Fake dealership websites are taking payments for nonexistent cars

How the cloned-dealership scam works

The Federal Trade Commission's September 1 consumer alert says scammers are impersonating legitimate auto dealers with websites that copy the real business's branding, vehicle photos, listings, and other details. Some add fake testimonials and detailed return policies to make the site look established.

The buyer is then asked to pay in advance for a car that the legitimate dealership does not have a record of selling. Rare, classic, or hard-to-find vehicles can make the false listing feel urgent, but scarcity is not proof that a seller or car is genuine.

Verify the business and the vehicle separately

Do not rely only on the name, phone number, reviews, or photographs shown on the listing site. A cloned site can reuse all of them. Find the dealership through an independent source, contact it through independently verified information, and ask whether it owns the advertised vehicle and recognizes the salesperson.

The FTC recommends seeing the car and dealership in person when possible. For a distant vehicle, ask to hire an independent mobile inspection service. A refusal to allow an inspection is a reason to stop the transaction.

Treat wire-only payment demands as a stop sign

The FTC specifically tells shoppers to walk away when the purported dealer insists on upfront payment by wire transfer only. Do not let a low price, a promised refund window, or pressure from the supposed seller replace independent verification.

Before paying, keep copies of the listing, written price, buyer's order, vehicle identification number, seller identity, and payment instructions. Those records do not prove a sale is legitimate, but they can help when reporting suspected fraud.

What to do if the listing looks fraudulent

• Stop communicating and do not send additional money or identity documents.
• Contact the legitimate dealership through independently verified contact information and tell it about the impersonating site.
• Contact the financial institution or payment provider immediately if money has already been sent and ask what recovery steps may still be available.
• Report the incident at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and preserve the website address, messages, receipts, and payment details.