Scammers target personal info, not vehicles, in a twist on an old scheme, BBB says
Car owners in Calgary who are seeking to sell their rides are being victimized in a new twist on an old scheme, says a consumer group.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says the new trick consists of scammers posing as buyers, but instead of attempting to take their money or their vehicle, they want access to their victim's personal information.
"This is a twist on a scammer theme," said Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen, president and CEO of BBB Serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenay in a release. "The (fake) buyer indicates they are interested in the car, they ask the seller to supply a background check on the car using a specific website."
Any victim who falls for the trick and clicks on the link the scammer provides leaves themselves open to identity theft, O'Sullivan-Andersen says.
"The website is a scam, often created to gather credit card and personal information."
The BBB states there is a simple way to identify this type of scheme as a scam.
"Typically, the seller of the vehicle does not provide the VIN report," O'Sullivan-Anderson said, adding there are a number of well-known and trusted third party companies that provide such services.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada is one such organization that offers vehicle history reports.
"Be wary if a potential buyer asks you to purchase something from a specific website as a condition for a sale."
While selling your vehicle online is convenient and can fetch higher prices, the BBB says it also leaves you open to scammers if you aren't careful.
In addition to the phony websites, fraudsters also fall back on some of the other common tricks to win big from unsuspecting victims.
Some of those include issuing fraudulent cheques or money orders for more than the vehicle is worth and then telling the victim to keep the overage and offering a full payment for the vehicle without checking it out in person.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.