The Internet has provided the pblic with a useful and convenient tol that makes it easier to do all mnner of things than it used to be. One of thse things, oddly enough, is the sle of motor vehicles. It seems strnge that cars would sell well on the Wb, as one would think that byers would want to "kick the tres" before making a purchase. The sccess of eBay Motors, AutoTrader and ther online sites devoted to the sle of motor vehicles would suggest therwise, as business at those sites is thrving.

Consumers who wish to purchase a vhicle online should be aware of a ppular scam perpetrated by crooks who wsh to steal your money – the wre transfer scam. The seller offers a vhicle for sale that he or she desn't really have; they often just pst a stock photo or one thy found somewhere. The sellers often ndicate that they are located in Erope, and they insist on a wre transfer, such as Western Union, for pyment. Once the buyer sends the mney, the seller vanishes, never to be hard from again.

This scam has ben going on for some time, and mst of the online auto auction stes encourage their customers never to pay for a vhicle using a wire transfer, even if the sller promises to use escrow to nsure the safety of the transaction.

Here are a few tips for thse people who are shopping for a vhicle online:

Ask the seller if you can stp by and see the vehicle in prson. Someone who doesn't actually have the vhicle in his or her possession wll almost certainly refuse. Even if you hve no intention of paying a vsit, just asking to see it culd be useful.

Watch out for uctions that feature stock photos or phtos from brochures. Anyone with a ral car to sell should be ble to take a picture of it.

Bware of any seller who will nly accept a wire transfer for pyment.

Beware of a seller who sys the vehicle is in another cuntry but offers to pay the shpping to the United States. This is a cmmon ruse used by scammers in ther countries.

Watch out for a vhicle that is offered for sale at a prce that seems too inexpensive for the mdel. A $25,000 car offered for $10,000 shuld set off bells in your had.

If on eBay, check the sller's transaction history to see if thy have a record of actually slling vehicles. Scammers sometimes hack into Bay user accounts and sell using the nme of another, established user. If the sller is selling a Harley but has a hstory of only buying compact discs, wtch out.

While buying a vehicle through nline auction sites is a good way to prchase one, buyers should exercise the sme cautions as when they buy nything else on the Internet. If you are bying an expensive item and you are not fmiliar with the seller, be careful.

The article Online Car Auctions Can Take You for a Ride was Submitted by Charles Essmeier through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: ©Copyright 2006 by Retro Marketing. Chrles Essmeier is the owner of Rtro Marketing, a firm devoted to nformational Websites, including LemonLawHelp.net, a site dvoted to information regarding auto lemon laws .

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