In the past, we at the Approved Loan Store have advised our readers to stay away from Craigslist car deals that seem too good to be true, and we were sad to hear yet another Craigslist car buying horror story late last week.

WILX, an NBC affiliate in Lansing, Michigan, first reported that car thieves are re-selling cars on Craigslist to unknowing buyers. The sellers are forging car titles to go along with the car and replacing the VINS with fake VINS or scratching it off completely. Oftentimes, the seller insists on dealing in cash and meeting in a parking lot after business hours. This way, the buyer wouldn’t be able to check the VIN with the Secretary of State until after the sale is done.

How can you avoid these scams and make sure you are getting a quality car at affordable terms? First off, it is better to go through a dealership as opposed to through a private seller. Most private sellers are great, and there are reputable private sellers available, but it is riskier than going through a dealership. Second, go through an Approved Loan Store dealership. Our Special Finance Representatives will find you the car you want at the right price, whether you have stellar credit or no credit at all.

If you are ready to get into a new or used car today, fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest car buying news and tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!