AI is already better than humans at a lot of things. Which is like, fine. That’s why we made AI in the first place, right? To do jobs we’re bad at, like doing math really quickly.
The bad news: AI is better than humans at committing crimes too – like creating scams. According to this investigation by WIRED, AI is just flat-out better at building trust with victims than human scammers are. Not just cheaper or faster. Plain better. More convincing. It doesn’t get impatient, never breaks character, and never slips up the way a human con-artist does from time to time.
So if you’re shopping for cars online, here’s what you need to know about these new AI-powered scams.
Old Signs Are No Longer Reliable
You know the drill. A “seller” who wants a wire transfer before you’ve even seen the title. Broken English and probably some mismatched photos. A price that’s too good and a story that’s just slightly too detailed. Experienced shoppers already know these are dead giveaways.
Well, AI erases all of it and instead creates the perfect salesman. A scammer who knows maybe 20 English words can ask AI to generate a spotless listing once you get to chat with them. Then, while you’re chatting, their replies seem real, friendly, and professional.
In a weird, twisted way, a few red (or at least orange) flags might actually be green flags nowadays. They at least show that you’re talking to a real person, flaws and all.
But even then, scammers are smart. They know that you might be looking for little imperfections that prove you’re dealing with an actual, fallible human.
The solution? Don’t rely on texts. Call them!
At least that’s what I would’ve said if not for the fact that…
It’s Not Just Text Anymore, Either
AI has gotten so advanced, that voice-cloning and video tools can make a fake phone call sound pretty convincing now. Just the other day, I was watching a walk-around of a car – only to find that it was AI and that the car doesn’t exist.
Thankfully, at least as of now, most AI videos can still feel a tad uncanny, and most people who are more internet-savvy can likely tell the difference. A few common tells include delayed responses or mouth movements that don’t quite match.
But what about older buyers? Or someone who’s just excited, in a hurry, and not scrutinizing every frame because they finally found the exact trim and color they’ve been searching for at a great price?
And what happens a few years from now, when the tech has gotten so good that we can no longer tell the difference?
What Actually Still Works
All this simply means going back to the physical world, where AI has zero impact.
Run the VIN through Carfax or your state’s DMV yourself – don’t trust links sent by the seller. They’re likely fake sites that look like they’re running a VIN check or showing whatever clean history they want you to see. It can also be a phishing link disguised as a Carfax report, sometimes designed to grab your personal info when you enter details to “unlock” the report.
Always, always meet the person in broad daylight at their address. Watch and drive the car yourself instead of trusting a video of it running. If somebody won’t meet up, won’t let you inspect the car, or keeps pushing you toward a payment app they picked – that’s the same old scam.
These are all things you should’ve been doing before AI anyway. But now, they’re a hundred times more important.
Other Tips
Additionally, here are other things you should watch out for, even after you’ve confirmed the car and seller check out.
- Don’t send money based on urgency. A real seller with a real car isn’t going anywhere in a day.
- Secure your own connection if you’re browsing on public Wi-Fi — coffee shops, car meets, whatever. Consider downloading VPN software before you start scrolling through listings.
- Reverse-image search the listing photos. AI images and stolen stock photos get reused across dozens of fake listings.
- Skip deals that only happen through a chat app or a sketchy escrow site. If a deal genuinely calls for escrow, use a reputable, verifiable one, something like Escrow.com, which is licensed and recommended by eBay Motors.
Of course, none of this means you should stop buying cars online. The internet will always be the most convenient way to shop. But it does mean you need to be far, far more diligent than you used to be.
