Stolen car recovered from ship atmid- sea

DUBAI POLICE BUST SEVEN GANGS IN CAR SALE SCAM

Dubai Police have busted seven gangs who bought cars from residents giving them dud cheques last year. Police also recovered a stolen car froma container ship transporting it on the high seas.

According to Dubai Police, the gangs would buy the vehicles by giving dud cheques to sellers, knowing fully well that it could take several days before the bank would decline to clear the payment and the fraud come to light, by which time both the criminals and the vehicle would be untraceable.

Colonel Omar Bin Hamad, Director of Anti- Economic Department at Dubai Police, said these criminals always target victimswho sell vehicles online and close the deal on Thursdays after banks close.

“Thieves show interest in buying the car and then insist on changing the ownership of the car on a Thursday, knowing that the car seller would accept dud cheques [ without knowing their real status],” said Col Bin Hamad.

“The car ownerwould discover the scamonly after a fewdays when the cheque bounces.”

He said Dubai Police had foiled the gang’s operations. Two people staying in a neighbouring country were the masterminds behind the scam. “They had a woman involved as well and she once managed to steal a car worth Dh300,000. She lured the car owner with Dh20,000. He trusted her and didn’t realise that shewas ascammer,” Col Bin Hamad added.

In another operation, Dubai Police successfully recovered a stolen car after it was transported to a European country on a cargo ship.

“An European expat was scammed with a dud cheque. We arrested the suspects and discovered that they had forged the car’s documents and shipped it. We identified the cargo ship, which was heading to a European country,” Col Bin Hamad added.

Dubai Police recovered the car and brought it back to the country on the same ship.