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  OFT WARNS OF £3MILLION CAR-SELLING SCAM 28 May 2009 (News)
  The OFT is today warning consumers about vehicle matching scams which cost UK consumers nearly £3 million every year. Vehicle matching scams work by approaching consumers selling their cars and promising falsely to match them with definite buyers.
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  Buyers warned over classic car brokerage scam 15 May 2019 (News)
  Classic car buyers are being warned to be vigilant over a new scam which claims to be using Honest John.co.uk as a brokerage. As part of the con, fraudsters clone a recent car for sale advert – copying the words and pictures of a real car that has been advertised for sale.
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  Warning of UsedCar Internet Scams 6 Mar 2008 (News)
  With more used car buyers choosing to shop online, HPI is warning of internet scams. HPI, the leading independent vehicle information provider is highlighting a spate of online scams involving non-existent vehicles being sold online using fraudulent vehicle checks. “We are urging used car buyers to be just as vigilant when buying online, as they would be using any other method,” explains Nick Lindsay, Director of HPI.
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  Volvo issues 'congestion charge scam' warning 18 Jan 2011 (News)
  Volvo has taken out adverts in several newspapers warning drivers in London about a scam involving the unauthorised sale of Volvo DRIVe boot badges for the avoidance of the London Congestion Charge. The notice states that vendors are offering badges to unsuspecting members of the public for upwards of £800 on the false premise that the badge will, on its own, exempt them from the daily £10 congestion charge.
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  Watch out for ‘virtual car seller’ scam, warns HPI 8 Oct 2013 (News)
  Car history check provider HPI is warning buyers about a ‘virtual car seller’ scam, which allows criminals to make off with the payment for a car without ever delivering the car itself. The ‘seller’ will list a top-of-the-range car online with an irresistible price, claiming the sale is urgent.
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  A quarter of used cars have outstanding finance to be paid 6 May 2015 (News)
  .” He also recommends carrying out a car history check before you buy. You can also find out how to avoid the most common car scams by visiting our scams page here , plus you can find a trustworthy, highly rated dealer on our Good Garage Guide . 
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  Fraudster jailed for £29,000 insurance scam involving fake Ferrari 4 Apr 2017 (News)
  This  established that Khayer had hired the Audi A1 jut days before the incident occured. For his role in the scam, Khayer received a 12 month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to compensate his hire company, and its insurer, more than £10,000. Neil Thomas, Director of Investigative Services at APU said, "The sentence is a victory for both the insurer and motorists across the country, whose premiums are increased by these fraudsters."
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  DISHONEST JOHN'S GUIDE TO SERVICE SCAMS 6 Oct 2001 (News)
  The Multipurpose Lubricant Leglifter Similar to the screenwash scam. Always supply a spray can of multipurpose lubricant at every service, and charge for it, of course. The Oil Filter Flanker Instead of changing the oil filter at a routine service, tell the fitter to simply give it a good clean over with a rag.
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  DISHONEST JOHN'S GUIDE TO SERVICE SCAMS 16 Sep 2001 (News)
  The Multipurpose Lubricant Leglifter Similar to the screenwash scam. Always supply a spray can of multipurpose lubricant at every service, and charge for it, of course. The Oil Filter Flanker Instead of changing the oil filter at a routine service, tell the fitter to simply give it a good clean over with a rag.
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  Car cloning on the rise - half of all used car checks reveals hidden history 2 Mar 2019 (News)
  Cases of car cloning has soared by 50 per cent in London  and some history check services provide little protection against the scam that allows criminals to copy legitimate registration plates to sell stolen or unroadworthy cars with false documents. “The RAC vehicle history check does not give a guarantee against cloned cars," said Rod Dennis of the RAC, "The check looks up whether a car’s number plate has been changed and can confirm if the number plate and vehicle identification number (VIN) match those recorded at the DVLA.
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  Honest John's Website in a Book 17 Oct 2001 (News)
  Contents include: Good Garage Guide, Car Clubs Directory, Step-by-Step Guide to Buying and Selling Cars, FAQs and Answers, De-mystified Motors ('Jargonbusters' from the paper), Dishonest John's Guide to Service Scams, and, of course, the Car by Car Breakdown as it was about a month ago. If you haven't got a satellite linked notebook computer in your car, it's the only way to carry the website around with you. And, of course, it makes an excellent Christmas present for Uncle Ernest.
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  It is possible 'to avoid clones' 21 May 2009 (News)
  Cloning occurs when a car is stolen and given an identity that is very similar to one already in circulation. In order to avoid falling foul of this scam, auto buyers have been advised to check that all vehicle identity numbers on the model tally. People should then get HPI to verify the IDs match the registration, the group stated. This service comes with a guarantee that means customers will be reimbursed up to £30,000 if the car in question is not as it should be.
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  Rare surviving 'Brocket Rocket' Ferrari up for auction 22 Jun 2011 (News)
  Part of his 42-strong collection of Ferraris and Maseratis, many of which were tragically destroyed in an insurance scam for which he did time, Brocket owned the ground-breaking Pininfarina styled GT for 15 years.  It was the first 2+2 to feature power steering, hydro-pneumatic self-levelling rear suspension and the luxury of air-con as standard.
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  SMMT Calls For Licence to Trade 18 Sep 2001 (News)
  To read of more successful and attempted rip-offs by franchised dealers, see 'Dishonest John's Guide to Service Scams' among these news items, and refer to the thread: 'Dishonest John's Guide: all true' in The Backroom on this website. The last thing the public needs is a scheme which gives the big boys a licence to steal at the expense of the little guys who keep this country on the road at prices we can afford to pay.
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  Advice on Avoiding a Crash for Cash 30 May 2014 (News)
  Moneysupermarket advises: "Anyone caught up in what they think could be a suspected 'Crash For Cash' situation should follow some simple but effective steps to ensure they gather as much information as possible at the scene to thwart the scam and help insurers tackle this increasing problem." MoneySuperMarket top tips in the event of an accident * Take photographs of the accident on your mobile or carry a disposable camera in your glove box; * Have a notebook and pen in the car, and note down as much information about the other vehicle as possible, including any visible damage; * Record the number of passengers in the other vehicle as many fraudsters exaggerate the number of passengers to inflate personal accident claims; * Seek an independent witness at the scene if possible; * Always share as much information as possible with your insurer - if you have suspicions about the crash i.e. if someone slams their brakes on in front of you without any clear reason, then share your concerns with your insurer; * Consider using technology in your vehicle such as a 'black box' device or a dash cam which will help record any evidence in the event of an accident.
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  Used Car Buyer Subscription Offer 11 Jun 2004 (News)
  Unfortunately, the desire for low mileage cars also helps fuel a £100m a year illegal clocking scam. “Not only will a lower mileage car sell quicker, the unscrupulous seller will also gain financially by adding another few thousand to the screen price,” says Guy Baker, resident expert at Used Car Buyer magazine.
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  HPI Warns Again of Stolen V5 Scam 24 Jul 2009 (News)
  Organised criminals scammed six motorists in the Lothians out of tens of thousands of pounds after selling them high-value stolen vehicles.  All cases involved the swindlers using stolen DVLA V5s to accompany stolen vehicles that had had their identity changed to match that of a similar legitimate vehicle.
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  2.3 million clocked and potentially dangerous cars on UK roads, report suggests 19 Nov 2018 (News)
  One in 16 vehicles checked now has an odometer discrepancy according to The Local Government Association (LGA) and it is calling for DIY mileage correction tools – widely available for sale online from about £100 - to be made illegal to help combat the problem. >>> The UK's most-common car scams and how to avoid them Dishonest dealers and private sellers can use mileage correction devices to knock thousands of miles off a car’s history, this in turn can increase the value of an average second-hand family car by up to £4000, according to CAP Automotive In one recent council prosecution a van sold with 89,000 miles on the clock was actually found to have travelled more than 243,000 miles. In September, a car dealer was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and ordered to pay a total of £130,000 in compensation and court costs after selling 10 vehicles with false mileage and manufacturing fraudulent service histories following a prosecution by Stockport Council "Unscrupulous dealers are tricking unsuspecting buyers into paying thousands of pounds more for a vehicle with false mileage."
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  Dashcam Saves Trucker From Expensive Insurance Claim 17 Dec 2013 (News)
  . Experts said claims had soared because people were 'motivated' by the ease of claiming in financially tough times. Mr Humphreys added the cameras help protect drivers against the scams which have now become a £1 billion industry. He said: "The cameras can help protect drivers against 'cash for crash' scenarios. This includes deliberate severe braking in front of a driver to instigate a 'slam on' and subsequent whiplash injury claims.
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  Have used car values hit their peak? 9 Dec 2021 (News)
  .  You’ll need to arrange the adverts for the car, prepare the car for sale and be available for people coming to look at the car. Buyers can turn out to be ‘time wasters’ or out to scam you, although most are genuine so don't be put off.  A car buying site is one of the quickest ways to sell your vehicle. There are many to choose from, the most well known are  Motorway, WeBuyAnyCar and WeWantAnyCar .