Police Warn Of Draft Danger

Buyer beware! Thieves from the former Soviet state of Lithuania are targeting Britain's second-hand car market - and the problem is serious enough for top cops to issue an unprecedented warning.

Auto Express Car Reviews

25th January 2005

The crooks respond to classified ads in the specialist press, and pay for vehicles with high-quality forged bankers' draft cheques. By the time the forgery is spotted - usually days later - the seller has handed over the keys and paperwork. The car is either exported or quickly sold on again.

The scam has been highlighted by the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), and coincides with a special Auto Express investigation into the latest con tricks. An NCIS spokeswoman said: "Typically, gang members won't identify themselves as Lithuanian, but pose as Scandinavian or western European. They target cars costing ΂£10,000-΂£15,000. Sellers should only release a vehicle once a bankers' draft has cleared and the money is in their account."

People have been duped in Suffolk, Nottingham, Wiltshire, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and London. However, a spokesman for the capital's Metropolitan Police warned even waiting for the money to clear is no guarantee. "Once a bankers' draft has cleared, the cash will appear in the seller's account, and he'll be able to draw against it. But if the cheque is found to be stolen - which could be up to two weeks later - the funds will be withdrawn back out of the account."