Buyer Protection Guides
Verified research to help you buy used cars safely. Every claim is sourced. Nothing is invented.
How Scammers Clone Real Dealerships — And Why the Same Car Appears on Multiple Listings
A reverse image search on a 1972 Buick Skylark listing exposed a fraud operation that cost a retired South Carolina man $14,500, spawned two fake Facebook pages — one traced to Angola, Africa — and may have forced a legitimate Louisiana dealership offline.
Read Article →What Is a Salvage Title?
A salvage title means an insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. Learn what risks this creates, how sellers hide it, and how to protect yourself before you buy.
What Is Curbstoning?
Curbstoning is an illegal scam where unlicensed dealers pose as private sellers to avoid consumer protection laws. It happens every day on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.
What Is VIN Cloning?
VIN cloning is vehicle identity theft. Criminals apply a legitimate VIN to a stolen vehicle so it passes history checks. Learn how to catch it before you buy.
What Is a Rebuilt Title?
A rebuilt title means a salvage vehicle was repaired and passed a state inspection. Learn what that inspection actually checks, what it misses, and when it might still be worth buying.
What Is Title Washing?
Title washing erases a vehicle damage history by re-registering it in a state with looser laws. It produces a clean Carfax on a damaged vehicle. Here is how to catch it.
How to Check if a Used Car Listing Is Legit
The exact steps to verify any used car listing using free public tools — and what Auto Scam Guard checks for you. Full transparency on our data sources.
What Is a Repo Vehicle and What Could Go Wrong?
With 1.73 million vehicles repossessed in 2024, repo cars are everywhere. Learn the real risks, how to detect deferred maintenance, and how scammers use repos as fraud props.
The Used Car Fraud Crisis: A Data Deep Dive
Real data from the FTC, FBI, and BBB on fraudulent online listings. $16.6 billion in internet crime losses. $12,600 median loss per vehicle scam victim. All verified and cited.
How to Spot a Fake Car Dealer Website
Over 100 fake dealer websites are currently operating in the US. They look professional, have real VINs, and pass basic checks. Here is how to verify any dealer before you send a dollar.
What Is an Odometer Rollback Scam?
With 2.45 million suspected rollback vehicles on US roads in 2025, odometer fraud is growing fast. The cheapest protection is also the most effective — here is exactly what to do.
What to Look for on a Used Car Title — and When to Walk Away
A clean Carfax is not the same as a clean deal. Here is exactly what to examine on any used car title before you hand over money — and the one rule that protects you every time.
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