Watch out for prices that are too good to be true. It’s probably a scam. Scammers know that used cars are in high demand, and they will tempt shoppers with great deals. Contact the seller by phone. As early as possible, speak to the seller on the phone and ask plenty of questions.

Buying a used car instead of a new one can save you some money. But if you're not careful, you could fall victim to a shady dealer or private seller. Common used car scams include curbstoning, title washing, odometer rollbacks, VIN cloning and lowballing. While some scammers' efforts may be obvious, others take some serious sleuthing to uncover.

Scammers often create fake online listings for vehicles they don’t actually own. They may use stolen photos and descriptions to lure unsuspecting buyers into making payments for a car that doesn’t exist. Always be wary of deals that seem too good to be true and verify the legitimacy of the seller before proceeding.

Online car-buying scams come in the form of fake ads, gift card ripoffs, fraudulent wire transfers, title washing, "curbstoning," identity theft, fake escrows, payment plans and phony checks. The financial toll of these scams adds up to millions of dollars a year.