(OXFORD COUNTY, ON) – On Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at approximately 8:58 the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Oxford County Detachment investigate a report of a fraud and a 45 Line, Zorra Township address.
It was determined that a resident located an ad on a website for a motor vehicle that was for sale. Communication was established at which time the seller of the vehicle indicated that they were employed as a doctor and had to leave the vehicle in Halifax at the airport after they took a plane to the United Kingdom to assist with working on Covid-19 vaccinations. The seller indicted that they hired and escrow company to manage the sale and shipping of the vehicle.
A price for the vehicle was negotiated at which time the victim wired approximately $14,000 through their financial institution after signing a sales contract. The victim contacted police after the vehicle failed to arrive.
Investigators discovered that the vehicle had been previously sold from a dealership from the Toronto area and also determined that the vehicles identification number (VIN) had been used fraudulently when advertising this particular vehicle for sale on the website.
The OPP is warning all Oxford County residents to be extremely vigilant when searching web sites with items posted for sale. Some scam artists use stolen photos in their ads, claiming they are pictures of vehicles for sale. Actually, the seller does not have the vehicle that he/she is trying to sell. The seller will ask for money in advance and refer the unsuspecting person to a money wiring service or in this case an escrow company. The buyer waits for few days and when they do not receive the vehicle, attempt to contact the seller, receiving no answer.
In order to avoid these types of scams, remember the following general words of advice:
- Know whom you are dealing with – independently confirm your seller’s name, street, address, and telephone number.
- Resist pressure to “act now.” If an offer sounds too good to be true it usually is.
- If the buyer wants to use a service you have not heard of, be sure to check it out to be sure it is reliable – check its Web site, call its customer service hotline, and read its terms of agreement and privacy policy. If you do not feel comfortable with the service, do not use it.
- NEVER wire money or use a bank-to-bank transfer in a transaction.
- ALWAYS try to deal locally when buying or selling an automobile or other high-value merchandise
- DO NOT sell or buy a car from someone who is unable or unwilling to meet you face to face.
- NEVER buy a car that you have not seen in real life and had inspected by a professional.
“The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Oxford County detachment continues to receive reports from residents stating they have been or attempted to be defrauded. Don’t be a victim. Fraud is a multi-billion dollar enterprise that will only stop when the scammers stop getting money, banking information or personal information.” – Constable Ed Sanchuk, Norfolk County OPP.
FRAUD – RECOGNIZE IT….REPORT IT….STOP IT….
For more information on fraud, call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or http://www.antifraudcentre.ca.