We're aware of scammers calling private sellers and pretending to be Autotrader with false claims such as:
- You've paid twice
- You've got two accounts
- You're due a refund because your advert is in the wrong vehicle category
- You're due a refund because you've placed your advert as the wrong seller type
They call the protected number on your advert and attempt to collect your personal information and payment details.
They may ask you for your one-time passcode for your account or make a follow-up call pretending to be your bank to 'authorise' refunds.
Good to know: If you're genuinely due a refund from Autotrader, we don't need your payment details to do this. We'll refund to the card you used to pay for your advert.
What you should do
- We'll never contact you via the protected number on your advert. So, if you hear a recorded message when you answer the phone saying the call is about your Autotrader advert, you'll know it's not us.
- Don't rely on information from someone who contacts you. Make sure you verify their identity and that what they're telling you is true.
- Don't give anyone your one-time passcode. We'd never ask you for this to be able to help you.
- We may contact you by email or text, but we'll never ask you to enter your account details via a link. If you get an email or text claiming to be Autotrader asking you to log in, don't do it. If you have given your login details by mistake, change your password.
- Never give out bank or card details to an unsolicited caller. If you have, contact your bank immediately.
- If someone asks for a copy of your V5C logbook before viewing the vehicle, we strongly advise against sharing it
- If you've had contact that's a scam or you're unsure whether a call, email or text from Autotrader is genuine, get in touch with us
How to get in touch
Phone: 0330 303 9001