requests, shipping stories and paperwork.

7. Pay with protection, in person if you can. The CAFC suggests a payment method with fraud protection, such as a credit card, and paying in person whenever possible.

For the wider picture, read Is it safe to buy a car online in Canada?

What if you think you have been scammed?

Contact your financial institution right away, as the CAFC advises, then report it to your local police and the CAFC. The CAFC takes reports online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca (you can report anonymously) or by phone, on the number listed on its page, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4:45 pm Eastern, closed on holidays. It recommends reporting whether or not you are a victim. The CAFC says money that has been sent is often moved quickly and is hard to recover.

Also report suspected curbsiders to your regulator. OMVIC takes complaints and anonymous Crime Stoppers tips, AMVIC asks for a complaint through its online portal, and the VSA asks for its Report a Curber form.

None of this means you did something wrong if a scammer reaches you: OMVIC says they regularly copy real dealership listings and steal salespeople's identities. Buying a car should be exciting, and checking before you pay is how you get to enjoy it.

Try these free tools

• Used car scam spotter: check a listing for scam warning signs.

• Is this used car price fair?: see whether the asking price is an outlier.

• Questions to ask a private car seller: the questions that bring out liens, accidents and payment tricks.

Want someone to check the seller, the car and the price with you? Text Uobo, a personal car agent that does the research, checks and dealer legwork by text, and is free for shoppers. Start here.