What about changing the paint colour to one that isn’t on offer? Or fabricating a car that doesn’t even exist? This last one might sound ridiculous, but it’s a genuine scam many car buyers now face in the wild-west environment that is the online used car market.

Take a minute to scroll through largely unmoderated online marketplaces and you’ll find AI ads of cars sitting in lavish, airbrushed car dealerships or glamorous locations surrounded by uncannily similar-looking female models, all in an attempt to grab the attention of potential buyers.

Rather than creating intrigue, this should instead set off alarm bells. Someone selling their eight-year-old Kia XCeed probably hasn’t done a shoot on the waterfront in Saint Tropez, so it’s worth taking whatever they describe or show with a pinch of salt.

With all of this in mind, it only reinforces the rule that you should buy from a trusted dealer – such as those on the Auto Express Buy A Car Marketplace – and take the time to view a car in person before parting with any cash.

Performing HPI history checks gives you a broader perspective on what you’re buying, too, plus paying close attention to imagery or descriptions for any AI idiosyncrasies in an advert could expose some fakery. Because in a world where generative AI is now in the palms of everyone, seeing should not automatically mean believing.

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