Missouri Police Issue Warning About Thousands Being Stolen in a Fraudulent Car Website Scam
The Kirkwood Police Department in Missouri has issued a warning about scammers using a bogus website selling vehicles that don’t exist. Making matters worse, the fraudulent website is using a URL similar to a legitimate car dealership.
The scammer’s website used a URL very similar to Gerard Cape Auto, a legitimate car dealership. Confusing things even more, the fake website used a legitimate local address.
The fake website offered a 10-day inspection period and low-cost vehicle transportation rate of just $.60 per mile, plus a full-refund satisfaction guarantee.
Employees of the real Gerard Cape Auto reported to police that victims arrived at their front door seeking cars they had purchased. That is when authorities became aware of the scam.
Tips to avoid becoming a victim of an online auto sales scam
The Kirkwood Police Department shared six tips to avoid becoming a victim of auto sales scams.
(1) Be cautious of online vehicle listings that require full prepayment before delivery. (2) Independently verify a dealership’s official website and phone number before sending money. (3) Avoid wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or other nontraditional payment methods. (4) Be wary of unusually low transportation rates or inspection guarantees that sound overly generous. (5) Research the business through trusted sources and confirm the web address carefully. (6) When in doubt, call your local police department before completing a transaction.
If something doesn’t feel right, pause and verify before you act,” the Kirkwood Missouri Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.
Purchasing a vehicle online can be very risky
Earlier this month, police in Boerne, Texas, warned its citizens about reports of an online luxury vehicle sales scam that has victimized numerous people. Victims there said they had lost nearly $40,000 in online payments.
In Kansas City, a man was arrested for selling cars on Facebook Marketplace then allegedly stealing them back after he sold them.
“My message is to be careful,” Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said in response to that case. “I’m not telling you do not engage in the practice. You just need to be smart. You need to be careful, and you need to be diligent.”
Last month, a Pennsylvania man allegedly illegally sold vehicles on behalf of a dealership and local residents in another Facebook Marketplace scam. In that scam, the man never obtained a license to legally sell the vehicles.
