8 ways to avoid getting scammed when buying a car online

• Consumers are increasingly turning to the internet to make car purchases.
• Scam artists take advantage of car shoppers in several ways, and people should always be on the lookout for deals that look too good to be true.
• We asked the Better Business Bureau for tips people can use to avoid getting scammed when they're shopping for a car online.

As commerce continues its evolution to the digital world, consumers are starting to buy cars online in large numbers.

While most drivers still head to the lots for their future cars, buyers are increasingly checking websites for new, used, and collector cars. And just like in other parts of the online world, scam artists are looking for car shoppers to take advantage of.

The Better Business Bureau has general guidelines to avoid falling for online scams, and many of them apply to shopping for cars online, said Katherine Hutt, director of communications for the BBB.

“It’s a simple list. If everybody does the 10 suggestions, we’d drastically reduce the number of scams," Hutt told Business Insider.

Here are eight tips to avoid falling prey to online car sales scams.

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Do your shopping on reputable websites

Craigslist has long been a go-to marketplace, but Hutt called the site the Wild West of the internet.

The site might have plenty of listed car deals, but it’s a crapshoot if they’re real or in good shape. There are no consumer protections on Craigslist, so it’s important to use discretion.

“People do have successful transactions on Craigslist,” she said. “You just have to be careful. There are buyers and sellers, but also scammers.”

Never send money without meeting

Many scams will ask for money upfront, and plenty of people are happy to ship money over with the promise of their dream car.

The scammer might ask for a wire transfer, a prepaid debit card, or a gift card before even meeting to ensure they don’t “sell” to someone else.

A seller should be OK meeting first before making the sale.

Don’t believe picture you see

A picture says a thousand words. But those words can also be a lie.

“Don’t believe everything you see,” Hutt said.

Remember, photos can be edited and details smudged.

Also, just because a car looks pristine on the outside, it doesn't mean everything is in OK under the hood. Be sure to get a car checked out by a trained mechanic to make sure it’s not a lemon.