See all Motoring NewsGardaí are warning the public to be extra vigilant when buying or selling a car due to a scam involving fake bank drafts. So far more than 20 vehicles have been recovered that were bought with these bank drafts before being sold on to unsuspecting buyers for cash.
Criminals are targeting private sellers on online marketplaces, 'buying' the cars with dodgy bank drafts. By the time it has been noticed that something is amiss the car has already been sold on for cash leaving the original seller without a car - or the money from the sale - and the innocent buyer with a stolen car on his/her hands.
There have also been reports of fraudsters using 'middlemen' who collect the drafts at hotel reception desks and pick up the car from the unsuspecting seller, ensuring that the criminal cannot be identified.
Such is the prevalence of the scam that the Stolen Car unit did a live Twitter Q+A session at 7.30 yesterday evening (June 17). If you think you have been a victim of the scam or have questions about it they can be found on the @GardaInfo account or by using the hashtag #draftfraud.
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