Ghana’s Police is asking the public to beware of a fake car syndicate in parts of the country, which has been duping unsuspecting people seeking vehicles to buy.
The fraudsters are said to be operating in Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Obuasi, Tarkwa and Sekondi-Takoradi.
According to the Police, they use online market websites and the cars they claim to be selling to lure unsuspecting clients and eventually bolt with their money as well as the car sold to the clients.
Read below the full statement by the Police
The Police Administration wishes to bring to the notice of the general public some syndicates involved in vehicle sale fraud across the country particularly in Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Obuasi, Tarkwa and Sekondi-Takoradi.
The modus operandi of these syndicates is to advertise vehicles for sale with their phone numbers both on vehicles and at online marketing sites, mostly on tonaton.com and carmudiand chat com, luring unsuspecting persons to contact them.
Typically, when a potential buyer calls the advertised number to express interest, the supposed seller arranges to meet the buyer at a place where the vehicle is parked, usually at a workshop, fuel station or by the road side. The potential buyer is given opportunity to examine and test drive the vehicle.
When negotiations are concluded the seller opts to introduce the buyer to another member of the syndicate, sometimes tagged as the owner of the vehicle.
This self-styled owner usually meets the buyer and seller at a busy public place. At this meeting, the said owner shows and hands over documents covering the vehicle together with the ignition key to the buyer in exchange of the purchase money.
Thereafter, under the pretext of accompanying the buyer to hand over the vehicle to him or her, members of the syndicate manage to escape with both the money and the vehicle, leaving the buyer stranded with fake car documents and ignition key.
In some instances, members of the syndicate rather approach people who have advertised their cars for sale and pretend to be interested, only to bolt with the car in the process of test drive.
The public is advised to be cautious in dealing with persons other than known dealerships who offer vehicles for sale at cheap prices, and persons who show interest in their vehicles which they advertise for sale.
The signs to look out for include quoted prices far below the market price of the said vehicle.
Report any suspicious act involving the sale and purchase of vehicles to the nearest police station, police social media platforms or call 18555.
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