Today, not everyone can afford the finances of buying a new car. Then all that remains is to look for a suitable used vehicle.
However, with this option, you should not miss such a nuisance as car fraud. There are many techniques that are included in the arsenal of attackers.
Therefore, in this article we will talk about the main types and schemes of fraudulent actions when buying and selling a car, and also give useful tips and recommendations on how to avoid deception and fraud.
Fraud when selling and buying a car
What are car scams? Basically, criminal acts consist of misleading the seller and the buyer in various ways.
For example, unscrupulous persons may sell a car without having the appropriate authority to do so. Let's say a person wants to alienate a car on the basis of a power of attorney. In this case, it is important to ensure that he has the appropriate authority.
Fraudsters often use a technique such as selling a car without properly executed transport documents. This is especially true in situations where the buyer is a novice car enthusiast who has recently completed a driving course.
Fraudsters are found not only among sellers, but also among buyers. The most common trick here is paying for transport with counterfeit bills. Therefore, the car owner should check in advance (if possible) the authenticity of banknotes.
Let us repeat once again that scammers have a great variety of techniques. Therefore, before purchasing the desired vehicle, we recommend that you consult with a lawyer or attorney.
Types of fraud when selling a car that should alert you
What is the deception when buying a car second-hand? There are several options for attackers.
The first of them consists of selling vehicles through various intermediaries.
The second scheme is that the car is sold without documents and at a suspiciously low price. This is especially true for cars with foreign license plates.
Options are used when alienation occurs by proxy, without the necessary powers of the person acting on the seller’s side.
Finally, if there are clear signs of broken numbers, then such a car should also not be purchased.
Delivery of the desired car from the warehouse
“The car you specified is available in our center. You just need to bring it from the warehouse, there is not enough space in the cabin to store all the cars” - a phrase that should confuse anyone who called the number indicated in the ad. This is part of the scam indicated in the chapter “Low price for a car - the most popular deception scheme today.” The employees of the so-called call center, which works together with the dealership car showroom, will answer you.
There is no car in the warehouse, and they answer you with a template phrase that will not give away the would-be seller. The buyer, inspired by the opportunity to purchase a profitable option, immediately rushes to the car dealership to sign all the necessary documents to purchase the car of his dreams. But in reality the situation is completely different. There is no car with such characteristics, and the buyer will sign documents for a completely different car, the quality and condition of which leave much to be desired. Feel free to refuse this purchase.
If such a car really exists, the seller will name the time when the car will be brought to the dealership and when it can be inspected. If the car really exists, you will be provided with all the necessary information about it, and the documents will correspond to the markers on the car (VIN number, etc.).
Inspect the car from the warehouse carefully before purchasing
Criminal schemes of auto fraud when selling and buying a car or how not to be deceived
How do criminals deceive you when selling a car?
Below we present the main scams when buying a car, as well as ways to gain the trust of both the seller and the buyer of the car.
Selling a car by proxy
Dozens of articles have been written about this method of action by scammers. The bottom line is that ownership of the car never passes to the buyer.
If so, then there is a risk of the car being confiscated due to the obligations of its original owner. In addition, heirs can also make claims on transport.
Selling a car using fake documents
Particular attention should be paid to obtaining a vehicle passport, as well as a certificate of registration. If there are doubts about the authenticity of these documents, then you should refrain from concluding a transaction.
Fraud when selling a car to several persons
The purchase and sale agreement for a car is not subject to notarization.
In this state of affairs, the owner of the car (unscrupulous) can easily draw up contracts for several persons at once, receiving from them a certain amount of money in return. Therefore, you should quickly register the car with the traffic police in your name.
Car fraud via the Internet
The basic scheme is that the buyer is first asked to make a deposit. Naturally, without inspecting the car on site, this is fraught with great risks for the buyer. After all, he may not only not see the car, but also his deposited money.
Paying for a car with counterfeit bills
This risk is inherent to sellers. It is important to correctly spell out the provisions of the sales agreement. In addition, it is advisable for representatives of the car owner to be present during settlements. It is also important to identify a fake in time.
If the deposit for the car is not returned
The only way out is to go to court. But it is important that you have all the evidence of the transfer of funds on hand. An agreement, bank statement, or other documentary evidence will do.
Fraud with a car through a car dealership
Car dealerships sell not only new cars, but also used vehicles. And here risks may arise for both the seller and the buyer.
For example, a buyer is often forced to overpay for a car, regardless of its mileage and other characteristics.
The seller runs the risk that he will lose a considerable amount within the framework of the concluded commission agreement if the car is not sold within the agreed period. After all, some car dealerships include compensation for pre-sale preparation in the commission agreement.
Fraud with a car when lending (collateralized car)
People often sell cars that were purchased on credit and are secured. As a result, a bank or other creditor may take the car from the new owner through a court order.
To avoid this, you should obtain an extract from the register of pledges of movable property from a notary. This should ideally be done on the day of the transaction. If the car is not listed there, then you can defend your rights to it.
Why you should use the services of specialists when choosing a used car
Even if you have been driving for 20 years, even if you worked in a service station and repaired cars, even if you are a former car lawyer, it will still be very difficult for you to cover all the nuances of choosing a used car. It’s not a fact that an auto lawyer will be able to deal with the technical part. A car mechanic can be deceived with documents.
Externally the car will be “candy”, but inside...
And if you are an ordinary car owner who prefers to go to a service station with any problem, then even more so.
The most profitable and reliable way is to pay for help in choosing a specialist who deals with exactly this task: checks the car for sale on all points. In Moscow, such a service is provided for a reasonable fee, for example, by the 100-Auto service.
Let's figure out why it's better to pay a professional to select a used car in Moscow. The service of such a specialist can cost as much:
- 9-10 thousand rubles for 1 day. Suitable if you have definitely chosen 1 car, decided to take it, but decided to identify all the shortcomings and protect yourself from possible fraud with documents.
- From 18-19 thousand for choosing a turnkey car. Suitable if you have chosen only the car model, and want to delegate all searches, negotiations and checks to a specialist.
More information about the price of auto selection services
Now compare how much you can lose if you decide to make the choice yourself:
- If you are seriously deceived with your documents, you may lose the entire amount (or at least part of it) and be left without a car. At best, several hundred thousand rubles are lost.
- If you don’t notice some serious technical flaw that needs to be fixed urgently, repairs can cost, at best, several thousand rubles (and if the car is newer and more expensive, several tens of thousands).
Criminal liability and punishment for car fraud
As a general rule, such a crime is punishable under Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Depending on the method of committing the fraud and the number of persons involved, the punishment can be expressed either in the form of a fine or in the form of imprisonment.
Articles about fraud are grouped into a separate block. Therefore, you need to first study the provisions of the criminal law in relation to your own case.
In addition, the determination of a possible measure of liability will also be influenced by the amount of damage caused to the opposite party - the victim.
Advice for Buyer and Seller
Before concluding an agreement to purchase a car, you should know several practical recommendations in order to avoid becoming a victim of deception and other illegal actions on the part of the counterparty.
Inspect the car before purchasing
If a person is a novice car enthusiast, then it is advisable to take with him a friend who is well versed in cars. He will look at the appearance of the car and also examine all its main details.
Check your transport documents
Study the vehicle's registration certificate, registration certificate, and owner's identification documents. If you have a power of attorney to sell a car, then it is worth studying its data. Particular attention should be paid to the duration of the powers.
Check if there is a lien or lien on the car
To do this, you should make a request to the traffic police authority, and also contact a familiar notary. He will check all registers relating to encumbrances on movable property.
In addition, using online services, it is recommended to check whether there are enforcement proceedings or bankruptcy cases against the owner of the car.
Find out if there are outstanding fines on the car
All this can be done through the traffic police portal. It will be enough to enter the characters of the license plate, or the details of the registration certificate.
Prepare a detailed text of the contract
It should contain all the information about the car.:
- model;
- year of issue;
- body and engine numbers;
- existing license plates.
And also, you should make a link to the details of the title documents in relation to the car.
Check the correctness of the calculations
Make sure that all money is counted and verified for authenticity. The ideal option would be to make payments in the presence of a notary.
Change license plates on your car
There are often “doubles” on the roads. Therefore, it is important to order new license plates when re-registering vehicles. In 2017 it will cost 2 thousand rubles. However, changing numbers can save you from a lot of trouble in the future.
We have provided only a small part of the advice that is useful to take into account when making a transaction to sell or buy a car. But each case may have its own additional recommendations.
Where to go if a car dealership tries to defraud you?
Being deceived at car dealerships when buying a new car can lead to the fact that you will not be able to defend your rights. If you put your signature anywhere or simply transfer cash to scammers, then you will no longer be able to correct the situation. We recommend checking all transactions for transparency and only if all procedures were carried out correctly, you will be able to prove that you are right.
If it happens that you have fallen into the network of scammers, then you need to contact the police and write a statement to the prosecutor.
Cases like this are rarely solved, but civic responsibility must be exercised to protect others. It is quite possible that such a scheme will be stopped in the future. Order a free legal consultation
