He Wired $77,300 For A Lexus That Never Existed, And A Real Dealer Got The Blame
A man in North Carolina lost $77,300 to a scam where a fake seller cloned a legitimate dealership's website using AI tools. The scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and industry experts warn that such scams are now happening multiple times a week.
A North Carolina man lost $77,300 after paying for a Lexus GX 550 that didn't exist. The scammer posed as a representative of T&T Vehicle Sales, a legitimate used-car dealer, and sent photos, details, and documentation to build trust. The scam ended when the buyer sent the payment. AI-powered cloning scams are on the rise, with scammers creating full-scale replicas of dealership websites, complete with inventory and staff photos. Industry experts say these scams are happening multiple times a week and may be costing Americans millions of dollars each month. Dealers are also becoming victims as angry customers leave negative reviews, thinking they were scammed. To avoid being scammed, buyers are advised to verify dealerships by calling listed phone numbers and cross-checking URLs, and to be wary of requests for quick payment or wire transfers.
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