Online truck deals can look clean on the surface: polite messages, a bank name you recognize, a “refundable” fee, even a story that feels believable. The problem is that scams do not show up wearing a mask. They show up wearing confidence. This guide breaks down a scam on trucker marketplaces using two real cases and gives ShareRig users a practical checklist to stay protected.

Below are two real world style cases (one from Facebook Marketplace and one from a truck marketplace chat) and a practical guide for ShareRig buyers, renters, and sellers to protect themselves.

Case 1: “PNC loan check” for a $42,500 truck | the Sunday + check setup

What happened:
A seller lists a truck and gets a buyer who says they need bank financing and will pay by a PNC issued check:

“We would need to get a loan from the bank. It would be a check from PNC bank.”

The seller immediately spots the core risk: Sunday pickup means no bank verification:

“with banks being closed on Sundays, I wouldn’t be able to verify the validity of the check.”

Then comes a common social engineering move: extra personal details meant to build trust and soften your defenses:

“My husband is a firefighter and Sunday is his next free day… committed to working an adaptive ski clinic…”

And a second trust hook: a “bank manager” offers to “confirm it’s legit”:

“The bank manager is willing to talk to you to confirm its legit…”

Why this raises eyebrows:
• Scams often push you toward a time when you cannot verify money (weekends, nights).
• Scammers offer a “verification” method that they control (incoming call, their check, their story).
• They provide credibility signals that are not necessary for a truck purchase (job titles, volunteering, scheduling drama).

Even commenters called it out bluntly:

“The check will be fake … that’s why they are doing it on Sunday.”

The safe move the seller eventually makes: independently verifying the branch number and meeting at the bank is safer than “trusting a call,” but the key lesson stays the same: a check can look real and still create risk if you hand over the truck before funds are truly secured.

Case 2: “$300 refundable holding fee” | pay first, see the truck later

What happened:
A buyer asks normal questions: weekly payments, monthly payments, lease duration, purchase option.

Soon, the conversation turns into a paywall: a $300 “refundable holding fee” is required before the buyer can see the truck location or even review full documents.

“To secure the truck, we require a $300 refundable holding fee. Once received, I’ll send the full payment schedule and lease to own form.”

When the buyer asks for the address to inspect the truck first:

“First can you send me the address so I can stop by and check the trucks ?”

They get a hard no:

“truck inspections and location details are provided only after the $300 refundable holding fee is completed.” 

And the “refundable” payment method is Zelle:

“We currently accept Zelle. Please note the $300 is fully refundable…”

Why this is a big red flag:
Legit operations can require appointments, proof of insurance, or an application. But hiding the address and paperwork until after you send money is backwards.

Here we have a classic deposit scam structure:
• “Refundable” is easy to promise.
• Zelle is hard to reverse.
• No address means you cannot verify inventory, business location, or legitimacy before you pay.

This is the second scam on trucker marketplaces pattern to memorize: “Pay first to verify later.”

The ShareRig Scam Signal Guide (use this every time)

1) Any deal that tries to control the timeline is trying to control you

Scammers love urgency and off hours.

Watch for:
• “Can you meet Sunday?”
• “We have to do it today.”
• “Banks are closed but it is fine.”

Case 1 shows the core risk clearly:

“with banks being closed on Sundays, I wouldn’t be able to verify the validity of the check.”

Rule: If money cannot be verified in real time, do not transfer title, keys, or possession. This is how many scam on trucker marketplaces losses happen.

2) “Trust building details” can be a manipulation tool

Personal backstory is not proof. It can be a tactic.

Case 1 example:

“My husband is a firefighter… committed to working an adaptive ski clinic…”

In real deals, buyers ask about the truck (maintenance, inspection, title, VIN, specs). When the conversation leans hard into personal credibility signals, slow down.

Rule: Trust documents and verifiable steps, not emotional credibility.

3) “Bank manager will call you” is not verification

Incoming calls can be spoofed or routed through a scammer controlled number.

Case 1 setup:

“The bank manager is willing to talk to you to confirm its legit…”

Rule: You call the bank using the official number you look up yourself. Never rely on a number they provide or an incoming call as “proof.”

4) “Pay first to get the address | see the truck | read the documents” is a top tier red flag

This is the big one.

Case 2 is explicit:

“truck inspections and location details are provided only after the $300 refundable holding fee is completed.”

And it is paired with:

“We currently accept: Zelle… fully refundable…”

Rule: No address + no inspection + no paperwork until after money moves equals walk away. This is a textbook scam on trucker marketplaces setup.

5) “Refundable holding fee” + Zelle is a dangerous combo

Refundable does not mean enforceable.
Zelle is not escrow.

Case 2:

“To secure the truck, we require a $300 refundable holding fee…”
“We currently accept:Zelle…”

Rule: If they require a deposit, tie it to:
• a real business identity,
• written terms,
• and a payment method with buyer protections (or a formal escrow process).

6) If the other party refuses reasonable verification, you already have your answer

In Case 2, the buyer asks a normal question:

“First can you send me the address so I can stop by and check the trucks ?”

Refusal comes immediately:

“location details are provided only after the $300…”

Rule: Legit sellers do not fear verification. Scammers do.

Practical “Do This Instead” Playbook (buyers, renters, sellers)

These are real world, street tested steps that reduce your risk across the most common truck marketplace scams (fake deposits, fake checks, identity spoofing, title games, “shipper” setups, and bait and switch listings). Following these steps helps you avoid most scam outcomes on trucker marketplaces.

When selling a truck (cash sale or financed buyer)

• Do the deal at the buyer’s bank during business hours. If they’re using financing, the cleanest flow is: teller or loan officer issues the cashier’s check while you’re physically there. If they cannot do that, you slow down.
• Avoid “Sunday” or after hours handoffs. If the bank is closed, you lose your best verification tool.
• No title, keys, or release until payment is secured on your side. A cashier’s check can still be fraudulent or reversible in edge cases (stolen account, altered instrument). Treat “looks real” as not enough until you’re comfortable.
• You call, never trust an inbound “bank” call. Look up the number independently and ask for the person by name and branch.
• Use a bill of sale and photo ID match. Take a photo of the buyer’s ID (where legal), confirm the name matches the bill of sale, and note the driver’s license number on the bill of sale.
• Verify the buyer is the buyer. If “my cousin is picking it up” appears late in the conversation, treat it as a major red flag unless everything is documented and the bank confirms the authorized party.
• Watch for the “overpay + refund” setup. If they send “too much” and ask you to return the difference, stop immediately.
• Don’t hand over the truck for a “pending wire.” Screenshots of wire confirmations are easy to fake. Wait until your bank confirms final receipt.
• Keep your listing communication on platform. Scammers often use off-platform pushes to avoid (“text me,” “WhatsApp,” “email only”) to avoid reporting and platform fraud detection.

If you’re buying or leasing (especially from “dealers” you don’t know)

• Never pay a fee just to receive an address, see inventory, or read documents. Legit businesses can schedule appointments without pre payment. “Pay first, verify later” is the scammer’s favorite trade.
• If a deposit is required, insist on:
  • a written invoice with the business legal name + refund terms,
  • a verifiable physical address,
  • and a payment method with protection (credit card or a formal invoicing system). Be extremely cautious with “refundable” deposits via Zelle.
• Ask for the VIN early and verify it yourself. Run a history report and check if the VIN appears on other listings (duplicate scam listings often recycle VINs/photos).
• Demand a live walk around video. Ask them to show: VIN plate, odometer, exterior, engine bay, and a specific “today only” proof (for example, hold up a paper with your name and date). Scammers usually can’t comply.
• Confirm the location matches the story. If they claim Boston but the number is Texas, or the lot address doesn’t exist on Google Maps, treat it as high risk.
• Beware the “too good to be true” pricing + urgency combo. Underpriced units paired with “someone else is coming today” is a classic pressure tactic.
• Get terms before money moves. Lease to own, weekly payment, and buyout terms should be in writing before any “holding fee.” 
• Inspect before committing. If you cannot inspect in person, use a third party inspection service or a trusted mechanic near the truck’s location.
• Don’t send sensitive documents until legitimacy is confirmed. A scammer’s next move after “deposit” is often “send your driver’s license, insurance, and proof of address.”

If you’re renting (short term or weekly programs)

• Verify who owns the truck and who can legally rent it. Ask for proof of ownership or authorization and match names across the agreement, insurance certificate, and ID.
• Confirm insurance requirements in writing. Many scams use “insurance confusion” to extract fees or shift liability onto you.
• Use a written rental agreement and document condition. Photos or video walk through at pickup and drop off protect both sides.
• Avoid “delivery only” rentals with upfront off platform payments. If they won’t let you see the unit or meet at a verifiable address, walk.

Universal “walk away” triggers (for any deal)

• “Pay first, then I’ll send the address / paperwork.”
• “Here’s a check photo, deposit it now.”
• “My shipper/cousin will pick it up.”
• “I’m out of town / in the hospital / on a shift, but we have to do this today.”
• Any refusal to do basic verification steps.

Final takeaway

Both cases have the same backbone: they try to move money first and verification later.
Case 1 uses “bank check + timing” pressure:

“banks being closed on Sundays…”

Case 2 uses the “refund fee” gate:

“provided only after the $300 refundable holding fee is completed.”

That is the scammer’s favorite trade: your risk for their convenience.

For a deeper dive on private-party truck deals (payment methods, meet-up rules, paperwork, and the most common ways people get played, read Trucks for Sale by Owner: How and Where to Buy Without Getting Burned

Ready to find a truck the safer way?

Browse Buy and Rent listings on ShareRig and keep your deal process disciplined from first message to final handoff.

And no matter where you shop: be careful for the signals in this guide: off hours pressure, incoming “bank calls,” extra trust building stories, and especially any request to pay before you can verify the truck, location, or paperwork.