The Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Dealer and Agent Section is warning car buyers to be on the lookout for fraudsters posing as dealers by cloning websites and social media profiles and accepting payments via wire transfer before cutting off contact.

“Stock images or photos of real vehicles and real Wisconsin dealerships are included to make the website seem legitimate. However, there is nothing legitimate about it. The advertised vehicles may be listed at below market value, causing interested consumers to take the bait,” writes Section Chief Maura Schifalacqua in an alert.

A WisDOT investigation triggered by consumer complaints identified a number of traits common to the cloned sites and profiles, including “numerous spelling or grammatical errors.” Officials are urging car buyers to consult the state’s online dealer directory before initiating a transaction.

Read more at WisDOT.gov