How to avoid car scams and frauds
If you are looking to buy or sell a car – or even in need of maintaining the vehicle you have; it can be a bit of a minefield when searching online for trustworthy people. Generally, most people are honest, genuine, and reliable; there’s just a small few that put the doubt over us and can leave people out of pocket or with a car that’s not fit for the road.
In this day and age, fraudsters can be so very clever, and it can be harder to spot them. So, we have created a blog to provide you with all the information you need to help spot the scammers out there. If you’re ever unsure and need some advice, however, you can always contact us for a second opinion.
If you’re buying….
- Be wary of vehicles that are sold online by individuals. Low mileage, cheap insurance, tax refunds should always ring warning signals – we advise that you give these vehicles a miss.
- If you’ve seen a car that fits your criteria, always check its full details on the DVLA website before you go any further. Check the registration number, make, and model of the car. If all looks good, be sure to then also check the market value of the vehicle; there will be plenty online for you to compare the price too. If it’s lower than what your research has revealed, then again, warning signals should be flashing.
- If you’re physically checking the car over; make sure it’s at the address that appears on the logbook and not anywhere else.
Ensure all the VINs in the vehicle match (This is the Vehicle Identification Number) The VIN number will be stamped into the chassis of a vehicle, usually found in the engine bay or beneath the plastic trim around the driver or passenger door opening. Car manufacturers often repeat the VIN number in other areas of the car. Most models sold in the UK, for example, have a ‘visible VIN’, shown near the bottom of the windscreen. Ensure the VINs all match within the car and in the V5C logbook.
- We’re sure car cloning is a term you will have heard of before. This is where the identity of a legally registered vehicle is stolen and used to conceal the identity of another stolen or salvaged car that’s similar in appearance.
The cloned vehicle is then either sold on illegally or used for other criminal activity – with any registered offences automatically connected to the innocent owner of the cloned car.
Worryingly, there is no current way to prevent this from happening. You could only find out your vehicle has been cloned when you receive a letter warning of a traffic offence that has happened, which could be anywhere else in the country.
- It’s an old trick, but car clocking is still very common for the scammers and fraudsters out there – reducing a car’s clocked mileage manually to increase the price they can sell the car for – it’s a dirty trick and one that can be tricky to spot. Have a look at the service history (obviously if there is none, then make a run for it, you don’t want to buy that car) The service history will detail the car’s mileage. If you’re still unsure – compare the mileage to the general state of the vehicle and the age – this may also give you some clues.
If you’re selling…
Selling a car can be a bit stressful, especially if you’re not very clued up on the process.
Mix in with a scammer who is trying every trick in the book to devalue your car and get themselves a better deal for them and you could end up out of pocket or left with a damaged vehicle that will cost you money to fix.
One trick will be for them to lead you to believe there is a fault with the engine. They do this by pouring oil into the coolant reservoir when you’re distracted (be wary of two people coming to view the car, as one may keep you side-tracked while the other does the tampering). Oil in the coolant reservoir will result in a smoking engine. A smoking engine = faulty car = scammers knocking down the price of the vehicle and leaving you out of pocket.
If you’re maintaining…
When we leave our vehicles at the garage for a service and/or an MOT, we are entrusting them to do a good job. Sadly, there are some (and may we thankfully say very few) mechanics out there who will do more harm than good to score a few extra quid.
It could be charging extra for parts and labour – if you are not in ‘the know’, then it’s tricky to query the charges. Some mechanics can charge for parts that don’t exist, parts you will never know if they have been fitted or not, or extra faults – that were never there in the first place.
To find a mechanic you can trust (we are here!), or go with recommendations from friends and family whom you trust and have previously had good experiences.
Other types of scams
- Car insurance. We all want to get the best deal for our car insurance, especially the young and new drivers, who usually have to pay more than what their car could even be worth. ‘Ghost brokers’ target this particular type of market, as they know they would want to get the cheapest deal available – however, they are likely to be too good to be true.
Social media platforms are the place that insurers are widely found (it’s frightening how victims can be targeted these days).
It can take very little time for the ghost broker to create fake insurance documents, amend real policies or even cancel a policy without your knowledge, but still collect your monthly direct debit – leaving you to drive without cover, which leaves you driving illegally.
All authorised insurance brokers will appear on the British Insurance Brokers’ Association website. So, if your cheap insurance deal is flagging up warning signs, check out their company on this website.
- Many scammers try to catch you out by pretending to contact you directly from the DVLA. Any emails or messages with links in should never be opened. The DVLA will never ask you to confirm your personal details online via a link that has been provided. If you ever receive these messages, never click the link and delete them immediately.
What if you have been a victim of a scam?
Well, first and foremost, how have you been scammed? If you believe you are being targeted, then report the fraudsters to the police immediately.
If you have found out you’ve been scammed for example, when you try to make a claim on a non-existent policy, then it could be too late for you.
Always use reputable companies, use the websites out there like DVLA and the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, and always be vigilant. Look out on social media, TV, and news sites for stories about current scams.