Spanish vehicle recyclers call on Wallapop to tighten controls over parts scams

Spanish vehicle recyclers are calling for tighter controls on online parts sales after fraudsters impersonated authorised dismantlers, stole images and company details, and took payments for parts that were never delivered. AEDRA wants marketplaces such as Wallapop to verify professional sellers and make authorised vehicle recycling businesses clearly identifiable to consumers.

Used vehicle parts stored at an automotive recycling facility in Spain. — Image credit: Envato Elements

Spain’s vehicle recycling sector is calling on Wallapop to introduce stronger seller verification after cases in which fraudsters have impersonated authorised vehicle recyclers, used stolen photographs and business details, and taken payment for recycled vehicle parts that are never delivered.

Spanish Authorised Treatment Centres (CATs) have formally asked online marketplace Wallapop to strengthen controls over sellers offering used vehicle parts, following continuing reports of fraud affecting both consumers and legitimate recycling businesses.

The initiative is backed by the Spanish Association for Automobile Dismantling and Recycling (AEDRA), which represents more than 600 vehicle dismantlers in Spain.

According to AEDRA, criminals have been using the identities, photographs and company information of legitimate CATs to gain buyers’ trust before taking payment for parts that are never supplied.

Five measures proposed to Wallapop

The sector has put forward five measures that it wants Wallapop to introduce:

Verify accounts selling vehicle parts professionally or regularly.
Require company tax identification, contact details and the seller’s CAT authorisation number.
Create a specific category for parts supplied by authorised CATs.
Remove fraudulent advertisements and profiles quickly.
Establish a dedicated reporting channel through which businesses can report suspected fraud and provide supporting evidence.

AEDRA President Germán Catoira said the sector is not seeking to prevent recycled vehicle parts being sold through Wallapop, but wants buyers to be able to identify legitimate professional sellers.

“We are not asking for the door to be closed to the sale of spare parts on Wallapop. We are asking for those who sell them professionally to be clearly identified and for there to be controls that make it possible to distinguish an authorised CAT from someone using its identity to commit fraud,” he said.

Fraudsters impersonating legitimate recyclers

AEDRA says several methods are being used.

One involves advertising sought-after vehicle parts at prices significantly below normal market levels, using photographs and company details taken from legitimate dismantlers.

Once a buyer makes contact, the fraudster can provide a falsified proforma invoice carrying the details of the genuine CAT before requesting payment by bank transfer. The payment goes to an unrelated account, and the promised part never arrives.

In more sophisticated cases, criminals have cloned the websites of legitimate CATs, reproducing their branding and company information to make the operation appear genuine.

The problem is causing financial losses for buyers while leaving the legitimate vehicle recycler to deal with customers who believe they have purchased a part from the business.

Javier Goñi of Desguaces y Recuperaciones Valdizarbe previously reported receiving hundreds of calls from people affected by the fraud. According to AEDRA, fraudulent transactions identified by recyclers have included sums of €700, €2,700 and €3,200.

Jon Ceberio of Desguaces Vidaurreta has also warned of the reputational damage caused when a legitimate recycler’s identity is used without its knowledge.

Protecting buyers and legitimate recyclers

For AEDRA, seller verification would help consumers distinguish between authorised professional vehicle recyclers and individuals whose identity or the origin of their parts cannot be established.

“When someone buys a part believing they are doing so from an authorised dismantler, they have the right to know who is behind the transaction and where the part comes from,” Catoira said. “Seller verification is the simplest way to protect the consumer and, at the same time, prevent the names of our members being used to commit fraud.”

AEDRA has warned that if adequate controls are not introduced and the fraudulent activity continues, the sector will provide the relevant information and documentation to the competent authorities for investigation.

In the meantime, buyers are being advised to confirm that sellers are authorised CATs, be wary of unusually low prices and contact the dismantler directly before making a bank transfer if its details appear on an advertisement or invoice.

The issue also raises a wider concern for the recycled vehicle parts market. As more parts are sold through online marketplaces, reliable seller identification and traceability are becoming increasingly important for protecting buyers and maintaining confidence in professional vehicle recycling businesses.

Source: AEDRA, 18 September 2026 – Los CATs piden a Wallapop que verifique a quienes venden recambios de coche para frenar las estafas.