Woman victim of fake online car purchase

MOSES LAKE - A Moses Lake woman was duped out of $3,000 while attempting to purchase a vehicle over the Internet.

The woman told Moses Lake police she wired the money to a seller she reportedly found on Cars.com, which bills itself as the leading destination for online shoppers of new and used vehicles.

The seller, "George Grays," allegedly said he was going to ship the car to her, but more than a week later the victim hasn't received the vehicle, according to a police report. The seller's phone number is now disconnected and Grays does not return emails, the report states.

Police are now trying to track down the seller's location, at which time they can work in tandem with law enforcement agencies "on the other end of the line" to further pursue the case, said Moses Lake Police Capt. Dave Sands.

The Moses Lake Police Department receives reports of online fraud cases involving big ticket items like this about once a month, according to Sands.

"Usually when it does happen it's for a big chunk of change," he said.

Online buyers may feel that they're being sufficiently cautious by going through a well-known online company, but Sands said fraudulent sellers often find ways to sneak through the filters imposed by such web sites. 

Cars.com reportedly puts all liability for such incidents on the site user.

"You expressly agree that use of the site and reliance on its content is at your own risk," the site's terms of service states. "Cars.com and the affiliates make no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, to any actual or prospective purchaser or owner of any vehicle as to the existence, ownership or condition of the vehicle or as to the accuracy or completeness of any information about a vehicle advertised on the site."