Government Auction Scams (2026): Fake Seized-Car Sites, '$100 Police Car' Ads and How to Spot Them

Real government auctions are free to browse, sell at close to market value, and take payment through the auction site or the selling agency. Most government auction scams break one of those three rules.

The "$100 Police Car" Myth

Ads promising late-model cars, Jeeps or Jaguars for a few hundred dollars at "government seized car auctions" have run for decades. In 1998 the Federal Trade Commission sued six companies selling $59 guides to these auctions in "Operation Auction Guides" and said ads claiming you could buy a Jaguar at a government auction for $200 were fraudulent. In a follow-up action in 2000, the FTC said cars at these auctions typically sell for their market value.

That is still true. Retired police cars at government auctions usually sell for $1,500 to $5,000. See real police auction car prices by model.

Common Scams

Paid lists of "government seized cars"

A site charges a fee or a membership for "exclusive access" to seized car auctions. Every real government auction site is free to browse and free to register on, and GovAuctions.app is free to search. Paying for access buys you public information, if you get anything at all.

Fake look-alike auction sites

A site copies the look of a real auction or dealer and lists vehicles at low prices. The FTC warned in September 2026 that scammers are spoofing car dealership websites and asking for payment by wire. Check the address bar: the federal site is gsaauctions.gov, GovDeals is govdeals.com, Public Surplus is publicsurplus.com.

Sellers posing as police, sheriffs or marshals

A seller on a classifieds site or social media says the car is a seized vehicle being sold by a sheriff, police department or the U.S. Marshals, and asks for a deposit to hold it. Agencies sell through public auctions, not private messages. The U.S. Marshals Service says it never asks for payment by gift card, wire transfer or bitcoin.

"Shipping agent" and escrow scams

The seller says the car is already at a shipper or in a government lot and will be released once you pay a third party. The third party is the scammer.

Fake invoices after an auction

After you bid on a real site, you get an email or text with an invoice and new payment instructions. Pay only through the method shown in your account on the auction site itself.

What Real Government Auctions Never Ask For

• A fee to see listings or to "unlock" seized cars.
• Payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or wire to a personal account.
• A deposit sent by private message to hold a vehicle.
• Payment to a third-party "agent" before you collect the item.

Real sales can ask for a refundable bid deposit, certified funds on large invoices, or a buyer's premium. Those terms are shown on the listing on the auction site.

How to Check a Site Before You Pay

1. Look up who runs it. Our guide to whether the main auction sites are legit lists the owner of each. 2. Type the address yourself instead of clicking a link from an ad, email or text. 3. Find the same lot on the official site and check the price, seller and pickup location match. 4. Pay only through the official site or the agency's posted payment method.

If you have been scammed, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are government seized car auctions real?

Yes. Police departments, sheriffs and federal agencies sell seized and surplus vehicles at public auctions on sites such as GovDeals, PropertyRoom and GSA Auctions. Cars sell at close to market value, not for a few hundred dollars.

Can you really buy a police car for $100?

No. Retired police cars usually sell for $1,500 to $5,000 at government auctions. A $100 car is a non-runner, a parts car, or a scam.

Do you have to pay to access government auctions?

No. Government auction sites are free to browse and free to register. A site that charges for access to "government auction" listings is selling public information.

How do I know if a government auction site is real?

Check the domain, look up who runs it, and make sure payment goes through the site or the selling agency. Federal auctions are on gsaauctions.gov.

What should I do if I paid a fake auction site?

Contact your bank or card issuer right away, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.