As the value of classic cars increase the fraudsters have become more sophisticated.
My business is inspecting and valuing classic and rare vehicles on behalf of prospective buyers. Scams and fraud are an every day pain we have to put up with. Most are seen a mile off as they tend to repeat themselves, and as I see them most days they become easier to spot.
During the last year due to the increase in the value of classic cars the fraudsters have upped their game and some have become very sophisticated. The internet is helping their cause with very impressive web sites.
Below is one I encountered in December 2011. By doing the correct checks and applying common sense you will not be caught.
I was recently approached by a prospective client in Germany to look at a car on his behalf. The car in question was a left hand drive jaguar XK140 roadster in pristine condition. The asking price was 24,500 euros, very cheap was my first thought.
The seller contacted my client informing him the shipping was inclusive in the asking price. The car was in Co Durham on the shipping companies premises. He was given the shipping companies details including their website, which was very impressive. They offered many services including the storage and shipping of classic and rare vehicles. The most interesting service they offered was as a broker for the buyer, the buyer paid the money to the shipping company who held it for seven days after the vehicle delivered to the buyer. If within the seven days the buyer was not satisfied the vehicle was not as advertised all money refunded and the car shipped back to at the sellers expense. Once the buyer expressed their satisfaction the money is paid to the seller. Sounds very re-assuring.
The shipping companies corporate headquarters main telephone number was a mobile. When I checked companies house there was no record of their existence. I contacted both the seller and the shipping company via email. The shipping company never replied to request to see the car, however the seller informed me the shipping company had in house appraisal facilities and it was not possible to view the car. My client in the meantime was being urged by the seller to conclude the deal as there was another interested party. I had the shipping companies website hosting checked, it originated in Latvia, the sellers email source also originated in an Eastern European time zone, despite telling my client he was in Scotland.
We think we would never fall for such a scam, but I have no doubt some have. Bear in mind the car was advertised in Germany, both the car, the seller and the shipping company are in the UK, immediately there is a language barrier, and the price it is offered at looks such a bargain. The shipping company offering the brokerage service would appeal to an unsuspecting honest person.
This scam has not gone away, it will appear again, who is to say they will not advertise in a UK publication a car in Spain, or any other European country at a very attractive price with a similar brokerage facility, I believe they will catch unsuspecting people.Their set up costs are low and the rewards are very high. Five people caught equals one hundred thousand pounds. The difficulty the police have with this type of crime is which country was the crime committed and how are these people tracked down?
How many times do we allow our hearts to rule our head when our dream car comes on the market at a price we can afford? The desire to own such a vehicle often dictates all common sense is ignored. It is advisable to get a second opinion from a professional who has no emotional or financial interest in your purchase.
DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DREAM TO BE BECOME A NIGHTMARE.
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