The Tennessee Attorney General Division of Consumer Affairs is warning consumers about scam websites posing as legitimate classic car and heavy equipment dealerships. Likewise, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) is warning consumers about a surge in auto scams.

According to the attorney general Division of Consumer Affairs, the scams often involve sophisticated websites advertising vehicles or heavy machinery at extremely low prices, officials said. Fraudsters may go to great lengths to appear legitimate by answering phone calls, sending videos and even providing fake business licenses. According to officials, consumers who send money will ultimately lose it because the vehicles or equipment don’t exist.

“Too many of us know firsthand what it’s like to see bad actors scam family members out of their hard earned money,” said TN Attorney General Jonathan Skirmetti. “These scammers don’t care one bit about your family’s financial well-being. Consumers should always be cautious when shopping online — especially when purchasing vehicles and heavy equipment.”

The attorney general recommends consumers inspect vehicles or equipment in person before making a purchase. If that is not possible, he said consumers should take additional precautions to verify the seller’s legitimacy.

Precautions include, but aren’t limited to the following; • Be wise. Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true;

• Use third-party inspections; • Research the business; and

• Keep your personal information private.

Consumers impacted by this scam should immediately report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at https:// www.ic3.gov.

According to the TDCI, unsuspecting consumers who agree to sell their vehicles to supposed buyers via Facebook Marketplace sometimes lose their autos to the scammers and get nothing but headaches in return.

TDCI reports the transactions usually involve:

• Individuals attempting to sell a vehicle on Facebook Marketplace are first contacted by someone claiming they want to buy the vehicle.

• A price is agreed upon. In some instances, the seller and the buyer might even contact the seller’s bank about the proposed sale.

• Then the buyer —either through a phony wire transfer or a fake cashier’s check — appears to provide the funds to the seller in order to complete the sale. In one instance a bank was contacted and the scammer provided a fake check, according to TDCI officials.

• With the worthless money in hand and believing that the deal is done, the unsuspecting seller then gives the vehicle to the buyer.

• The buyer might actually meet the seller in person.

• Days later the seller realizes that the sale is cancelled either because the cashier’s check bounces or the wire funds were rescinded by the seller.

• To make matters worse, the seller then learns that most insurance companies will not cover an auto theft that occurs via fraud.