Cashier's Check Scams in Private Car Sales

A cashier's check scam in a private car sale usually looks like this: a buyer sends a check for more than the asking price, asks the seller to wire back the extra for shipping, and the check bounces after the seller has sent the money. Never accept a check for more than the price, and confirm any cashier's check by calling the issuing bank at a number you look up yourself. The FTC calls this pattern out in an alert aimed at online car sellers.

What a cashier's check is

The CFPB explains that a cashier's check is a check drawn on the bank's own funds and signed by the bank, which is why sellers tend to trust it. Fake ones copy that look. Banks often make deposited funds available within days, but that does not mean the check has cleared. The FTC page on fake check scams says it can take weeks for a bank to discover a fake, and the depositor is usually on the hook for the money.

How the car version plays out

• The buyer agrees to the price without seeing the car or asking real questions.
• They say a shipper or agent will pick it up and will be paid from the check.
• The check arrives for more than the price, with a story about a mistake.
• They ask you to send the difference by wire, gift card or payment app.
• The check later comes back as fake, and the money you sent is gone.

Safer ways to get paid

Meet the buyer at their bank and watch the teller issue the cashier's check or start a wire to your account. If you must take a mailed check, call the issuing bank using a number from its own website, not the one printed on the check, and wait for your bank to confirm it is paid. The FTC alert suggests an escrow service or an online payment method as other options; our Marketplace escrow guide covers how fake escrow sites work. Hand over the title only after the money is truly in your account.

The buyer side

Scams run the other way too. A seller may refuse to meet, push for a deposit, or send a fake history report PDF. Buyers should run the VIN through an approved NMVTIS provider, check open recalls at the NHTSA recall lookup, and match the title name to the seller ID. Our private-party CARFAX guide covers what to check before money changes hands.

If you were targeted

Do not send any more money. Call your bank and ask it to stop or recall any wire, report the fraud to the FBI at IC3, and report it to the FTC. The OCC also lists fraud resources for people dealing with fake bank items. Keep the check, the envelope and every message, since the bank and police may ask for them.

Signs a buyer message is a script

• The first message asks for your email or phone number rather than about the car.
• The buyer says they are traveling, working offshore or buying the car as a gift.
• They will not talk on the phone, or the voice does not match the story.
• They mention a mover or a shipper who must be paid before pickup.
• They ask you to remove the listing right away.

Why wire transfers make it worse

The FTC notes that scammers ask for money back by wire, gift card or payment app because those methods are hard to reverse. Once the money is sent, the bank may not be able to recover it even after the fake check is found. That is why the timing matters: wait until your own bank tells you the item has been paid; funds being available is not the same thing, and do not refund anything before then. If a buyer truly overpaid, the clean fix is to return their check and ask for a new one for the exact amount.

Keep the title until you are paid

Sign the title and hand over the keys only after the payment is final. Write the sale price, date and odometer reading on a dated bill of sale, and keep a copy.

What the report costs

As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.

Sources

• FTC: fake check scam targets online car sellers
• FTC: how to spot, avoid and report fake check scams
• CFPB: what is a cashier's check
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
• Office of the Comptroller of the Currency