Scammers are spoofing car dealership websites: What you need to know
Scammers set up fake car dealership websites that look like real ones. Buyers think they are ordering from a legitimate dealer but are actually sending money to criminals.
How it works
You find what appears to be a car dealership website online and browse inventory. You select a vehicle and submit an order along with payment information or a deposit. The scammer takes your money and disappears. When you show up at the real dealership to pick up your car, the dealer has no record of any sale or payment.
Red flags to watch for
- Website URL is slightly different from the real dealership's official site
- Prices are suspiciously lower than other dealers offer
- Dealer asks for payment or deposit before you visit in person
- No phone number or address listed on the website, or they don't match the real dealership
- Site looks like it was hastily copied from the real dealership
What to do
Before buying a car online, visit the dealership's official website directly by typing the URL yourself, not by clicking a link in an email or ad. Call the dealership using the phone number on its official site to confirm any online order or price quote. Never send money or payment information to a website unless you have independently verified it is legitimate. If you think you've been scammed, report it to reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.
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Source: FTC . Scam Sentinel summarizes official guidance in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.