Car, truck, boat and motorcycle buyers & sellers, particularly those in the market for used vehicles, have flocked to the Internet in recent years to search for killer deals on "pre-owned" wheels.

While consumers and ethical auto dealers have benefited greatly from the Internet, so too have crooked buyers & sellers. As such, you need to be aware of potential scams. Here are some of the most common ones directed toward buyers & sellers online:

Certified Check Scams - This scam is often perpetrated on sellers of used cars over the Internet thorough classified ads and auctions. A buyer indicates that he wants to buy the car and pay with a cashier's check. At the last minute, the buyer creates a reason why he needs to write the check for more money and have the seller wire him the difference. The check turns out to be a fake, but it is often discovered long after the seller has wired the money. In addition, the seller is responsible for covering the money for the fake check. To avoid check scams, call the issuing bank before you accept the check and wait for the check to clear before you transfer the car into the buyer's name.

Bogus Escrow Services - Online vehicle sellers often use escrow services, which collect and verify payment from a buyer. The money is held by the service until all parties are satisfied with the sale. There have been some instances of phony escrow services operating on the Internet. Make the transaction through a reputable third party escrow service, perhaps an escrow account with a law firm of your choice or www.escrow.com. Some Fraud sites often claim they are recommended by eBay, eBay Motors, or Yahoo! Auctions. You may see the list of sites eBay actually recommends by clicking here. Make sure you check out an escrow service with SOS4Auctions.com or escrowfraud.com. They catalog the good and bad services.

The best way to avoid most scams is to make sure you never transfer ownership of your vehicle until you have the cash in your hand. That means, you either get cash from the buyer or wait for the cashier's check to clear. Avoid buyers who will never meet you or never wish to see the vehicle in person (overseas). Avoid taking personal checks and allowing buyers to pay the car off over time. If buying, always verify the seller actually has/owns the item for sale and meet them face-to-face to view the vehicle . If you follow these few precautions, your buying and selling experience should go smoothly.