“If it sounds too good to be true”: Fake auto sales rise during pandemic

by: Andrea Herrera

Posted: Sep 26, 2020 / 01:04 PM CDT / Updated: Sep 26, 2020 / 01:05 PM CDT

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Since the start of the pandemic, the Better Business Bureau warns that internet scams have skyrocketed.

Denise Groene with the BBB said many people have been falling for fake auto sales online. The biggest reason why is because the advertised prices are so low. She warned if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Often the scammers will put a photo of a vehicle online and ask for cash up front a big red flag. The pictures are usually taken from another ad so you can do a search to see if multiple people are trying to sell the same vehicle.

“You can also do a reverse image search. For example, if you find a car that you’re interested in click it into google images and see if there are any postings throughout the country for that vehicle,” said Denise Groene, State Director of BBB.

She recommends people should always ask to meet the seller and see the car in-person. Another big warning sign if you’re asked to wire money or use a gift card for the transaction.

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