Some RV sales made the news this summer for all the wrong reasons. Lisa Jansen talks to the experts to find out more about how to ensure your purchase is easy – and legal.
Unfortunately, we live in a time when scams are everywhere. Not a week goes by without hearing about someone trusting the wrong people and losing money in the process. It doesn’t help that scams can be incredibly sophisticated. “We understand that these offences can be very believable,” a NZ Police spokesperson told me. “They can be carried out from anywhere in the world and are prevalent on many online platforms, especially social platforms.”
No one is safe – including the RV community. This was once again proven recently when a story made the rounds of several people falling victim to scammers who were pretending to be selling a caravan. In this example, the scammers listed a caravan for sale on Facebook’s Marketplace at a very low price. Several potential buyers transferred deposits to secure the caravan, hoping for a bargain. However, shortly after the funds were transferred, the Facebook profiles were deleted, and the sellers (and money) were nowhere to be found. With stories like these becoming concerningly common, it’s now more important than ever to be scam-savvy. Here are some of the top tips to avoid scammers and buy with confidence.
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is
The first rule of avoiding scams is to be suspicious of anything that looks too good to be true – especially as far as the price is concerned. Many scams happen because people think they have an opportunity to get a bargain and don’t want to risk missing out, so they transfer deposits without doing further due diligence. A quick search on listing sites such as Trade Me or the Motorhomes, Caravans and Destinations website will show the average price for comparable RVs. If you see one of similar age and condition at a significantly lower price, proceed with extreme caution – even if the seller seems to have legitimate reasons for selling at a low price, such as needing the cash or leaving the country.
If you are looking on Facebook Marketplace, Trade Me or anywhere else private sales can be made, read the rules carefully. Each site advises never to hand over money before you have something to show for it, and you’ve seen the item in person.
Know the less obvious warning signs
Unfortunately, identifying a scam is not always as easy as just looking out for unusually low prices. Scammers are getting more sophisticated every day. Here are some of the less obvious warning signs you should look out for.
• A seller not wanting to meet in person to arrange viewings. Be aware that some might come up with very convincing-sounding reasons. However, this should still be a red flag and you should proceed with caution.
• Sellers not wanting to give out their phone number, or only having an overseas number.
• Sellers asking for money before you have viewed the RV, even if it is just a comparatively low deposit.
• Sellers asking for payment via anything other than cash or a New Zealand bank transfer – including payment options such as PayPal, crypto currencies or overseas bank accounts.
• Sellers requesting your personal information, such as bank account details or scans of your ID, especially if they do so before you have met in person.
Meet the seller in person
It is highly recommended you meet any seller in person before handing over any money, including a deposit. If you are unable to meet the seller yourself – if you live too far away, for example – consider finding someone who can meet them on your behalf to ensure the RV is as described and that the seller is actually a real person. When you arrange a meeting with a seller, NZ Police advise taking someone with you, if possible, and letting someone know when and where you are going.
Cash is king
While transferring money into a New Zealand bank account is generally considered safe as it is traceable, the best way to pay is to hand over cash at the same time that you take ownership of the RV. A NZ Police spokesperson suggests, “only use cash to complete your transactions and never deposit money into a person’s account without receiving the item first.”
Not all sales platforms are equal
Some platforms are a lot more popular among scammers than others. According to NZ Police, these sort of scams are especially prevalent on social platforms such as Facebook Marketplace. There are few controls in place on these platforms, and anyone can create a profile, find some photos of a caravan on the internet and then create a sales listing. On the other hand, listings on the Motorhomes, Caravans and Destinations website, for example, are provided via trusted dealers with whom we have a longstanding relationship, which significantly reduces the risk of scams. On our website, we have an anti-scam process to help our readers navigate through the buying process. In other words, be extra careful when buying via unregulated platforms such as Facebook Marketplace.
Know the limitations of online checks
Websites such as carjam.co.nz or thatcar.co.nz are a great way to learn a bit more about a vehicle before you decide to buy. However, it’s important to take into account that even these checks have their limitations – and many scammers know how to work around them. For example, even if you know the name of the legal owner of an RV, keep in mind that it’s easy enough for a scammer to create a profile on Facebook using that name and then list the RV for sale. Think about it: everything you can learn about a vehicle on the internet, a scammer can find out, too.
Sellers need to be careful, too
It’s worth pointing out that it’s not just buyers at risk. There have also been reports from genuine sellers who were contacted by scammers pretending to be interested buyers and requesting personal details such as bank account numbers or ID and passport scans. While you might think scammers can’t do much with that information, it can be used together with other data gathered about you elsewhere to hack into your bank account or scam you in another way. Therefore, NZ Police’s general advice is to “never provide personal information (i.e., bank account details, scans of your passport) online without meeting the people or ensuring it is a secure and trusted site.”
It’s worth pointing out that it’s not just buyers at risk. There have also been reports from genuine sellers who were contacted by scammers pretending to be interested buyers and requesting personal details such as bank account numbers or ID and passport scans.
While you might think scammers can’t do much with that information, it can be used together with other data gathered about you elsewhere to hack into your bank account or scam you in another way. Therefore, NZ Police’s general advice is to “never provide personal information (i.e., bank account details, scans of your passport) online without meeting the people or ensuring it is a secure and trusted site.” Unfortunately, scams are common these days. However, with the right information and a cautious approach, most scams can be identified and avoided. Therefore, if you’re looking to buy or sell an RV, be vigilant, follow these suggestions, and don’t proceed if anything at all seems fishy.
As a NZ Police spokesperson put it, “Trust your instincts. If it sounds like a scam, it probably is.”
