How to avoid being duped by fake sites for car parts

The Guardia Civil is investigating a fraud that has been perpetrated by a group of Spanish scrapyards. Drivers looking for a bargain on the internet are warned to beware of bogus listings.

Sector sources say most victims are private buyers who spot a “too good to be true” price on resale platforms and never see the part—or their money—again.

Three online tricks that catch motorists off guard

Scrapyard owners — officially Centros Autorizados de Tratamiento (CATs) — say scammers are operating mainly on peer-to-peer sites such as Wallapop and Milanuncios. The scams vary, but they all follow the same playbook:

1) “Private seller” parts
There are listings from individuals who offer engines, ECUs or gearboxes as though they were their own spares. Under Spanish law only licensed CATs may dismantle parts and resell them. This means that anything shipped privately is likely to be of unknown (stolen or defective) origin and without any paperwork or warranty.

Stolen pictures, fake invoices
The scammers steal text and images from real websites and impersonate them in emails, WhatsApp messages or SMS. They then send a fake pro-forma statement with the yard’s name, address and VAT. Payment is sent to a different account and the part does not arrive. Losses reported to yards range from €700 to €3,200. Javier Goñi, of Desguaces y Recuperaciones Valdizarbe, says the sector has repeatedly asked platforms to require a CAT licence for sellers of car parts. “Without verification, unauthorised sellers — and outright scammers — operate freely,” he warns.

Clones are full websites.
The most sophisticated variant replicates an entire breaker’s site — logo, stock pages, even live chat. Buyers are led to look-alike fake numbers and payment pages. The funds disappear, and the “company”, just like the invoice scam, goes dark. By the time the platforms remove the listings the bank accounts are closed (often with stolen IDs, or opened in the names of vulnerable individuals) and the trail is cold.

Guardia Civil continues to investigate complaints, according to the authorities. Platforms will remove fraudulent profiles if flagged. However, sellers can often reappear under new identities.

How to buy used car parts in Spain legally (and safely)

Only use licensed CATs

Buy directly from Spain’s official network. A reputable yard will have an itemised bill, a VAT number (NIF), a physical address, stipulating the return policy, and a part warranty.

Check the business before paying.

– Cross-check the phone and IBAN against the numbers on the yard’s official website or on Spain’s business registry.
– Call the switchboard yourself (don’t trust the number in a message thread).
– Ask for photos showing the part’s stock label/markings and the donor vehicle’s reference (model, year, VIN fragment).
– If you’re using a marketplace, insist on on-platform payment with buyer protection; avoid bank transfers to personal accounts.

Be skeptical of “unbelievable” price claims

The market price for big-ticket items like engines, gearboxes and electronic modules is rarely a fraction. If the price is much lower than multiple quotes, it has a valid reason.

Know your rights

Authorised recyclers must give a written guarantee (typically 3–6 months on mechanical assemblies) and issue a proper invoice. Private “dismantlers”, who sell car parts, cannot legally do so.

What to Do If You’ve Been Caught Out

Act now!
– Contact your bank immediately to attempt a recall and flag the account as fraudulent.
– Report the case to the Guardia Civil (Grupo de Delitos Telemáticos) or your local Policía; keep screenshots, adverts, chats, invoices and the payment receipt.
– Notify the real breaker whose identity was cloned — your evidence helps their takedown request.
– File a complaint with the platform hosting the advert so the profile is suspended and others are warned.

Red Flags to Remember

• Pressure to pay by transfer to a personal IBAN ‘to ship today’.
• Email domains which do not match the website of the company
• WhatsApp contact only, no landline number or physical address that you can verify
• The refusal of a customer to accept a warranty or invoice before payment.
• Stock photos or images with watermarks from another company.

Recycled car parts can save you serious money – but only when they come from an authorised CAT with traceable paperwork and a warranty. Never wire money to a stranger, buy direct and verify everything. If the price appears to be magical, consider it a fantasy.