The FBI is warning Americans to beware of a scam that attempts to victimize people looking to purchase cars over the internet.

According to the warning from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cybercriminals attempt to lure in victims by advertising inexpensive cars for sale on various online classified sites. The FBI says that the ads often claim to use a protection program which the cybercriminal says will lead to a safe transaction.

However, once payment is sent, victims are out both money and a car.

The FBI says that while the scam has been around for some time, a new element of the crime has cybercriminals posing as member of the U.S. military and claiming they need to sell their car quickly and cheaply because they are being sent to Iraq or Afghanistan.

U.S. News and World Report says that when buying a used car, consumers should view and drive the car prior to purchase. The magazine also says that drivers should look at the going price of a car using the websites of the Kelley Blue Book or the National Automotive Dealers Association. If a price seems too low, it may be a sign of an underlying problem.

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