Buyer beware: Spotting a scam when looking for a new car

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - State law enforcement officials are warning residents to use caution when purchasing a vehicle.

This comes after a vehicle stolen out of Missouri was located in a Facebook Marketplace deal in Wichita. The key red flag officials say you should know, if a deal is too good to be true it probably is.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A public information officer Justin Howard said Marketplace scams are on the rise at the same time as tax season. This can lend itself to a serious surge in new car scams.

“A lot of times with a fraudulent title or a fraudulent sale we see those vehicles listed on Carfax and they have no history. That should be a large red flag for consumers,” he said.

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If purchasing something online, do your due diligence to the person you’re talking with is who they say they are. If meeting in person, make sure you’re collecting as much documentation as possible. These actions may require time and even a few extra dollars on the buyer’s side, but with a large investment like a car, Kansas Highway Patrol says it’s worth it.

“I think you should demand to see a full VIN before you go look at the car so you can do your own research and I know the National Insurance Crime Bureau has a free website. There’s also Carfax I know it costs but if you have access to it, you can run it through Carfax,” Travis Jones with KHP said.

The NICB vin check can be accessed here. KHP has an online resource here for anyone looking to buy a new car that can help you prevent issues when buying a new car.

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