The Banks County Sheriff’s Office is seeing more people lose money to fake online ads selling cars, trucks, campers and heavy equipment that don’t exist.
What It Means For You: If you’re shopping for a vehicle or equipment online, especially on Facebook Marketplace, you could lose thousands of dollars to scammers who take your payment and never deliver what they promised.
How the Scam Works: Criminals post ads with prices that seem too good to pass up. They tell buyers they’ll ship the vehicle or equipment once payment goes through. After the victim sends money, the scammer disappears.
How to Protect Yourself: Never send money for a vehicle you haven’t seen in person. Check if the business is real by looking it up on Better Business Bureau, Google Maps, and reading online reviews. Call the seller directly to make sure they’re actually selling what’s advertised.
The Sources: Banks County Sheriff’s Office
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
