Fake U.S. dealership targets Canadian buyers

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Ambient Auto Centre in Oklahoma is reportedly scamming Canadian car buyers looking for great deals. Other than a website, the dealership doesn't appear to exist anywhere, according to Canadian and American regulators.

"It's just a complete scam," said John Cobb, an investigator with the Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle and Parts Commission. "They're trying to get a victim on the hook to wire them the money for a vehicle."

Ambient Auto Centre advertises high-end, late-model vehicles at prices well below normal on Canadian websites such as AutoTrader, Wheels, eBay, Craigslist, Kijiji, and Autocatch. It also promises to ship them all the way to Canada. None of that is true, however. Cobb said that buyers would be out of any money sent.There are no known victims of the scam at this point, but potential buyers should remain alert.

Terry O'Keefe, from the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, warns consumers to take extra precautions when buying a vehicle online: You may have no recourse if a dream deal turns into a nightmare.

Source: Winniped Free Press