Scam Targeting Online Car Buyers

TAYLOR, Mich. (WJBK) - It's the most popular source of classified ads in the world, but some local crooks are using Craig's List to steal thousands of dollars from dozens of people. It's a growing problem that's happening so often Detroit Police are warning buyers to beware.

The car 19-year-old college student Katlyn Medler bought in May for a grand is stolen. She actually paid a thousand dollars for a junk car. It's all part of a scam crooks are orchestrating via Craig's List.

"I'm shocked. I feel that I was taken advantage of. My money, my time, just my good intentions were destroyed," Medler said.

Here's how it works: The crooks spend about a hundred bucks on a junk car and get a title and a key. Then they steal a similar car and advertise it as for sale on Craig's List.

"They will take the VIN plate out of (the junk) car and they will put it inside the stolen car," said Detroit Police Officer David Jakeway. "So, when they go sell it to you or someone else, they have a title, but it's the title to (the junk car), not the car that your actually purchasing."

However, you have no idea until you get an abandoned vehicle notice from the police about the junk car they found somewhere that's titled in your name. Meanwhile, the stolen car you think you own sits in your driveway.

"I was confused when I got the notice. I was like what's going on. This is my first car I'd ever bought," Medler said. She didn't know what to look for, but police say there are some red flags.

Check the VIN plate and the sticker on the door. Do they match? Do they look tampered with?

Ask the seller for identification and have that person sign the title right in front of you.

Then there's the key. The crooks are switching ignitions. "They will actually remove the ignition, put that in the stolen car so that they do have a key that operates the stolen car," said Jakeway. However, that key does not unlock the car doors or the trunk of the stolen car. Make sure you check that.

Also, look at the ignition. Does it look tampered with? An officer removed the ignition from Medler's vehicle with little effort.

Now, cops have to confiscate the stolen car. Police say the scam is becoming more and more common and buyers need to beware.

19-year-old Camille Randolph just learned she is also a victim. The college student and working mother was scammed out of $1,300.

"I bought this car off Craig's List and turns out it was stolen," Randolph said. "I had no idea."

"Craig's List is not warranting the people that ad there. They assume that the people are honest people conducting an honest business and that's not always a good assumption, but it's all that they can go on," said Detroit Police Chief Warren Evans.

That's why it's so important for the buyer to know the red flags. Chief Evans tells FOX 2 many of these cases involve Chrysler producers, so that's another potential warning sign.

If you can help out either of the victims in this story with another car, click here to send us an e-mail .