The Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) urges Idaho consumers to exercise heightened caution when purchasing cars, recreational vehicles, farm equipment, and other high-dollar items online. IDOF recently received several reports from victims of online purchase scams that risked losing thousands of dollars due to being lured into purchasing from a phony website or fake ads in various online marketplaces.

Patricia Perkins, Director of the Idaho Department of Finance, is warning consumers to look closely at incoming mail that may appear to be correspondence from regulated consumer lenders but are really third-party advertisements or even scams.

Alternative Investments are investments such as art, collectibles, real estate, private equity, venture capital, and commodities that do not fall into traditional categories such as stocks, bonds, or cash.