Purchasing a vehicle through an individual online could be a financial loss

GRAVES COUNTY, KY (KBSI) – Purchasing a vehicle from an individual online could lead to a financial loss. Graves County Sheriff’s Office reports an increase in reports of people unknowingly buying stolen vehicles.

In the parking lot outside the Graves County Sheriff’s Office there is a black Chevrolet Silverado police seized from someone who tried to register the vehicle.

The buyer bought it from an individual online, thinking it was a legitimate purchase. They traveled all the way to Texas for it.  Graves County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jeremy Prince said buyers need to do their due diligence.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Prince said. “People really get attracted to a vehicle that they know might be worth, let’s just say $10,000, and somebody may be selling it for $8,500. That’s not a huge difference where it raises an eyebrow, but that’s something where if they’re starting out that low, there might be something going on with it.”

The chief deputy said buyers should be on the lookout for fake stickers on the vehicle. These might be peeling off or contain misspelled words.

He said people are welcome to make a safe internet purchase exchange inside the sheriff’s office or outside at a designated parking spot.