Police warning over online vehicle scam

A WARNING has been issued over buying vehicles and machinery online after police have reported a rash of bogus transactions.

Police said that fraudsters have been advertising vehicles and machinery for sale on a range of websites.

They said that victims, after communicating via email with the fraudster, will receive a bogus email which purports to be from an established online payment provider.

These emails are designed to persuade victims to pay upfront, via bank transfer, before visiting the seller to collect the goods. The emails also claim that the victim has a cooling off period to reclaim the payment if they change their mind.

This gives victims the false sense of security that their money is being looked after by this trustworthy third party, when in fact it is not and the money has gone straight to the fraudster.

The police said that if you are making a large purchase such as a new car or machinery, you should always meet the seller and see the goods before transferring any money.

If you receive a suspicious email asking for payment, check for spelling, grammar, or any other errors, and check who sent the email.

False adverts often offer vehicles or machinery for sale well below market value to entice potential victims; always be cautious. They warn that if it looks too good to be true then it probably is.

Anyone affected by fraud, can report it to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300 123 2040.