Spanish scrap yard operators are calling for urgent reforms on Wallapop after a surge in fraudulent car parts listings. Criminals are impersonating legitimate businesses, leaving buyers at risk and damaging the reputation of authorized recyclers.
People looking for used car parts online in Spain are running into a new problem: scams that use the names and photos of real scrap yards to trick buyers. Criminals copy the identities of legitimate businesses, convincing customers to pay for parts that never arrive. Some buyers have lost as much as 3,200 euros in a single deal.
Spain’s network of Centros Autorizados de Tratamiento (CAT) has raised the alarm, asking Wallapop to tighten its rules for selling used parts. They warn that without better checks, the platform is making it easy for fraudsters to operate, which hurts both buyers and the reputation of the recycling industry. More than 100 authorized scrap yards have filed formal complaints with Wallapop. They want the platform to require seller verification, public disclosure of CIF and contact details, CAT authorization numbers, and faster removal of fake profiles and listings.
The problem extends beyond fraud: weak controls on Wallapop also undermine the traceability of car parts, as only authorized centers are permitted to extract and prepare components from decommissioned vehicles in Spain.
Industry representatives say the most common scam is to advertise in-demand parts at prices well below the market rate. The scammers use real photos and company details stolen from authorized scrap yards, then send fake invoices and ask for bank transfers. The money goes to accounts unrelated to the real business, and the part is never shipped. Noticias de Álava reports that these schemes have caused serious financial losses and pushed the industry to act together.
Germán Catoira, president of the sector’s business association, sums up the issue: “No pedimos que se cierre la puerta a la venta de recambios en Wallapop. Pedimos que se identifique claramente a quienes los venden profesionalmente y que exista un control que permita distinguir a un centro autorizado de quien utiliza su identidad para cometer una estafa.”
To fight these scams, the industry has listed five demands for Wallapop: verify professional or frequent sellers, require CIF, contact details, and CAT authorization numbers, create a dedicated category for CAT-sourced parts, quickly remove fraudulent ads and profiles, and set up a direct reporting channel for suspected scams. The aim is to make it clear to buyers who is a legitimate, authorized seller and who is not.
Recent Spanish news reports highlight that Wallapop is not only facing scrutiny over car parts fraud, but has also become a channel for other scams and the sale of stolen goods, reinforcing its status as both a major secondary market and a high-risk zone for online fraud.
Independent Spanish media
For buyers, the advice is simple: check that the seller is a certified CAT, be suspicious of prices that seem too low, and contact the business directly before sending any money. These steps are key to avoiding scams and identity theft.
Trust and transparency have long been issues in Spain’s automotive sector. As reported earlier, the industry has already seen major changes in ownership and oversight, raising questions about who controls the flow of parts and services.
Wallapop, a major player in Spain’s second-hand market, now faces a real test. The CATs are not asking to ban online sales, but want clear rules and proper verification. As scams become more sophisticated, how Wallapop responds will decide whether buyers and legitimate businesses can trust the platform. The future of Spain’s used parts market depends on whether digital marketplaces can protect users without shutting down the trade that keeps thousands of cars running.
