Motorists have been issued an urgent warning regarding four scams that could see them lose thousands of pounds.
Criminals have been sending fake messages and emails about supposed late Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) payments, manipulating victims into giving out personal and financial information.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) previously warned drivers about a road tax scams in which fraudsters claimed to be from the UK Government agency.
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Vehicle specialists Select Car Leasing have now compiled a list of four other scams motorists need to be on the lookout for.
As reported by the Daily Record, falling victim to these scams could cost you up to £5,000.
1. 'Too good to be true' car insurance deals costing £785
Scammers frequently pretend to be car insurance providers, and try to sell 'too good to be true' deals to motorists — that are in reality absolutely worthless.
As stated by the Association of British Insurers, car insurance costs on average £485.
Victims could not only be paying this premium, but also a £300 fine when they are penalised for driving an uninsured vehicle.
2. Facebook car adverts
The Facebook Marketplace is a common target for scammers, who advertise vehicles at low prices to lure in victims.
Fraudsters claiming to be private sellers often get buyers to transfer them a deposit — plus extra money for vehicle delivery — and then run off with the money.
Scammers have also been known to use Facebook to sell stolen, written-off or financed cars, knowing that there is minimal legal protection once an owner has handed over their cash.
3. Car buying scams
Not only can buying a car be risky, so is selling one online.
Some scammers will turn up for an in-person inspection of the vehicle being sold, and distract the seller while an accomplice adds engine oil to the water reservoir.
The car will of course break down if driven, with the criminals claiming the seller has tried to sell them a faulty car – they'll use this as leverage for a significantly lower asking price.
The scammers will then empty the engine oil out of the reservoir and sell the car on to another completely unknowing buyer.
4. Fake driving lessons could cost learners £600
Learner drivers have had to suffer long waits to take their driving test owing to a sizeable pandemic backlog.
Predictably, fraudsters are capitalising on the wait and targeting young motorists who don't want to wait to sit their test.
Scammers are selling fake licences and paper certificates online for £600 each, stating they have inside access to driving test centres and can pass learner drivers without having to get behind the wheel of a vehicle.
However, young drivers are then left out of pocket when no licence cards are issued and fraudsters take the funds.
