(U-WIRE) DAVIS, Calif. - David Bloom, vice president for cardetective.com, said that college students are at high risk of getting conned when it comes to buying a used car.
"College students are inundated with advertising messages," according to a press release from the Federal Trade Commission. "Marketers target students with high pressure -- and sometimes unscrupulous -- pitches."
Bloom agreed with this statement, saying, "[A] college student would be easier to con ... not because he or she isn't smart, but because they more often lack the car-buying experience that would make them more discerning shoppers."
Bloom added that students tend to be interested in the price range that used car advertisements, whether legitimate or not, publicize.
Ernie Gray, owner of Gray's Car Sales, said one telltale sign that a seller might be trying to con you is if they say that anything is "perfect."
University of California-Davis junior Travis Nelson, who has bought three used cars in his lifetime, suggested that students find out the classification of the cars they are interested in.
"You don't want a car titled 'salvaged' simply because it's been in an accident before and therefore will tend to have more problems," he said.
A pamphlet from the FTC warns students about another possible scam -- advertisements that promise financing to first-time buyers or people with bad credit.
"These offers often require a big down payment and a high [Annual Percentage Rate]," states the pamphlet....
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