Durban North police warn of spike in online car-advert scams

DURBAN North police have issued a warning to potential car buyers after they recorded an increase in vehicle-purchase scams.

According to Captain Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the station, since February 23, they’ve recorded three cases involving fraud of more than R380K.

He said often criminals place fake adverts online to lure unsuspecting victims into purchasing vehicles.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing more of this where unsuspecting victims are being defrauded. The adverts look legitimate, and often the criminals involved have photos of the vehicle they are ‘selling’. In some cases, they lure potential victims in by offering a ‘discounted’ price,” he explained. “They include banking details and cellphone numbers, but these are usually disconnected once they receive payment from the victim.”

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In one of the more serious cases, a Durban North resident spotted an advert for a BMW X5.

“When he contacted the seller, he was told the BMW was one of several cars going on auction, and hence why there was a special price on the vehicle. The victim was told to deposit 30% of the price in order to secure the car. Banking details were exchanged, and the resident deposited R172 500. However, the resident did not receive the vehicle and has since realised he was scammed. The number provided has been disconnected,” Deokaran explained.

In another incident, a Durban man was scammed out of R200K and robbed of the vehicle he purchased.

“This case occurred in La Lucia on February 23. The victim had paid an amount of R200K in instalments and physically received the car. While he was driving home towards Inanda, the car broke down. He was promptly accosted by two men from two different vehicles who insisted he was in possession of a stolen vehicle. They then took the keys and were able to restart the vehicle and drove off,” he said.

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Deokaran urged potential buyers to always do their homework and to treat requests for upfront payments as a possible red flag.

“I would advise residents looking to purchase a second-hand car to look at reputable organisations or dealers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, look at the vehicles priced at their market value and ensure you are well-equipped before parting ways with your hard-earned money,” he said.

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