Do not transact with unknown individuals selling used cars on Facebook and Instagram !!.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) have become increasingly popular in recent years, and scammers are now taking advantage of this trend by posing as sellers of EVs on various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook groups. These scammers create fake profiles and post advertisements for EVs at prices that seem too good to be true.
One of the main red flags to look out for is the use of the 011- prefix mobile phone number. Scammers often use these numbers as they are originally phone numbers from prepaid cards, mostly from the XOX mobile operator. These numbers can be easily obtained, and scammers can register for a mobile SIM using another person's identity card (IC). In addition, the profile creation date is usually around 2 months, which is a clear indication that the account is not genuine.
Another red flag is the scammer's social media profile name. These names usually do not sound like names from Malaysia, and they may not match the profile picture. For example, a scammer may have a man's name but use a woman's profile picture. These inconsistencies are clear indicators that the profile is not genuine.
Fake profiles on Facebook are often created by hacking into genuine profiles. The hacker may send an email asking the victim to log in, and when they do, the hacker records their email and password. With this information, the hacker can then take over the victim's profile and use it for fraudulent activities such as selling fake EVs.
As an example, a scammer recently posted a BMW iX40 M-Sport for sale on an EV group on Facebook. The post attracted at least 5 viewers who asked for a personal message on the selling price. However, observant viewers flagged the post as fraudulent, and it was subsequently deleted and removed.
To protect yourself from falling victim to such scams, it's important to be cautious when dealing with sellers of EVs on social media platforms. Look out for red flags such as the use of 011- prefix mobile phone numbers, inconsistencies in profile names and pictures, and newly created profiles. Always verify the authenticity of the seller and the vehicle before making any transactions. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
The social media profile picture used are usually from stock photos. The post pictures are taken from another person's social media profile.
Nowadays, there are many online platforms to purchase cars whether is gasoline or EV. Malaysia tech unicorn Carsome is one of the sites which makes it easy to transact and buy used cars online.
As such, do not transact with unknown individuals selling used cars on Facebook and Instagram !!.
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