How scammers are exploiting ULEZ chaos to swindle drivers out of their cash with fake ads for luxury motors
SCAMMERS are exploiting ULEZ chaos to swindle drivers out of their cash with fake ads for luxury motors.
Fake ULEZ-compliant motors including Audi, BMW and Mercedes cars are listed at knock-down prices on Facebook Marketplace.
The ads use snaps of real cars to dupe desperate Londoners into handing over around £5,000 as they hunt for eco-friendly motors.
Many drivers in the capital are trying to dodge the £12.50 daily ULEZ charge by swapping their polluting cars for compliant ones.
Fraudsters copy the photos and details of the cars from real ads on Auto Trader, Gumtree and eBay.
When drivers hand transfer the listed sum, the scammers disappear and leave them empty-handed.
The Mail reports that the fraudsters demand that people email them for more information – in a shameless bid to dodge Facebook’s scam-busting software.
One scammer told the newspaper: “We acquired this vehicle from an auction, this is why the lower price.”
The ads include details like mileage and MOT expiry dates – but drivers who ask to see the listed cars are fobbed off.
It is thought that the Facebook accounts behind the scams belong to real people who have had their passwords stolen.
The snaps of the motors come from ads for real cars which have just been sold – and which have been taken down by the time the scam appears.
Cyber expert Jake Moore said: “These con artists are professionals who will do everything they can to pressure prospective buyers into sending deposits in very manipulative ways.”