7 Warning Signs of Scammers When Buying Luxury Custom Cars on CustomMade

Red Flag 1: Off-Platform Deposit Request. Be highly suspicious if a seller insists on receiving a deposit or payment outside of the CustomMade platform. This is a common tactic to bypass buyer protection and makes it difficult to recover funds if issues arise. Always keep transactions within the platform's secure system.

Red Flag 2: Indefinite Production Delay. While custom builds naturally take time, a seller who provides vague timelines or constantly delays production without clear communication or valid reasons might be a scammer. This can be a way to string buyers along while they disappear with deposits or to mask an inability to deliver.

Red Flag 3: Fake CAD Rendering Bait. Scammers may present highly sophisticated computer-aided design (CAD) renderings or mock-ups of a luxury custom car that do not reflect an actual buildable or existing vehicle. These enticing visuals can lure buyers in before the seller reveals they cannot deliver as promised.

Red Flag 4: Material Grade Downselling. For luxury custom cars, this could manifest as advertising premium materials (e.g., specific high-grade alloys, exotic leathers, or advanced composite parts) but delivering components of a lower quality or grade. Always verify specifications and material certifications.

Red Flag 5: Design Modification Ransom. After agreeing on a design and perhaps paying a deposit, a scammer might demand additional payments for minor design modifications they claim are necessary or for changes that were not part of the original agreement. This is a form of extortion.

Red Flag 6: Sourced-from-China Resell (with undisclosed origins). While sourcing parts from China is common, a scammer might present a custom car as entirely unique or domestically built when key components are imported from lower-cost regions without full disclosure, potentially impacting quality and authenticity, especially if those parts have a questionable supply chain.

Red Flag 7: Unrealistic Promises and Pressure. Be wary of sellers making extravagant claims about performance, exclusivity, or delivery timelines that seem too good to be true. Scammers often use high-pressure tactics to rush you into a decision before you can thoroughly vet them or the vehicle.