Tips to avoid getting scammed by ‘curbers’ when buying a used car
Posted November 6, 2014 6:54 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – As we head into the holiday season, it’s becoming prime time for scammers and crooks.
In the first of this four-part series aimed at saving you some heartache, we’re taking a look at how to avoid being “taken for a ride” when buying a used car.
Seamus Gordon with the Better Business Bureau in BC says you have to be mindful of “curbers,” which are “people advertising cars that have very questionable history or vehicles that don’t even exist.”
“Individuals that don’t have our best intentions in mind are using local papers and Craigslist ads to advertise vehicles for sale. If you ask about a car and they say ‘Which one?’ that’s kind of a sign that it could be a curber,” he tells us.
So, is there anything you can do to avoid curbers?
“Make sure it’s actually in the seller’s name. Ask for identification. Ask them other things, like ‘How long have you owned the car?” he suggests.
To help spot a shady deal, Gordon recommends checking out the Vehicle Sales Authority website and stick with reputable dealers.
“Unfortunately, if you’re [the victim of] a curber, it’s incredibly hard to get your money back,” he notes.
Listen next Wednesday evening/Thursday morning for tips on avoiding falling prey to shady online schemes and characters.
