As a result of there being no foolproof way to prevent fraud, awareness is the best defense. Please review our information below, and use your best judgment in all transactions.
Help us stop fraud. If you receive a suspicious email or are the victim of a scam, email us and law enforcement right away.
Swapalease.com investigates submitted reports in an effort to protect our customers against future fraud. We support law enforcement agencies in the prosecution of Internet criminals and work diligently to prevent fraud.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BANKS AND LEASING COMPANIES WILL NOT CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY BY EMAIL OR TELEPHONE AND REQUEST THAT YOU PROVIDE THEM WITH SENSITIVE INFORMATION SUCH AS YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER AND/OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. ALSO NOTE THAT YOU CANNOT RELY ON YOUR CALLER ID BECAUSE SOFTWARE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED THAT GIVES CRIMINALS THE ABILITY TO FOOL YOUR CALLER ID AND HAVE IT SHOW WHOEVER THEY WISH (EX. YOUR LEASING COMPANY OR BANKING INSTITUTION).
Swapalease.com Lease Seller & Lease Buyer Common Sense Tips
Swapalease.com Common-Sense Advice for Lease Buyers
Buying or leasing a vehicle you find online is similar to buying a vehicle through a classified ad in a newspaper. In either case, you should use your best judgment and do your homework.
Correspondence
Before you provide and/or send sensitive information (such as your social security number, credit card number, and/or banking account numbers) it is important to remember that it only needs to be shared with the leasing company handling the lease transfer and not with the individual selling the lease. Also note that email communications are not secure and can easily be forwarded.
Payment market value
Be suspicious of a vehicle with a payment significantly below market value. A reasonable market value can be determined by comparing like or similar vehicles also listed at Swapalease.com.
Original lease agreement
Ask the seller for a copy of the original lease agreement in an effort to avoid confusion. Lease sellers are typically very accurate when it comes to posting their lease for transfer, but information that is entered incorrectly can equate to significant differences in the actual transfer offering.
Vehicle history report
A vehicle history report can provide useful information, such as whether the vehicle has been in an accident reported to authorities. You can also find out whether the vehicle was ever reported stolen, salvaged, and/or damaged.
Inspect the vehicle
Schedule an inspection with a professional mechanic or an inspection service if the vehicle is not in your area or otherwise difficult to inspect in person. An inspection can help you identify both potential mechanical problems as well as wear and tear related issues, too.
Payments between parties
When transferring a lease it is not unusual for money to be exchanged between the selling and buying party stemming from incentives to sweeten the deal and/or fees due the leasing company to complete the transaction. As a result it is imperative that both parties are on the same page and agree to the terms of any payments involved with a lease transfer (for example payment type, when a payment is made, and/or who is responsible for a payment).
Swapalease.com Common-Sense Advice for Lease Sellers
Selling a lease on a vehicle online is similar to selling a vehicle through a classified ad in a newspaper. In either case, you should use your best judgment and do your homework.
Correspondence
Before you provide and/or send sensitive information (such as your social security number, credit card number, and/or banking account numbers) it is important to remember that it only needs to be shared with the leasing company handling the lease transfer and not with the individual selling the lease. Also note that email communications are not secure and can easily be forwarded.
Proper Lease transferring
Be suspicious of any potential lease buyers who try and takeover your lease without going through the proper lease transfer channels designated by your leasing company. Understand that there is no other way to officially transfer your lease without the knowledge and the direction provided by your leasing company.
Lessee responsibility
As the original lessee you are one hundred percent responsible for the lease until the final lease transfer documents are signed by both you and the lease buyer (s) and the final documents are acknowledged by the leasing company as completed.
Lease agreements, reports, & inspections
It is not uncommon for potential lease buyers to request additional information that is not included within your Swapalease.com listing in order to feel comfortable moving forward with the transaction. It is perfectly reasonable to share a copy of the original lease agreement , provide information for and inspection report, and/or have the vehicle inspected professionally. However, it is ultimately up to you regarding how these matters are managed and all should be viewed as negotiable. For instance, you may opt to cross out your contact information and/or only share it with the inspection service and not the potential lease buyer.
Payments between parties
When transferring a lease it is not unusual for money to be exchanged between the selling and buying party stemming from incentives to sweeten the deal and/or fees due the leasing company to complete the transaction. As a result it is imperative that both parties are on the same page and agree to the terms of any payments involved with a lease transfer (for example payment type, when a payment is made, and/or who is responsible for a payment).
Swapalease.com only supports transfers completed by the leasing company.
Do not respond to any correspondence (email and/or telephone) that urges you to complete a lease transfer, sale, or purchase of a vehicle listed on Swapalease.com without the knowledge of the leasing company holding the original lease. A proper lease transfer can only be performed by the leasing company who originally wrote the lease on the vehicle following all of their stated guidelines, policies, and procedures.
Potential signs of fraud via email and/or telephone:
- A lease transfer without mention of the leasing company holding the lease.
- One or more of the leasing company’s lease transfer rules are not taken into consideration.
- A claim that the security of a transaction is guaranteed by Swapalease.com.
- Description of a "preferred" or "pre-approved" buyer or seller program.
- A third party stating they are acting as an agent and/or representative of an individual who is attempting to enter or exit a lease.
Swapalease.com does not guarantee or endorse transactions, and we do not get involved in the negotiations between the buying and selling parties. If you receive any suspicious correspondence including the examples described above, report it to us and to law enforcement.
Swapalease.com will not ask you for personal or financial information via email.
Online fraud typically starts with a non-legitimate email requesting personal and/or financial information. Often these non-legitimate, or scam, emails impersonate a reputable company such as Swapalease.com by illegally displaying a company's name, logo, and/or trademark.
The intent is to deceive customers into revealing information such as:
- Username and/or Password
- Social security number
- Bank account number (s)
- Bank routing number (s)
- Credit card number (s)
Swapalease.com only requires limited and pertinent information to help individuals enter and exit leases.
If you receive an email that asks for the kinds of information listed above, do not respond. Instead, report the email to us and to law enforcement.
Swapalease.com does not own or lease the vehicles listed on our site.
Swapalease.com is an online vehicle listing service that connects individuals looking to exit vehicle leases with those looking to buy or takeover vehicle leases. We are not an automotive dealership. Any listing information about a particular vehicle comes directly from the seller as opposed Swapalease.com.
If you receive an email that states that we are selling or buying a vehicle directly, please report it to us and to law enforcement.
Swapalease.com does not offer automotive warehousing or shipping services.
Any email that requests a deposit or payment for a shipment of a vehicle and/or storage in a Swapalease.com warehouse is a scam. Swapalease.com does not own a warehouse and we do not ship vehicles. Simply put, we do not get directly involved in the logistics of transactions between lease buyer and sellers.
There are many reputable warehousing and shipping services that can make long distance transactions smooth and easy. Regardless, be sure to check out the services proposed on your own. If an individual recommends a bogus warehousing or shipping service, report the seller to us and to law enforcement.
Swapalease.com reminds you to beware of fraudulent escrow services.
For a fee, an escrow service holds the buyer's payment until the seller has delivered the item purchased. Such a third-party service is designed to protect both parties from fraud. However, scammers often set up fake escrow services. They claim an affiliation with well-known companies like Swapalease.com and TRUSTe, for example, to create a false sense of security. Protect yourself by using Swapalease.com’s preferred provider, Escrow.com for secured payments.
Remember these tips before you agree to use an escrow service:
- Avoid any service that implies an affiliation or partnership with Swapalease.com unless it is Escrow.com.
- Avoid any service that claims to be operated by TRUSTe. TRUSTe doesn't operate an escrow service period.
- Verify an escrow service's legitimacy by checking with state regulators.
- Research the escrow service
- Decline the transaction if the other party insists on using an escrow service that you’re not sure about.
- Use a search engine to open the website in a different browser-don’t click on a link the seller provides
- Dial the contact number listed
- Search for the company on the BBB website.
And once you find an escrow service you're comfortable with, be sure you understand:
- What conditions must be met before the payment is released to the seller?
- What the escrow service charges?
- Which party is expected to pay the fee?
If any escrow-related email or website implies an affiliation with Swapalease.com by displaying our logo or by other means (except for our preferred provider Escrow.com), report it to us and law enforcement.
Internet Fraud Resources
Please note the site links below to learn more about Internet fraud.
Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC)
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
