How to Avoid Car-Buying Scams — Safe Payment and Meeting Rules for the GCC

The scams we see most

• The deposit request: a seller with a great price asks for a small deposit to 'hold' the car before you see it. Never pay anything for a car you have not inspected in person.
• The overseas seller: 'the car is at the port / in another country, pay shipping and it's yours.' These cars do not exist.
• The fake escrow: a website or 'agent' offers to hold your money safely. Only use payment methods you can verify independently.
• The cloned listing: real photos of someone else's car at a too-good price. The price itself is the warning.
• The rushed deal: 'another buyer is coming in one hour' — pressure is a tool; good deals survive a night's sleep.

The rules that protect you

Raftaar247 never asks you to pay sellers through us, and we will never call you asking for codes or passwords. Every listing has a Report button — reports go to a real moderation queue and protect the whole community.

• Inspect the car in person, in daylight, before any money moves.
• Verify the seller's ID matches the registration card (Mulkiya/Istimara).
• Complete payment at the moment of transfer — at the traffic department counter or a bank — not before.
• Use a written sale agreement (our Safe Deal template) signed by both parties with ID numbers.
• Never share OTP codes or card details with anyone — no genuine deal needs them.