Avoid Becoming A Victim Of A Used Car Scam

There is a multitude of ways to buy a car these days, giving you many more options than in previous years.  Unfortunately, this also gives bad guys more ways to rip you off.  If you are considering purchasing a used car, there are some warning signs to be aware of that indicate that you may not be getting a legitimate deal.  If you can identify these warning signs, you lessen your chances of becoming a victim of a used car scam.

Prices That Seem Too Good To Be True Often Are

Everyone wants to get a good price on a used car, but prices that seem too good to be true are often that low to lure you into a scam.  It could be that the car is in worse shape than the seller is revealing or that they have no intention of ever delivering the car or the proper paperwork.  To ensure that the price that you are paying is a reasonable one, research the car online on one of the many vehicle-pricing sites and see what they are typically going for in good condition.

Beware If The Seller Is Far Away From The Car

Sales in which the seller and the car are not in the same place are another red flag that something may be wrong with the transaction.  There is commonly some sort of explanation that the seller is a member of the military stationed elsewhere or someone who recently relocated, but not having the seller in the same place as the car makes it difficult for the buyer to inspect the car properly and meet the seller in person.  Because of the numerous hassles involved and the danger of being taken advantage of, these sales should be avoided.

Avoid Third Party Protection Plans

One way that scammers obtain more money from their marks is by offering them third party protection plans for the cars that they are selling.  This may make the buyer more comfortable about buying the car, but they will never receive any benefit from the additional cost.  Even though the party supposedly providing the protection plan is a legitimate company, they often only cover cars sold by their company or through their websites.  You may want to avoid both the protection plan and the car the seller is attempting to sell.