Scammers impersonate car dealerships by cloning a real auto dealer’s website including brand logos, vehicle listings, and photos. They even describe the buying process in detail and offer flexible return policies. Here’s how to protect yourself from this scam or any other ‘ghost’ item purchase:
– Search online for the dealer’s name with “scam,”, “review,” or “complaint.”
– Don’t provide payment until the item is viewed in person.
– Never pay via wire or bank transfer. Use protected methods like cashier’s check, personal check, or credit card.
– Watch out for “too good to be true” deals.
If you know someone who has been scammed, report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI at ic3.gov.
