Golf Cart Scams: How to Spot Fake Sellers and Fake Online Stores

Golf carts are expensive, popular, and often bought online from strangers, which makes them an easy target. Golf cart scams usually fall into two buckets: fake private sellers advertising carts they don't have, and fake online stores selling carts at impossible prices. Here's how both work, the warning signs to watch for, and what to do if something feels off.

Fake private sellers: how the scam works

The Better Business Bureau has documented a long-running vehicle scam that maps closely to what golf cart buyers see. The scammer copies photos and descriptions from real listings and reposts them on social media or classified sites at a low price.

When you reach out, you hear a sympathetic story: a death in the family, a divorce, a military deployment. That story explains the low price and the rush. Then comes the catch:

The cart is "already with a shipper" or in storage, so you can't see it.
You're told to pay a third-party escrow or shipping company the seller picks, often by wire, gift card, or money transfer.
Some scammers send fake emails that appear to come from eBay or another big company to make it look official.

A Naples, Florida news report described the same pattern with golf carts: bargain listings on social media and neighborhood sites, emotional backstories, and one buyer who paid a deposit, was then asked for more money for "taxes," and was blocked when he refused. No cart arrived.

Fake online stores

The second type of golf cart scam is a professional-looking website that sells new carts at deep discounts. Some copy the look of a real brand or retailer.

A BBB Scam Tracker report shows how this can play out: a buyer ordered an electric golf cart listed for $99. The card charge came from a company with a different name than the site, the tracking number came from yet another site, and the "courier" kept saying to wait a few more days. The buyer ended up disputing the charge with the card company.

Signs that a store may be fake:

Prices far below what the brand's own site or dealers charge
A web address that's close to a real brand's name, but not quite right
No physical address, or one you can't verify
Requests to pay by wire transfer, payment app, or crypto instead of a credit card
Charges or tracking from companies with unrelated names

Before buying new from an unfamiliar site, check real pricing. Our new cart price comparison and golf cart cost guide give you a baseline, so a "too good" price stands out.

The red flags of golf cart scams

Whether it's a person or a website, these warning signs come up again and again in FTC and BBB guidance:

The price is far below market. This is the bait.
You can't see the cart in person. Excuses about shipping, storage, travel, or deployment.
Pressure to act now. "Three other buyers are interested," or the deal expires today.
A specific payment method is required. The FTC says anyone who insists you can only pay by wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a payment app is probably a scammer.
Payment to a third party the seller chose. Fake escrow and shipping companies are a classic tactic.
New fees after you pay. Taxes, insurance, customs, or shipping charges that appear after a deposit.
A sad story to explain everything. It's meant to make you feel bad for asking questions.

How to check a seller or listing

A few minutes of checking can save thousands of dollars. BBB and the FTC recommend steps like these:

Reverse image search the photos. If the same cart shows up in an old listing in another state, walk away.
Search the seller's name, phone, email, and website with words like "scam," "review," and "complaint."
Check how old the website is with a Whois lookup. A store or escrow company that's a few weeks old is a warning sign.
See the cart in person and check that the serial number or VIN matches the paperwork. Our used golf cart buying checklist covers what to inspect.
Look up the business on BBB.org and check whether a dealer is listed on the manufacturer's dealer locator.

Safer ways to pay

How you pay decides whether you can get your money back.

For online stores, use a credit card. The FTC notes credit cards offer stronger protections, including the ability to dispute charges.
For private sales, pay in person, after you've seen the cart, test-driven it, and have the title or bill of sale in hand.
Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto for a cart you haven't seen. BBB quotes the FBI as saying a gift card payment request is a scam every time.
Be careful with payment apps. They work like cash. Once sent to a stranger, the money is usually gone.

On CartPiko, buyers message sellers directly, so the same rules apply: meet, inspect, then pay. Our buyer safety tips page has a short checklist to keep handy.

Sellers get targeted too

If you're the one selling, watch for "buyers" who can't come see the cart, send a check for more than your price, and ask you to refund the difference. The FTC warns the check can look like it cleared, then bounce weeks later. Never share a verification code a buyer texts you. More in our guide on how to sell a used golf cart.

Where to report a golf cart scam

If you've already paid, act fast. Contact the bank, card issuer, or payment service you used and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed. Then report it:

FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
BBB Scam Tracker
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
The website or app where you saw the listing

Frequently asked questions

Is a cheap golf cart on a website I've never heard of a scam?

It may be. Prices far below market are one of the most common signs of a fake store. Before paying, check how long the domain has existed, search the site name with words like scam and complaint, and pay only by credit card so you can dispute the charge.

Should I pay a deposit to hold a golf cart?

Be very careful. A deposit to a private seller you haven't met, for a cart you haven't seen, is how many golf cart scams start. If you do pay one, do it in person after seeing the cart, and get a written receipt.

The seller wants to use a shipping or escrow company. Is that safe?

Be skeptical when the seller picks the company. BBB has warned about scams that use fake escrow and shipping companies. Look up the company yourself, check how long its website has existed, and never pay by wire, gift card, or payment app to a third party the seller chose.

What should I do if I already paid a scammer?

Contact the bank, card issuer, or payment company you used right away and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed. Then report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to BBB Scam Tracker, and to the site where you saw the listing.

Sources

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