Private Motorhome Sellers Beware
We have just been made aware of a new scam aimed at private sellers of motorhomes and campervans. It is very simple and easy to see how people will be taken in by this one. The scam is specifically aimed at people advertising their motorhome privately online. The scammers don't seem to be targeting any particular website or advertiser, so all private motorhome sellers should be aware.
NOTE: Motorhome Depot sellers need not be concerned. This scam does not target you. The scammers cannot reach you.
How the Scam Works
Wouldn't it be nice if you were selling a motorhome online and when someone Googled "Motorhomes for sale", your motorhome came up first? Everyone understands the power of Google and coming top of their rankings. But to be at the top of the rankings for the most searched motorhome term on Google? That would guarantee you a quick sale! And it is this knowledge that the scammers are relying on.
What they are doing is phoning private motorhome advertisers pretending to be Google. The pitch is simple: pay us £199 and we will make sure your motorhome comes up first for the search term "Motorhomes for sale". Although many people are savvy enough to understand the power of Google, unless you have had business dealings with them, you may not know that this is physically impossible. It cannot be done - it is a scam.
As far as we are aware, Google would never contact a private motorhome seller individually and offer them any form of service.
How Motorhome Depot Protects You From Scammers and Fraud
Motorhome Depot works hard to identify fraud in our industry and bring it to the attention of all motorhome and campervan owners. In fact behind the scenes, we often notify motorhome advertising websites themselves of fraudulent activity on the sites. Our own customers benefit from several layers of protection from fraudsters. Quite apart from having to get past our brokers to get to our customers, we have financial systems in place to thwart fraudsters.
You can read more about buying through Motorhome Depot here and selling through Motorhome Depot here.
If you read this article and you are aware of anyone that is currently advertising their motorhome or campervan privately, please forward this article to them.
