Beware of Fraudulent Activities When Buying a Car

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Buying or selling a car can be a huge investment for many and it should remain a hassle-free experience. We ensure that your car buying process is pleasant; hence, mentioned below are some tips to steer clear of any potential scams in your online purchase.

How to Beware Of Fraudulent Activities

Do Not Pay Before Investigating

Make sure to thoroughly check the documentation and paperwork of your vehicle of choice before paying for it. It can be very difficult to recover funds once you have been subjected to fraud. Therefore, always verify the authenticity of the seller and their vehicle to not get stuck with a bum deal and lose your money. In case you do have to make the verification trip because of distance or other reasons, payment through your credit card will ensure the protection of your funds and your peace of mind.

Keep Your Vehicle Safe From Buyers

If you are selling your car and seeing potential buyers, you must take precautionary measures to ensure your vehicle stays safe as well. Do not leave your vehicle unattended when a potential buyer is visiting, and do not hand them the car documents or car keys.

Additionally, do not leave the client without supervision in the car, and avoid being distracted when a customer visits because they can try to scam you into a lower price for your vehicle by intentionally tampering with its exhaust or parts to damage the engine.

Cyber Safety Precaution

Beware of spam calls and fraud calls from scammers who want to disclose your account information. You should stay vary of unprotected numbers that ask you to make a payment. Do not give out bank information to an unknown caller and always reach out to SAT Japan through email or call to ensure that the caller is us.

Vehicular Investigation Scam

If a private seller reaches out to you independently and mentions any charges for the vehicular verification or gives you the reference of a costly and dubious vehicle checking site, they are potentially trying to scam you for money. It is your sole responsibility to check and verify the condition of the vehicle you are purchasing.

Staying Safe the SAT Way

Check out the following tips to ensure that you remain free from any online and in-person frauds.

Buying Check-List
Online Safety

Documents

A car’s documentation will give you some of the most important information you need to purchase the car. It is advised to check the Vehicle Registration Number, the Vehicle Identification Number, the color of the car, and the engine number which is essential information one needs to make the purchase legitimate.

Vehicular History Reports

SAT Japan offers a thorough vehicle history report for each vehicle posted on the site. This information will mention any outstanding damages, any history of it being stolen, and any maintenance discrepancies. Additionally, the mileage of the vehicle is also mentioned for you to compare and gain the best deal for you.

Price Comparison

Always check and compare the prices for the vehicle you’ve chosen; if a price point seems too good to be true, chances are that it probably is! Hence, it is advised to compare prices and know the market value for your used vehicle of choice to not be duped for a faulty car.

Test Drive

If the option for test drive is available by the seller, always test out the running of the vehicle before buying in. Additionally, this is a good opportunity to check the mechanics of the car for yourself and thoroughly experience the quality of the vehicle. Check under the bonnet of the vehicle for any signs of wear and tear and ask the seller personally for any details they may have left out.

Go Cashless

It is always better to involve a third party, in this case the bank, for such investments. Take your seller with you and ensure that you do not hand a large sum of money which will then be untraceable.

Insurance Is a Must

SAT Japan offers insurance services for your vehicle for any damages that may take place during the transit of your vehicle. After assessing and approving the damage claim we offer reimbursement of any repair costs or damage recovery to ensure your peace of mind.

Protect Your Device

Cyber security is crucial when most of your purchasing is done online in the digital age. If your device needs to be updated, do so promptly to avoid any breakdowns or threats entering your device.

Set Strong Passwords

When you are deciding on passwords for your accounts and devices, avoid using names or words that would be easy to predict. Add upper case and lower case letters with numbers and other characters to avoid anyone hacking your accounts.

Avoid Phishing

Scammers typically work online by sending bug emails in an attempt to hack your account and find out your information. Always remember that SAT Japan will never ask for your personal information through email and if you receive a suspicious email from an imitator, reach out to our team through info@satjapan to confirm.

Stay Cautious When Entering Bank Details

Always confirm that there is a padlock icon in the top right corner of your browser window when you are entering your bank account details. Also make sure that there is “https://” written in the beginning of the url which means the site is secure. Stay in touch with your bank or credit card company when making a big payment to confirm the whereabouts of your funds.

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How to Beware Of Fraudulent Activities

What Our Vehicle Checks Offer

Vehicle Security

Fraud Protection

History Report