As online car buying booms, here are 2 scams to look out for

Buying a car has never been easier; you can do it right from your couch.

In fact, new data from the website ConsumerAffairs shows that soon, one in three cars will be purchased entirely online. But the major shift in shopping – and convenience it brings – can come with risks.

There’s a lot of money at stake.

The average used car cost about $25,000 last year — and scammers are looking to cash in.

Here’s what you need to watch for:

VIN cloning

VIN cloning is when criminals take a legitimate vehicle identification number, or VIN, and copy it onto a stolen or illegal car to make it look legitimate.

Before you buy a car online – run a free VIN check through the National Insurance Crime Bureau Website.

Fake dealerships

Another growing problem: fake dealership websites.

Over the years, NBC 5 Responds has investigated cases where scammers copy the name and address of a dealership that has gone out of business. They post vehicles that don’t exist and then pressure buyers to wire money upfront.

If you’re buying a car — especially from out of state — take a few extra steps to protect yourself.

Verify the business through the state’s licensing website. You can even call local police to confirm the dealership and the people you’re dealing with are legitimate.

And consider running a vehicle history report through CARFAX. It can flag red flags like inconsistent mileage, registration issues or gaps in service history.