An example of a dud bank draft used
Gardaí are warning of the dangers of bogus bank drafts writes Geraldine Herbert
Anyone selling or buying a car should be careful of bogus bank drafts. According to the Gardaí counterfeit bank drafts are being used to pay for cars and up to €300,000 has been netted to date in these type of car scams
So how can you protect yourself against scams when selling a car
1) FRAUSTERS will never actually view your vehicle which he/she is proposing to buy.
2) They will drag out the negotiations for almost a week or longer. (This is so as to give them time to find a buyer for the vehicle).
3) They will insist on paying via bank draft and most likely will insist on the transaction taking place on a Thursday evening or Friday. The reason for this is that by the time the Seller lodges the bank draft and it is discovered to be counterfeit, the vehicle will already have been sold on to an innocent Purchaser.
4) If you wish to accept a draft from someone as payment, insist on getting the draft details first and then contact the relevant bank or financial institution to confirm the authenticity of said draft.
But buying a car you need to be careful also so
1) Be suspicious if the vehicle is offered at well below its market value. The Fraudsters will suggest that the vehicle is a repossessed vehicle, hence the low price AND he/she will insist on being paid in cash.
2) Remember at no time will the new buyer ever get to meet the individual who is now supposedly selling the vehicle .
Geraldine Herbert
10th June, 2014
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