ATLANTA – Since educating site users and dealer customers is the best defense against fraudulent activity, www.AutoTrader.com has created an internal Fraud Task Force and beefed up language on its homepage and throughout the site about what activity is suspicious.

The tips AutoTrader.com offers its consumers address the latest information on fraud scams and trends associated with buying a car on the Internet. Red flags consumers should be aware of are:

• Avoid overseas transactions; many scams originate in foreign countries because they're harder to trace.
  

  
  

• Don't buy something sight unseen. See the car and meet the person you are dealing with.
  

  
  

• Thoroughly verify all transactions. Don't let your guard down just because a buyer suggests using an escrow service or gives you a cashier's check.
  

  
  

• Insist on getting a working phone number, a verified physical address, and an automobile title as official proof of ownership.
  

  
  

• Never give out your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card information through e-mail or over the phone.