LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Experts are sending out a warning to anybody wanting to purchase a used car in the new year: scammers can make it seem like you're getting a better deal than you think. All they have to do is roll the odometer back.
"Somebody can easily overpay for the vehicle because of a change a con man can make in a matter of seconds," said Emilie Voss with CarFax.
By rolling a car's odometer back, a seller can charge you thousands of dollars more for a used car because the mileage appears to be less.
According to CarFax, Nevada ranks number two in the nation when it comes to the percentage of vehicles on the road with a rolled back odometer.
"I think there's a big misconception that a digital odometer can't be tampered with," said Voss. "That couldn't be further from the truth."
More people may be considering buying a used car in the new year because of the financial hardships with the pandemic, so here's what you can do to avoid getting scammed:
- Check the vehicle history report on a site like CarFax. You can find a free odometer fraud check here.
- Take the car in for a vehicle inspection and have a mechanic look at it before you make the purchase.
