Buyers looking for a deal on a vintage ride or heavy machinery are the latest targets of a high-tech shell game. The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office issued an urgent warning this week regarding a wave of fraudulent websites that perfectly mimic legitimate dealerships to swindle unsuspecting shoppers out of thousands.
These operations are far from the sloppy scams of the past. Investigators say fraudsters are now building polished websites, fielding professional phone calls, and even sending fake business licenses or “walk-around” videos of equipment they don’t actually own.
The hook is almost always a price tag that looks like a steal, but state officials say the only thing being stolen is the buyer’s money. Once a wire transfer is sent, the seller vanishes and the vehicle—which never existed in their inventory—is never delivered.
“Too many of us know firsthand what it’s like to see bad actors scam family members out of their hard-earned money,” Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement. “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 high-value items like vehicles or heavy equipment.”
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The Division of Consumer Affairs is urging anyone in the market for a vehicle to prioritize in-person inspections. If a buyer is out of state, the state recommends hiring an independent local mechanic to verify the machine is real and in the stated condition before any cash changes hands.
To avoid falling into these traps, the Attorney General’s Office released several red flags. Buyers should be wary of any seller who refuses standard payment methods, like credit cards or checks, in favor of untraceable options such as cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers through Western Union. Additionally, scammers often hijack the names and addresses of businesses that have recently closed to appear established on paper.
The state suggests cross-referencing any business through the Tennessee Secretary of State’s entity search or checking the Better Business Bureau for a history of complaints. For those who believe they have already been targeted, the Attorney General advises filing a report immediately with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the state’s own consumer affairs website.
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