Stolen bike scamCon artists may rent a motorcycle and post an ad for it online, posing as the seller. Alternatively, they may tell you they're handling the sale of the motorcycle for a friend or relative. Unfortunately, this type of scam is harder to identify until the very end since the seller usually encourages the buyer to come down, inspect the bike, and even take it for a test ride. If you agree to purchase the motorcycle, the scammer might ask you for a deposit or request you to pay in cash. Expectedly, the sale either won't go through, or you'll discover that you've been duped when registering the vehicle. Avoid wasting your time and money by asking to see the bill of sale, title, and all service records before you move too far along the process. Typically, scammers will try to put this off for as long as possible to avoid getting caught. If the seller you're dealing with is delaying sharing these details, there's a chance you're dealing with a scammer.Dealers posing as private sellers scamTo protect the interests of automobile buyers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has put into effect certain rules that registered dealerships need to follow. For instance, dealers aren't allowed to make misrepresentations about the condition of a vehicle or its price. The catch is that these rules only apply to dealerships and not to private sellers. Unscrupulous dealers may, thus, pose as private sellers on Craigslist to evade these regulations. The goal, in this case, is to mislead unsuspecting buyers by sharing inaccurate details about the motorcycle's condition and history and making a quick buck.To prevent this from happening, insist on seeing and test-driving the motorcycle before you make any full or partial payment. If you can, ask a reliable mechanic to join you so they can inspect the vehicle for signs of damage or major repairs that might not be apparent to the untrained eye. Additionally, ask to see the motorcycle's title and verify that the name on this document matches that of the seller.