INDIANAPOLISThe Federal Trade Commission issued a warning this week that scammers are cloning car dealership websites.We wanted to make sure that we put this alert right away, so that consumers could be, you know, on the lookout for this kind of situation, said Rosario Mendez, assistant director at the FTCs Division of Consumer and Business Education.Scammers are using AI to clone a real auto dealerships website including brand logos, vehicle listings, photos and customer testimonials.If you decide to buy online, the website can steal your personal information.Then you realize that it was all a scam, and there is no car waiting for you, said Mendez.When you do an internet search, Mendez says to make sure you scroll past the sponsored results. Make sure that you are able to see in person this car, and if you're far away and you can't see the car in person or confirm that there really is a dealership, if you don't have anyone that can go for you, maybe you can hire you know some of these services that do inspection services, said Mendez.The Indiana Secretary of States Office says they are actively working to combat scammers who create fraudulent websites impersonating legitimate auto dealerships."Unfortunately, these scams are occurring with alarming and increasing frequency, putting Hoosier consumers and legitimate Indiana businesses at risk. When the Secretary of State Auto Dealer Services Division receives a complaint involving a fraudulent dealership website, our team works directly with website hosting providers to have the site removed as quickly as possible. While these efforts are often successful, many of the scammers operate overseas, which can make enforcement more challenging. That is why part of our ongoing effort includes working alongside the Federal Trade Commission to strengthen our ability to protect Hoosiers. The Secretary of States Office will continue working with our state and federal partners to identify these fraudulent operations, disrupt their activity and protect Hoosiers from becoming victims of these increasingly sophisticated scams," the Secretary of State's Office said in a statement to I-Team.FTC TIPS: Search online for the dealers name with words like scam, review, or complaint. Any negative hits that come up are a red flag. Keep in mind that if the scammers are impersonating a real dealership, you might find glowing reviews. So go the extra mile ask to see the car, and the dealership, in person. If they wont let you, pump the brakes. If the car is too far for you to visit in person, tell the dealer you want to hire a mobile inspection service to check out the car. If they wont let you, consider taking your business somewhere else. ...read more read less