Scams have continued to rise in 2022, with Gardai and the likes of AIB, Bank of Ireland and Vodafone all seeing fraudsters pretending to be them to try and swindle Irish people out of their money.
And once again, the Irish public are being warned about scams doing the rounds.
This time, they're in relation to motorists and driving, with Select Car Leasing rounding up four of these tricks as part of new research.
Read more: Gardai issue warning over new bank card scam involving 'taxis being sent' to customers
Here's what you need to be aware of if you want to avoid losing your cash.
1 - Keep an eye out for 'too good to be true' car insurance deals
Fraudsters often take the form of fake car insurance providers. These scammers, known as ghost brokers, sell ‘too good to be true’ car insurance deals to drivers, unaware that they are buying a policy that is completely worthless.
Victims of ghost broking could not only be paying their premium, but also a fine when they are penalised for driving an uninsured vehicle.
2 - Facebook car adverts
Although Facebook Marketplace is a minefield for purchasing a used car, fraudsters are also using the platform to advertise vehicles at bargain prices to lure in potential buyers. One unlucky victim from Clare paid €6,000 for a car that was never delivered. Professional scammers posing as private sellers pressure motorists to send a deposit, plus extra for vehicle delivery. They then take the money and run – so buyers are left without a car and their money.
Scammers have also been known to use Facebook to sell stolen, written-off or finances cars, knowing that there is minimal legal protection once an owner has handed over their cash.
3 - Dirty tricks while buying
Not only can buying a car be risky, so can selling it 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 licenses
Learner drivers have to suffer long waits to take their driving test, due to a sizable backlog after the pandemic. 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, 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.
