If you have advertised a car for sale you can be 95% sure that you have been contacted by some type of scammer. People contatct us repetedly with out cries of horror about these scams. But the truth is, everyone is being contacted and if you are not careful, you will be taken.

Don't be scared. Selling a car online is as safe as walking down your own street. But you would not walk down the street blindfolded or cross in heavy traffic. Its just common sense, but when people go to sell online, the prospect of money seems to send their common sense to the trash.

PHISHING - (pronounced fish·ing) is the act of sending mass amounts of e-mail to anyone that is selling a product or advertising a service. If only a small number of people bite the hook, they have their catch for the day.

If you have any ads online and have not been contacted by a scammer, you are one of the few. Since the cost of sending an e-mail is "Free" the scammer has no loss in trying to contact you. The trick is to recognize the scammer and avoid being taken.

We have prepared these notes on advertising security and how to protect yourself from being scammed.

More About Phishing & How To Report It

Scammer e-mails - You can read these mails and see if any sound familiar. You will see very specific patterns and practices that make the seller an obvious theif.

How to protect your personal information

How to recognize a scam - Its almost too obvious. The trouble is getting people to accept the fact that it is a scam. Most people would rather believe its real than admit they are not about to get a load of cash.

Buy $100 Goverment Vehicles at Auction - Car Scammers have been around as long as cars have been in existance. We have all seen the ads for Government auctions selling cars for $100. Contrary to the ads, here is that the Federal Trade Commission has to say aout it.