Criminals are coming up with increasingly devious ways of parting used car buyers with their money. Sadly, more and more South Africans are falling prey to these fraudsters, losing millions of rands in the process.

This sobering news is courtesy of Darryl Jacobson, managing director of Burchmore's, who warns that buyers need to be extremely cautious when acquiring a used car. "While most used car buying experiences are good ones, we are hearing of new scams daily," he reveals. "Generally they have one feature in common: the buyer is being offered an unbelievably good deal."

"Unbelievably good deals"

Jacobson says that these "unbelievably good deals" need to be scrutinised over and over again. "If you're about to buy a used car at a ridiculously low price, ask yourself why this is happening to you. Why would you alone be privy to such an exceptionally good deal? Why are you so lucky? Chances are excellent that you?re about to be scammed," he warns.

The fraudsters are becoming increasingly creative, and Jacobson reveals that they may pose as an agent or staff member at a used car retailer or bank. "They are extremely convincing and appear authentic, and it?s relatively easy for them to dupe trusting members of the public. Their schemes are both innovative and sophisticated," he notes.

Professional crooks

These fraudsters are, quite literally, professional crooks? and many buyers end up losing thousands of rands, and never ever taking delivery of their cars. However, the good news is that Jacobson does have some meaningful advice for used car buyers. "I urge prospective buyers to heed this advice. It cannot guarantee that you won't get scammed but it could help," Jacobson points out.

The first step is to select your vehicle supplier with extreme caution. "If you are dealing with an individual, and not a company, be extremely cautious. Be very wary of any private-to-private sales. The risks are huge: hijackings, false checks, stolen cars? the list of potential problems is huge. It is much better to deal with a company; that way, you have some recourse should anything go wrong," explains Jacobson.

Check, and check again

Verify the source that you are buying the car from. "You need to consider all sorts of different factors. How long has the company been in business? Is it a member of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation of South Africa (RMI)? Is it part of a listed company? How much stock does the company have on its floor? Does it have a good reputation? How many people does it employ? Does it look professional and above board?" advises Jacobson.

Only deal with salespeople who are clearly employees of these large companies. "Our sales professionals all wear uniforms, so it's easy to spot them ...,? says Jacobson. "There is absolutely no need for a used car purchase to be a stressful experience; our professionals can guide buyers through the entire process."

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