Beware when buying auto parts online: Rise in scams involving cloned websites and fake advertisements

Buying used auto parts online is a popular way to save costs, but recently the risk of financial loss has been increasing significantly. The Association of Car Dismantling Companies (ADA) has signaled a large-scale and increasingly sophisticated wave of online scams.

According to specialists, criminals are using extremely professional methods. They create cloned versions of the official websites of authorized scrapping firms or publish fake advertisements on social networks and specialized platforms with artificially low prices. The goal is to win the buyer's trust by imitating legitimate activity.

How does the scheme work?
Once the victim is convinced of the "authenticity" of the offer, the scammers demand advance payment – often via instant bank transfer to personal accounts or through prepaid cards. In some cases, the buyer is even directed to a real car scrapyard to pick up the part, where they discover that the order and payment were never registered in the legitimate company's system.

This phenomenon harms not only consumers but also the reputation of honest firms, which are often forced to defend themselves to dissatisfied customers. To protect yourself, ADA recommends the following steps:

• Check the domain: Make sure the website is the original one and not an imitation.
• Direct contact: Contact the seller via the official phone number listed on their real website.
• IBAN verification: Never transfer money to a personal account if you are buying from a company. The IBAN must be in the name of the legal entity.
• Avoid suspicious methods: Be extremely skeptical of requests for payment via prepaid cards or personal current accounts.