Police in Regina are asking citizens to take steps to protect themselves if they buy used vehicles.

On Friday the police said they have received several files this year regarding used vehicle purchases from online sales platforms and dealerships.

The Regina police said “the majority of the issues reported to police have not been criminal and resulted in a civil court proceeding.”

In an attempt to reduce the amount of auto fraud incidents occurring, Regina police have provided some tips to protect citizens from fraud when buying a used vehicle:

• Research the vehicle to determine the worth. Suggested sites are Auto Trader, CARFAX or Kelley Blue Book. These sites should describe the make, model and mileage of the vehicle.
• Obtain a pre-purchase inspection. This will determine the cosmetic, mechanical, and safety condition of the car. A well trained mechanic can help determine existing conditions and potential future problems that may arise.
• Search the VIN on the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC). A public search of the VIN number can be done on the CPIC’s website to determine if the vehicle has been reported stolen. For a fee, this can also be done from the SGI website.
• Obtain a vehicle history report. Companies such as CARFAX can provide a vehicle history report, which can provide information such as if the vehicle has been in an accident, liens, service history, reported stolen, etc.

Regina police have also provided some suggestions when selling a vehicle privately.

• When meeting a potential purchaser, meet in a public location where you feel comfortable.
• Take a test drive, if something doesn’t feel right, go with your instincts.
• When it comes to e-transfers, there are specific rules that the bank follows. Limits may depend on the price and the purchaser’s daily transfer limit. E-transfers can be recalled if there are not sufficient funds in the buyer’s account.
• Most financial institutions can verify if the cheque or draft is legitimate. Bring the cheque to a teller to have it verified as legitimate, don’t deposit it via an ATM or mobile deposit.
• If someone gives you cheque for more than the asking price, the cheque is likely counterfeit, especially if they are asking you to send the extra funds back to them.

This article was originally sourced by Global News.