Auto Car Finder Duplicate Listings & Fraud Prevention Policy
This Policy explains how Auto Car Finder detects, reviews, flags, restricts, and enforces against duplicate listings, suspicious activity, identity abuse, and other conduct that may undermine trust in the marketplace.
1. Scope
This Policy applies to all listings, dealership profiles, seller accounts, paid promotions, and related platform activity on Auto Car Finder. It applies to private sellers, dealers, dealer groups, fleet sellers, and any other user who submits or manages listings.
2. Why this Policy exists
Duplicate listings and fraudulent behaviour create confusion for buyers, distort marketplace results, and reduce trust in the platform. This Policy exists to protect buyers, honest sellers, and the integrity of Auto Car Finder.
3. What is a duplicate listing?
A duplicate listing may include, without limitation:
- the same vehicle listed more than once by the same seller or dealership without valid reason;
- the same vehicle listed across multiple accounts in a way that misleads buyers;
- the same vehicle relisted repeatedly to manipulate freshness or visibility;
- the same vehicle advertised with materially matching photos, pricing, mileage, or identifiers under different listings;
- the same vehicle being circulated across multiple dealerships without proper disclosure or authority.
4. What is suspicious or fraudulent behaviour?
Suspicious or fraudulent behaviour may include:
- false, cloned, or misleading vehicle listings;
- copied images or copied descriptions taken from another seller or dealership;
- misuse of vehicle identifiers, VIN-related data, or stock details;
- placeholder or unavailable stock presented as genuine stock;
- bait pricing, false availability, or fake dealer identity;
- impersonation of another seller, dealership, or business;
- repeated attempts to bypass moderation, duplicate controls, or listing limits.
5. Signals we may use
Auto Car Finder may assess possible duplicates or fraud using one or more signals, including:
- VIN-related information and other vehicle identifiers;
- registration-related data where available;
- stock numbers, make, model, year, mileage, and price patterns;
- photos, image similarity, and repeated media assets;
- titles, descriptions, specification patterns, and repeated wording;
- dealer details, contact details, account relationships, and device or activity signals;
- timing, location, and posting behaviour.
No single signal is necessarily determinative. A listing may be reviewed based on one or more indicators.
6. Internal identifiers and VIN use
Auto Car Finder may collect and use VIN or similar identifiers internally for moderation, verification, duplicate detection, anti-fraud purposes, and platform integrity.
The platform may choose not to display full VIN details publicly. Internal matching or duplicate detection processes may still take place even where the VIN is hidden from public view.
7. Review and moderation actions
If a listing is flagged as a possible duplicate or fraud risk, Auto Car Finder may:
- hold the listing for review;
- delay or withhold publication;
- limit visibility or remove promotional features;
- request clarification or supporting documents;
- remove or reject the listing;
- apply a dealer-facing or admin-facing status or moderation label;
- restrict related accounts or escalate the case for manual review.
8. Dealer and seller responsibilities
Dealers and sellers must:
- only advertise vehicles they are authorised to market;
- avoid publishing duplicate or recycled listings that create buyer confusion;
- cooperate with reasonable review requests from Auto Car Finder;
- provide accurate supporting information where a listing is questioned;
- not attempt to bypass moderation, relist removed duplicates, or use alternate accounts to evade enforcement.
9. Repeated abuse
Repeated duplicate abuse, fraudulent behaviour, or attempts to evade moderation may result in stronger enforcement action, including repeated rejections, account restrictions, suspension of paid products, or full account termination.
10. Errors and false positives
Automated systems are helpful, but they are not perfect. A listing may be flagged even where there is a legitimate explanation, such as shared inventory arrangements, consignment arrangements, corrections to an existing listing, or supporting data changes.
Where appropriate, Auto Car Finder may consider clarifications and supporting evidence before taking final action.
11. Appeals and supporting documents
If your listing or account is affected under this Policy, you may contact us and provide supporting information for review. Depending on the case, we may request:
- proof of ownership or authority to advertise the vehicle;
- supporting dealership or consignment documentation;
- clarification of VIN-related or vehicle identity issues;
- evidence explaining why apparently matching listings are not improper duplicates.
Submission of an explanation does not guarantee reinstatement, but we may review the matter again where appropriate.
12. Changes to this Policy
Auto Car Finder may update this Duplicate Listings & Fraud Prevention Policy from time to time. The latest version will be published on the website with the updated revision date.
13. Contact details
Auto Car Finder (Pty) Ltd (2026/281296/07)
087-822-1096
130 St Georges Road, Observatory, Johannesburg
info@autocarfinder.co.za