Local garage helps uncover fraud attempt after test drive

Hertfordshire couple avoids £7k car sales scam

Local garage helps uncover fraud attempt after test drive
Image: Bigstock.

A Hertfordshire couple narrowly avoided a car sales scam after fraudsters tampered with their Skoda Octavia Scout.

The couple, Jerry Scagell and Jennie Shaw, had advertised their car online and quickly received interest from potential buyers.

But before the test drive, the buyers, one of whom claimed to be a mechanic, asked to inspect the engine. Scagell agreed but later discovered they had tampered with the car, causing oil to cover the engine and making it appear as though it had a serious problem.

The fraudsters offered to buy the car for just £1,500, which was significantly less than its advertised price of £8,500, claiming they would need to swap the engine. Scagell declined and contacted his local garage to get a second opinion.

The garage found evidence of tampering, including disconnected cables, oil and coolant caps removed which had led to oil being deliberately sprayed around the engine compartment. Fortunately, no permanent damage occurred, but the couple incurred a £400 repair bill to rectify the mess.

Scagell reported the incident to Auto Trader and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

Source: Ireland Live

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