New Scam Has People Buying Cars That Are Too Good To Be True On Facebook Marketplace Only To Have The Vehicles Stolen Days Later

Finding a great deal on Facebook Marketplace can feel like winning the lottery. You see a car priced well below market value, the seller seems legitimate, and everything checks out just enough to convince you to move fast before someone else grabs it.

But according to a post circulating online, some buyers are now warning that these deals may come with a serious catch.

In the post, a buyer describes purchasing a car that seemed perfectly fine at first. The paperwork appeared normal, and the car made it home without any issues. It wasn’t until later that small, strange details started adding up.

Shortly after the purchase, a neighbor mentioned that someone had tried to access the car while it was parked outside. That prompted the new owner to look more closely inside the vehicle, where they discovered an Apple AirTag hidden inside.

After that, things became even more concerning. Every time the car was started, a faint beeping noise could be heard, similar to the sound of a camera activating — though the device itself couldn’t be found. Around the same time, an unmarked tow truck began driving past the home almost nightly, usually around 2 a.m.

That’s when the buyer began to suspect the car may have been intentionally sold with the goal of stealing it back later.

The theory is simple but troubling: sellers list vehicles at attractive prices to move them quickly, secretly track the car after the sale, and then attempt to retrieve it once it’s parked in a predictable location. By the time the buyer realizes something is wrong, the seller already knows where the car is kept.

While it’s unclear how widespread this type of scam is, posts like this are prompting people to be more cautious when buying vehicles online. Experts recommend carefully inspecting used cars for tracking devices, confirming ownership and title details, and being wary of prices that seem unusually low.

Because sometimes, a deal that looks too good isn’t just a bargain, it’s a warning sign.