Car buyer hit for €40,000 in callous scam

http://www.herald.ie/news/car-buyer-hit-for-40000-in-callous-scam-30366547.html

Another version of the vehicle internet ad scam. It's prevalent in Ireland which is bound to cross to mainland UK. In this case the real seller and the buyer are at risk.

It involves the purchase of cars from private sellers with fake bank drafts. Almost as soon as the criminal has obtained a car’s documents, the vehicle is then sold on below market value before the original seller realises the deception.

Gardai have recovered 78 out of 79 such cars in the last three years. And there have already been more examples of the scam recorded this year, 24, than in all of 2013, which saw 21 cases.

If you buy a stolen car, the police take it back.