Metro Financial institution’s ‘Rip-off of the Month’ for September 2023 is a warning to drivers in regards to the inflow of second-hand automobile scams “as roughly 1,000,000 drivers take possession of their new 73 licence plate vehicles from September.”
Buy scams can take many varieties; “with the discharge of latest 73 September licence plates there is a rise within the sale and finance/leasing of autos.”
Scammers capitalize on this seasonal inflow in automobile gross sales “by providing the most effective deal – when in actuality the automobile is unlikely to even exist – these offers are sometimes marketed through on-line public sale websites similar to eBay and Gumtree or through social media, the place photos are taken from real sellers to persuade patrons that they’ve the automobile.”
Metro Financial institution’s Head of Fraud & Investigations, Baz Thompson.mentioned:
“Scammers know that used automobile gross sales rocket when the brand new license plate comes out, so be additional cautious right now of 12 months.”
Generally criminals could use cloned web sites “with slight modifications to the URL to trick drivers into considering they’re buying from a real web site.”
For any driver seeking to lease/finance a automobile, there may be additionally “a threat with this methodology. Criminals can look like a be a leasing or finance firm to encourage you to pay a deposit, which you’ll by no means obtain a automobile for.”
How To Spot Second-Hand Automotive Scams
- If any of this stuff occur, they’re purple flags, drivers ought to hesitate and examine additional earlier than parting with any cash
- Autos significantly cheaper than market common, costs are too good to be true – you’ll be able to examine the going market charge on www.webuyanycar.com or www.parkers.co.uk.
- Vendor requesting funds through financial institution switch.
- Web site you’re getting the automobile from has lately been launched.
- Social media posts/adverts.
- Anybody contacting you out of the blue or approaching you with a ‘deal’.
- Being advised the automobile will likely be shipped to you, and you may return if dissatisfied.
- Being pressured in to creating a fast determination.
- When leasing/financing – there are not any credit score/affordability checks accomplished.
- Supplied no or extraordinarily low deposit choices.
How To Shield Your self:
- Request to see the automobile in particular person if potential, if not potential organize a video name and solely ship a deposit in case you are completely sure it’s real.
- Ask for particulars in regards to the automobile such because the automobile identification quantity (VIN) and examine this data matches the V5 doc.
- At all times get a full automobile historical past examine for peace of thoughts (though this doesn’t at all times make sure the automobile is being bought genuinely) Will be achieved via the federal government web site: https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla
- Test sellers/firm’s impartial critiques.
