Fraud for selling online vehicles; Wisconsin DMV warns consumers

Madison, wis. – Wisconsin The Department of Transport (WISDOT) The Division of Vehicles (DMV) mentioned on Monday, February 24, a disturbing tendency of the number of scams by vehicle sellers presenting as an online car dealers.

The dealer and the DMV agent section follows this activity, investigates consumers ‘complaints and offers customers’ advice.

How the scam works

What do they say:

The DMV dealer and the head of the agent section, Maura Schifalacqua, talk about how the deception is played.

“The fraud scheme starts online as a fake store. An individual creates a website or social media profile that claims to be an Wisconsin dealership. Stock images or photos with real and real vehicles Wisconsin The distributions are included for the site to look legitimate. However, there is nothing legitimate in this regard. Advertising vehicles can be listed at the market value below, causing consumers interested in taking the bait. “

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There are similarities to each case known as dealers’ cloning: false websites or social pages, cars with prices below market value and without personal contact with the seller. Wisconsin DMV is aware of several cases that follow this pattern, with fraudulent web sites or Facebook profiles claiming it is legitimate Wisconsin dealers.

“In a case, the business never existed,” said Schifalacqua. “In many cases, the frauduler interacts with the consumer by phone or E -mail. The buyer could receive a sale invoice and several photos of a vehicle and agrees to buy by wire transfer, believing that the seller will deliver their car. After the transfer of wire is completed, the seller stops all the contact, and the client finally realizes that he has become a victim of fraud.

Consumer advice

What do we know:

WISDOT recommends taking the following precautions to keep safe while buying a vehicle from a dealer:

• Watch numerous spelling or grammatical errors on the seller’s site or handled photos of a business or vehicle. This could be headed to a cloned dealer site or a non -professional dealer (and possibly unscrupulous).
• Research the dealer before time, including checking the phone number, address, Email and other contact information.
• Review Wisdot’s active dealers list to verify authorized dealers, wisconsindmv.gov/dealerist. The list includes vehicles and motorcycle dealers that are properly authorized to sell. This list is updated daily and is available to the public.
• Review Information to buy vehicles on Wisdot’s website.
• Visually inspect the vehicle before buying and inspecting the necessary Wisconsin The buyer’s guide.
• Ensure the sales dealer uses a vehicle purchase contract as required by Wisconsin justice.
• Refrain from sending money by buying gift cards or other suspected payment methods encouraged by the seller.
• If you want to make a wire transfer to the seller’s bank, check the bank’s contact information independently. You can inform the bank you want to check the seller’s legitimacy before sending a wire transfer.
• If something does not feel good, remove -you from purchase.

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What happens if you become a victim?

What can you do:

If you are the victim of a scam that involves a sale of vehicles, you can:

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