‘He preyed on us’: Pennsylvania woman loses $45,000 in sophisticated ‘dealership cloning’ scam on CARFAX — why she went ahead with the purchase even though her ‘gut’ was telling her ‘to stop’

What is dealership cloning?

The scam that ensnared Parsons is a sophisticated form of fraud called dealership cloning.

Scammers replicate the name, location, and even employee details of real dealerships to create convincing fake websites. They then upload fake listings to platforms like CARFAX, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist, often using stolen images and real VINs.

Despite being a trusted resource, CARFAX listings aren’t immune to scams. When reached for comment, the company declined to explain how it vets dealer listings.

In a statement, it said, "If CARFAX is made aware of a potentially fraudulent listing, the team acts swiftly to investigate and remove [it].”

Since Action News began investigating, the fake Specialty Auto website has been taken down. Local police and the Nebraska DMV are investigating. The FBI has also been alerted. Still, Parsons says the loss was “cataclysmic” for her family.

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How to protect yourself from dealership cloning scams

As more car sales move online, so do the risks. Here’s how to protect yourself:

• Verify the seller: Confirm the dealership’s website URL and call the dealership. Be wary of inconsistent contact details, slight misspellings or prices that are too good to be true. You can also search the dealership’s name alongside terms like “scam” or “fraud” to find any complaints.

• Avoid risky payments: Never wire money, pay with gift cards, or send cryptocurrency. Instead, use a credit card or a reputable escrow service that holds the funds until the vehicle is delivered and verified.

• Get proof of the car: Ask for a custom video to prove the seller has the vehicle. Order a VIN report independently and cross-check it with photos and seller info. If buying remotely, hire an independent mechanic to inspect the vehicle in person.

• Trust your instincts: If a deal feels too good to be true, it probably is. In Parsons’ case, her intuition told her to walk away but the scammer’s smooth demeanor made her second-guess herself.

With many legitimate dealerships and platforms moving their business online, the burden increasingly falls on consumers to vet who they’re buying from and whether the transaction is a possible scam.