Saturday 25 July 2015

Warning over car scammers after punters lose thousands of euro buying 'scrap' vehicles



A lowlife family is behind a string of car scams that have left punters out of pocket and driving dangerous motors, the Irish Mirror can reveal.
Victims of the racket have been conned out of thousands of euro, left with vehicles “worth nothing more than their weight in scrap”.
The scam involves the family placing an online advert where they value cars at well below the usual asking price.

When potential buyers inquire about the vehicles they arrive at a pre-planned area where cash is handed over.
The buyers stay with the car with the key in the ignition while the sellers check none of the notes are forged before driving off.
The buyers, on closer inspection of the vehicle, find it is worth nothing but the scrap metal.
Many of the cars are clocked and also have no National Car Test discs.
The buyers have no comeback as they’ve technically bought what was advertised for the set amount.
Gardai are aware of the scam and are warning buyers to get any vehicle they buy online checked by an independent mechanic before any exchange.
They are also urging people not to hand over cash and instead go for a way of buying that can trace the sellers.
Sources said the family, who are based in Ashbourne, Co Meath, have been operating the scam for at least two years and have conned countless people.
The security source added: “Gardai know the identities of these people but can’t act as they are selling what is advertised.
“They know they’ve found a legal loophole and they’re exploiting it.
“They sell on the pretence they have a low mileage car with full test and eight to 10 months tax.
“It’s not fraud but instead it’s a case of false advertising and you can’t be locked up for that.”
Irish Mirror

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