The Frauds
Six patterns that account for most of what goes wrong, each with the one check that defeats it.
Module 6 of 74 lessonsWritten in full1 worksheet
The lessons
All 4, in the order they are read.
The worksheet
Fraud check card
Six patterns, six checks. Carry it with the inspection sheet. Any single failure here is a walk, not a negotiation — that is the difference between this card and the offer sheet.
| Pattern | What it looks like | The check that defeats it | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curbstoning | Private listing, multiple items, meets in a car park, vague about ownership | Name on the title matches the identification, and the title was transferred to them | — |
| Title jumping | Title signed by someone who is not the seller; open title | Refuse any title not in the seller's own name — no exceptions | — |
| Odometer / hour-meter fraud | Wear inconsistent with the reading; gaps in the service record | Cross-check the reading against prior declarations and physical wear | — |
| Flood damage | Air-freshener smell, silt in seams, corrosion on unpainted metal in odd places | Check the six signature locations; lift the carpet and the spare-wheel well | — |
| Structural repair | Inconsistent panel gaps, paint texture change, weld marks under seals | Inspect seams and mounts; independent inspection where value justifies it | — |
| Payment and escrow scams | Remote item, urgency, a third-party escrow site, an unusual payment method | No escrow service you did not choose; non-reversible payment; never before you see it | — |