IRVINE, Calif. -

Taking away potential sales leads from dealers, Kelley Blue Book recently spotted online scams using a fake KBB website.

Officials believe the scams look to solicit funds from buyers via an escrow-based, guaranteed buyer-protection program, which Kelley Blue Book does not offer.

KBB said it has received a small but increasing number of inquiries during the last few months regarding the protection program. The FBI claims that every 90 minutes a complaint is filed and a vehicle shopper loses $1,000 every hour due to fraudulent websites and phony vehicle listings.

KBB warns that any escrow-based consumer-to-consumer service or buyer and seller protection program offered under its name is a scam.

Officials went on to stress shoppers should be aware that imitation websites have a similar look-and-feel to the actual Kbb.com, and they should be cognizant of the domain name (URL) and email address (view the actual address, not the display name) provided by the seller.

KBB outlined in three steps how the scam often works:

—Typically, a seller will list a vehicle that they do not own on a reputable vehicle listings website. Emails from the seller often provide a story about a quick divorce or military deployment that requires fast liquidation of the vehicle at a low price and the inability to execute the sale in person.

—The next phase of the scam includes the seller moving the transaction to a fraudulent website other than where the car was listed, making it easier to conduct a crime. The alternate site may include guarantees that are backed by reputable companies, promises for the return of funds should a vehicle not be delivered, and may look similar to Kbb.com by using logos and similar fonts and colors. The majority of these sites are often poorly written with multiple spelling errors.

—The seller then instructs the potential buyer to wire a partial or full payment to a third-party, such as Kelley Blue Book and fax the seller proof of payment. By the time the buyer realizes what has happened, the money and the seller are long gone.

“Recently, criminals have added sophisticated technology to their scam by adding 800 numbers and offering live chat with potential buyers in an effort to ease their concerns about online car buying and detailed information on the fraudulent buyer protection programs,” explained Shayne Brown, associate general counsel for KBB.

“Kelley Blue Book is working diligently to have these sites removed from the Internet, but in the mean time, car shoppers should know that any type of online consumer escrow service backed by our company is a scam,” Brown continued.

Brown recommended shoppers that encounter this type of offer from online sellers to report the seller to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

He also mentioned tips on how to avoid phony online vehicle-buying scams or fraudulent buyer protection programs are available at this FBI website: http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/august/car_081511/car_081511.