Craigslist might seem like a good place to pick up used instruments or furniture,but when it comes to used cars it is probably best to stay away. The FBI says that as many as 15,000 people have been taken for a proverbial ride trying to buy a vehicle through the website over the last several years, the Hartford Courant reports.

Investigators say that the posters put up pictures of cars they don't actually own and ask for surprisingly low prices. However, once the buyer has paid up the car never shows up. The FBI estimates that victims have lost about $45 million to such schemes.

Ben Nguyen took some of the photos that the scammers have been using and was shocked when he stumbled across one of them on Craigslist. He got tipped off to the rouse once he realized that a car that usually goes for about $11,000 was selling for thousands less than that.

"There are all these people in the world that try to get over on you and take your money," Nguyen told the Courant. "It's very disappointing to hear it does happen, but unfortunately it does."

The scams have become more sophisticated and often have the appearance of a legitimate operation, but experts urge consumers to be wary.

Of course there are ways to avoid becoming the victim of such a scheme and buying cars through a reputable dealer like New Jersey State Auto Auction is one of the best ways to do so. The dealer offers a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices and every ride is Carfax certified so you know you're getting a reliable vehicle.