Wiltshire Police issue warning over car scam fraud in Salisbury
They've reminded people to be cautious of cars for sale on the internet
Last updated 7th Feb 2023
Wiltshire Police have warned the public to exercise extreme caution when buying cars online due to an incident of fraud in Salisbury.
In an elaborate scam, a man in his 30s, was tricked into paying a deposit on a new car.
Spotting what he thought was a good deal, the victim, entered into negotiations with the supposed-seller, under a ruse of misplaced trust.
After spotting a car advert online, the unknown suspect, pretended he was actually interested in buying the vehicle, lulling the actual-seller into a false sense of security.
The perpetrator requested to see videos of the vehicle and documentation relating to it, which they received. And from that point, they had the tools to pull off the scam.
Subsequently, the individual registered themselves as the keeper of the vehicle, and used the clips sent to them to advertise the car as their own.
DI Ian Magrath of the Digital Investigations & Intelligence Unit said:
“I want to take this opportunity to remind people to be incredibly cautious when buying or selling cars online.
“Sellers should list the make, model and the year of the car, but never share any information about Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), V5 documentation or anything else.
“I would also advise sellers to consider blanking the registration number from the advert as it is too easy to clone a plate, such as to avoid a congestion charge or commit a bilking (when someone makes off without paying a fare or bill).
“Most buyers will be willing to view a vehicle as they generally want to ensure it is in good order and as per the advert.
"Perhaps ask yourself, would you buy blind and based only on a few photographs from someone you have never met?
“Be wary of those offering to pay for cars to be collected and transported too when they claim to work overseas.
“This is a common scam where funds are often reverse charged so the seller not only loses the vehicle but also the money.”