Staying alert to fraud when buying a used truck or trailer

Commercial vehicle buyers should be wary of falling victim to fraud when looking for their next used truck or trailer, ensuring they can trust the seller before any money is transferred.

Although there have been no known instances of buyers being targeted through Commercialmotor.com, the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has advised that fraudsters have been using various online vendors to entice vehicle buyers.

Fraudsters sometimes purport to be third party escrow providers (which hold onto payment until both the buyer and seller are happy with the deal) to persuade victims to pay upfront before they have the opportunity to collect goods from the seller. This gives them the false impression that their money is in safe hands.

Before making a purchase, buyers are advised to:

• Meet the seller face-to-face and ask to see the vehicle before transferring any money
• Check for spelling, grammar, the sender’s email address, and any other errors, if you receive a suspicious email asking for payment
• Contact the third party the email claims to be from to determine whether it is legitimate or not
• Be cautious of deals that look ‘too good to be true’ – fraudsters often offer goods at low prices to entice victims.