The Bait Quote
The most common trick is a headline price far below the market, quoted port-to-port with every destination charge excluded. The customer pays a deposit, the vehicle reaches the destination, and a second invoice appears for terminal handling, clearance, agency fees and storage that can exceed the original quote.
A legitimate quote states the shipping method, the named ports, what is included at both ends, and what the consignee will pay on arrival. If a quote does not separate ocean freight from destination charges, ask for it in writing before paying anything.
Fake Agents and Cloned Companies
Fraudsters copy a real freight forwarder's website, change the phone number and bank details, and rely on urgency to stop you checking. Cloned Bills of Lading are also circulated to convince buyers that a vehicle has shipped when it has not.
Five minutes of checks removes most of this risk: confirm the company number at Companies House, check the trading address exists, verify BIFA or FIATA membership directly with the association, and telephone the number published on the association's site rather than the one in the email.
- Companies House registration and filing history
- A UK landline and a real trading address, not just a mobile and a form
- Freight association membership verified at source
- A Bill of Lading you can verify with the carrier's own tracking
Payment Red Flags
Never pay to a personal bank account, and be suspicious of any request to pay by cryptocurrency, gift card or money transfer service. Legitimate forwarders invoice from a company account in the company's name, and a change of bank details mid-transaction is the single strongest sign of a compromised email chain.
If bank details change, stop and telephone your contact on a number you already had. Business email compromise works precisely because the new invoice looks identical to the last one.
If You Think You Have Been Scammed
Contact your bank immediately and ask for a recall — same-day action is the only realistic chance of recovering a transfer. Report the fraud to Action Fraud in the UK, and if the vehicle has physically shipped, contact the carrier directly with the Bill of Lading number to establish where it actually is.
Keep every email, quotation and receipt. If a real vehicle exists at a real port, a legitimate forwarder can often take over the shipment and clear it, although demurrage and storage will already be accruing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a deposit normal?
Yes. A deposit to reserve space is standard practice; paying the full amount up front before a booking reference exists is not.
How do I verify a Bill of Lading?
Take the carrier's booking number from the document and check it on the shipping line's own tracking site, not on a link supplied in the email.
Should a quote ever be verbal only?
No. Insist on a written quotation with the method, route, inclusions and exclusions stated. Verbal quotes are unenforceable and are the root of most disputes.
Are online marketplaces safe for buying a car to ship?
They can be, provided you inspect the vehicle or use an independent inspection service, pay the seller directly rather than through an intermediary escrow you did not choose, and arrange shipping yourself.
Want a quote you can actually compare?
Our quotes list every charge at both ends in writing, so there is nothing to discover later.