How To Avoid RV Sales Scams In The Coastal Bend

Are you in the market for a new-to-you RV in the coastal bend?  You’ve probably spent some time perusing units listed on Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, and consignment RV sales websites, like RV Trader.  In all that searching, it’s likely you’ve run across some phony listings without even realizing it.  Before you search any further, take some time to educate yourself on the signs of an RV sales scam.

Scammers hide behind all sorts of facades, but there are several giveaways many of them have in common that you can easily spot if you’re paying attention.

Insanely Low Price

If the price tag seems too good to be true, it probably is.  Listing a unit thousands of dollars lower than other sellers is a common tactic scammers use to hook their victims.  Don’t fall for this trick.

RV “Locked” or “Unavailable”

Before making any transaction, ask to see the RV in person.  If the seller claims the RV is currently locked or unavailable for any reason, you can assume the deal is a scam.  Walk away.

Seller Impossible to Reach by Phone

One telltale sign of a scam is a phone number that always takes you to an automated message with hours of operation, a wrong phone number, or no number at all. 

Seller Asks for Large Deposit (by Wire Transfer)

If the seller asks you to wire a large deposit before you’ve been able to see the RV in person, the deal is fraud.  If you decide to make an online transaction, it’s safer to use a reputable third-party service.

Suspicious Looking Website

In the age of internet, scammers have gotten smart, so you have to be smarter.  Learn how to tell the difference between a legitimate business website and a fake.  A few signs of a fraudulent site are long domain names or domain names with dashes, invalid address listed, and a chat feature that never works. 

It isn’t hard to spot a scam.  Do your research, look for the signs, and trust your gut.  There are good deals out there, but you may have to be patient and wait a little while for it to come along.  Just don’t be fooled by a deal that’s too good.