- Scammers are reportedly copying websites of legitimate car dealers.
- These are designed to trick you into sending them money for cars.
- Fake websites might offer rare vehicles or low prices to lure in victims.
It feels like scams are everywhere these days, but the Federal Trade Commission has warned about a new one involving ‘fake’ dealership websites. Some of these reportedly involve ‘cloning’ a legitimate website, which can make the imposter hard to spot.
The FTC said scammers copy “brand logos, vehicle listings, and photos down to the last detail” often with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Some sites even included fake customer testimonials as part of an effort to appear more genuine.
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To entice people to send money, the government says scam sites “might advertise rare muscle cars or hard-to-find classics to lure you in.” It’s also safe to assume scammers could list cars for less than they’re actually worth to make consumers think they’re getting a deal and they need to act quick. Furthermore, to put people at ease, these ‘fake’ sites reportedly detail the buying process and promise flexible return policies.
Unfortunately for victims, they could drive out to the real dealership only to find out they’ve never heard of you and certainly never got your money.
Dealership website created by Google Gemini
Scammers appear to be trying to take advantage of the shift to online car buying, which became common in the aftermath of the pandemic. While that’s unfortunate, consumers can travel to the physical dealership before handing over any money to ensure things are legit.
If the dealership in question isn’t in driving distance, the government suggests telling them you want to hire a mobile inspection service to check out the car. If they won’t let you, the FTC says to “consider taking your business somewhere else.”
The FTC also suggested searching the dealer’s name online with the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” They went on to warn consumers to “walk away if the dealer insists on an upfront payment by wire transfer only.”