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24/04/2017
Woman Scammed Out Of Over £4,000 On Fake Used Car Website
A woman from Belfast has been scammed of over £4,000 on a fake used car sales website.
The 32-year-old victim was caught out when she bought a 2012 Ford Focus she saw on a used car sales website of a business claiming to be based in England.
She spoke online with the business before agreeing to make a bank transfer payment of £4,200.
The website which had over 100 cars displayed was fake and has now closed down. The lady did not receive her car and has been unable to recover her money.
The Trading Standards Service (TSS) has issued a warning to consumers when considering online purchases.
Bill Malloy from the TSS said: "Once again, Northern Ireland consumers are considerably out of pocket. People should never conclude a deal from someone without being able to touch the car in question and to deal face to face with the seller. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Even when such websites are shut down they will re-emerge under a different name but using the same tactics."
(CD)
The 32-year-old victim was caught out when she bought a 2012 Ford Focus she saw on a used car sales website of a business claiming to be based in England.
She spoke online with the business before agreeing to make a bank transfer payment of £4,200.
The website which had over 100 cars displayed was fake and has now closed down. The lady did not receive her car and has been unable to recover her money.
The Trading Standards Service (TSS) has issued a warning to consumers when considering online purchases.
Bill Malloy from the TSS said: "Once again, Northern Ireland consumers are considerably out of pocket. People should never conclude a deal from someone without being able to touch the car in question and to deal face to face with the seller. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Even when such websites are shut down they will re-emerge under a different name but using the same tactics."
(CD)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry in the southeast at first otherwise widespread light rain or drizzle for most. It will turn mostly dry towards dawn, although a few patches of light rain or drizzle continuing, mainly in the southwest. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
