Prospective car buyers are being warned of an online motoring scam by a rogue seller.
Customers have been urged to take care before giving out financial details on the internet for a vehicle without first checking the sale is authentic.
Operators of the website Motorcheck.ie claim to know of at least three people who fell for this latest con, which involves an individual copying information from an online private car advert on a motor sales website and posting the details on other sites.
The price is then cut so buyers think they are getting a bargain and when they pass over a deposit - usually about €2000 to €3000 - they neither see the car or get their money back.
Motorcheck.ie has teamed up with the
Car Buyers Guideand come up with a series of safety checks to ensure consumers are not fooled.
"We strongly advise car buyers to see the vehicle and verify its documentation and finance status before handing over any money," Shane Teskey of Motorcheck.ie said.
"We wouldn't recommend it but if you are considering a purchase 'sight unseen' one of the most important things to ask for is the chassis number along with the registration number of the car in question."
Car Buyers Guidehas published a series of tips when buying a used car, including never to buy it until first seeing it.
It is also advising that people avoid contact with prospective sellers if the offer seems too good to be true.