Most problems with money come down to a few well-known tricks. Knowing them is the best defence.
If you are buying
- Be careful with cash. It leaves no record if something goes wrong. A bank transfer or another traceable method is safer, and you can ask the seller for a receipt that names the car, the price, the date and both parties.
- Check where the money is going. If the seller gives you bank details, look at the IBAN. If the bank is in a different country from the seller and the car, stop and ask why.
- Never pay a deposit to someone you have not met for a car you have not seen, however good the price or however urgent they make it sound.
- Beware of deals that move off-site or offers that reach you through social media messages out of the blue.
- Be extra careful with sellers who have no track record. A brand-new account with a bargain car and a story about why it is cheap deserves questions.
If you are selling
- Do not hand over the car or keys until the money is in your account. A screenshot or a “payment sent” message is not proof of payment. Fake confirmations are a known trick.
- Check your own bank balance directly through your banking app, not through a link in a message or email.
- Be careful with overpayments. If a buyer sends more than the price and asks you to send the difference back, do not.
If you think you have been scammed: contact your bank straight away, then report it to your local Garda station. Keep every message, receipt and bank detail.
Further reading: Garda fraud advice · FraudSMART
These are general tips, not legal or financial advice. Shake On It is a listings site: we do not inspect cars, check sellers or handle payments, so always do your own checks.