CREVE COEUR (25News Now) -- The new year brings new scams, and Illinois Secretary of State Alexis Giannoulias is warning Illinoisans about what they may encounter while shopping for used vehicles.
In December, the National Highway Traffic Safety said Carfax ranked Illinois the fifth-highest state in the nation, with 79,000 cars discovered with rolled-back odometers.
Tazewell Motors in Creve Coeur is no different. Owner David Norman said they have experienced two incidents of used car scams.
“We had people claiming to be affiliated with the dealership, selling cars to the public. Lying about their involvement with the dealership or being affiliated with us,” said Norman.
He said one of the main ways scammers lure their victims is through social media.
“In Facebook and Craigslist specifically, you don’t know who you’re dealing with, people use fake names,” said Norman.
With tax season coming, Norman said now is when scams are the most frequent.
“People often use the money to buy a car outright or put it as a down payment on a more expensive car. That’s when you see the scamming and the fraudulent behavior because more people are purchasing them,” said Norman.
He advised consumers to check if their state identification matches their car title before buying a vehicle from a private owner.
“It is more valuable buying from a dealer. Vehicles under 150,000 in Illinois are required to have a short warranty on them,” said Norman.
He added that those encountering scammers should call their local law enforcement or the Illinois Secretary of State Police.
