I put my car on Facebook Marketplace. It is not the ideal place to sell a car. I treat it as a bonus channel that sometimes lands a real buyer.
A very keen buyer slid into my DM. Quick replies. Polite questions.
I’m a serious buyer and I do want to purchase the car. i will come tomorrow by 7 PM. Share post code
Then the turn. They asked for a special vehicle history report but did not name the site.
Ok no problem mate. Until you send me the recent RDH maintenance report of your vehicle?
They used a strange synonym first, circled around it, and only later dropped a link. The moment I saw it, the smell test failed. Later, I found that I am not alone.
Here is the marketing bit that finally sets me off:
No problem, you can come by 8 o’clock after collecting the V5 from home. But please send me the RDH report for the car it’s available online. If you’re not sure what that is, it’s the vehicle history report. Hope this helps. roaddrivehistory dot com
Here is the pattern. The profile agrees on time and price, then insists you buy a specific report from a site you have never heard of. They reject an AA or RAC check. They reject meeting first. They want the report (costs $35) now and only from their link.
Alright mate but i am asking about this report get the report then we are good to go for the deal
They maybe aim for stolen card details. Or, it is simple monetisation. They own the site or get a commission. You pay for a package you never use. They block you and move to the next seller.
The chat can even feel like a bot. Repeated lines. Odd grammar. A sprinkle of curiosity about the car. It may well be an AI chatbot scam tuned for Facebook Marketplace.
Common labels float around these sites. RDH maintenance report. VAC report. MVI report. VHI report. MMH report. The acronyms change but the script stays the same. It is the same vehicle history report scam under a different costume.
Here is how to handle it without drama.
- Buyer pays for any report they want. Always. If they insist you pay, and only from their link, walk away.
- Offer reputable checks. AA. RAC. A garage they choose. For UK cars, give the reg so they can check MOT history on the official government site for free.
- Ask for a voice call. Real buyers call. Scammers avoid it.
- Type known sites directly. Never click a mystery link from a stranger.
- Meet first in a public place. Paperwork second.
- Report and block profiles that push a single link and ignore your answers. This is classic Facebook Marketplace car scam behaviour.
Why write this. Because these chats are getting slick. The language looks local. The timing feels human. With AI in the mix the operation can run around the clock in many countries at once. The best defence is a simple rule set and a calm refusal to play along.
If you sell on Marketplace, remember the red flags that mean stop;
like the new acronym reports you cannot verify VAC MVI VHI MMH RDH… Pick a letter salad.
Real buyers want to see the car. Scammers want you on a website. Keep the process boring and safe. Let the buyer do their checks and pay for them. You keep your card in your pocket and your money in your account.
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