Warning after car buying scam

The warning comes after purchasers lost nearly £18,000.

TSS explained: “Typically, advertisements appear in local newspapers and car sale websites for vehicles at exceptionally keen prices. The seller engages in very convincing dialogue with prospective customers solely by text and email.

“They claim to be selling their car privately having returned to Sweden after longterm working in Northern Ireland and no longer wishing to own a right hand drive car. Promises are made of a safe payment method and delivery through a third party logistics company. It is all very plausible.

“This time, a County Down couple paid £4,850 by bank transfer for a 2010 Ford Kuga. They have lost a sizeable sum of money and have no car to show for it.

“In early autumn, Trading Standards Service heard from three consumers who had lost some £13,000 between them. The correspondence by the seller in all these cases is virtually identical except for details of the cars advertised, which is proof of its continuing effectiveness as consumers are lured in to the scam.

“In each case, a link was sent to the consumers that opened up a specially created website for the fake logistics company. This highlights how scammers are targeting unsuspecting people by using increasingly sophisticated and manipulative tactics.

“The Trading Standards Service was recently able to advise a consumer from England