Police: Car scam targets women

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

AS the Christmas season approaches, the Royal Bahamas Police Force is warning the public, especially women, of a new “ad scam” that has resulted in thousands of dollars being stolen from unsuspecting buyers.

Assistant Superintendent Matthew Edgecombe, from Fraud Section in the Central Detective Unit said a group of criminals are targeting persons interested in buying vehicles by offering them deals that are “too good to be true”.

”Many persons have become victims of this crime. They will see ads in the newspaper, and it happens to females more, they advertise a nice car like a Honda Accord 2009 and they sell it for $6,000. They will put their number in the paper and they will say, call this number and then they will say ‘put a deposit on the car for $2,000 so we can hold the car for you’ and they give you a bank account number to put the money on. I am saying, if the deal sounds too good to be true, it is not true,” he said.

”They put the money on the account and that’s it, you can’t find these people. I am saying, if you see an ad in the paper, why put money on someone’s account you don’t know? You talk to them on the phone, you haven’t verified who they are, you are depositing money on their account. That’s a no-no. Ask them to see the car. Meet with them at the police station, check their ID, check the car, find out if they really own the car before you put money on someone’s account. Because once the money goes to the account, that is it. A lot of people are being victims of this car scam they advertise in the newspapers, even on Facebook now and whatsapp and become people caught in this scam. Be very careful. Also, do not give out your bank account number to anyone because you will be held responsible for whatever money goes through the account. People will use you as a tool to help this scam.”

Supt Edgecombe also warned business owners of the a growing trend in cheque fraud and credit card fraud.

Superintendent Stephen Dean, officer in charge of the National Crime Prevention Office, asked members of the public to be extra careful while shopping during the Christmas season and not to “open yourself up to crime.”

“During this Christmas time we know there will be a lot of spending, there will be a lot of shopping and people tend to let down their guards, they tend to be more vulnerable because everyone is in the holiday mood and things they normally pay attention to they just ignore. Make sure your house is secure and you have the house in a way that you give the impression someone is always at home. If you are shopping, avoid putting the boxes outside to allow criminals to know what you have or your house will become a target,“ he said.

“Women shopping please do not leave handbags in the car or groceries, please make sure they are secure in your trunk. Particularly ladies, we see it over and over, do not reach to the place and open your trunk, people are always watching. Be careful as you are shopping, do not display a large amount of cash, everyone does not need to know you have a lot of money. As much as possible use credit and debit cards.”

Supt Dean also warned business owners not to make bank transactions without a security firm or a police escort.

Comments

solejordan says...

plenty ppl are careless with money these days.

example when im in the bank and ppl are doing large cash transaction, it's right in plain view of me and most customers. imo you're asking to get robbed.

either ask to go in the back out of view or sit to a booth.

back to the main topic, ppl still rely on others to get cars when u can get it yourself? imo it's more easier to do it yourself then get the round or scammed

Posted 5 December 2013, 9:14 a.m. Suggest removal

WellGee says...

The word, "gullible," comes to mine.

Posted 5 December 2013, 10:57 a.m. Suggest removal

bismark says...

if you that stupid to put your hard earned money on an account you know nothing of then you are the jackass.

Posted 5 December 2013, 12:25 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

The account may have been opened at anything goes BOB (a.k.a punch story) OR what would really be nice is if the account were opened at the highly illegal banking operation run by the webshops...that would be nice, keep it classy Bahamas. (How the officials can allow that to continue I do not know, they literally have no idea who is moving money through those accounts. 100% of the deposits could be from illegal transactions. What will happen to the deposits if the webshops are suddenly allowed to operate "freely" under some new gaming law? Will all of that "dirty" money suddenly become clean?)

Posted 5 December 2013, 9:23 p.m. Suggest removal

positiveinput says...

Crimes like this existed long time ago so if the government wanted to protect its citizens they would have put in place some way to reduce it from happening long time. Other than Auto Dealers whom have license to buy and sell vehicles, make it mandatory for individuals whom wish to sell vehicles to first acquire 'Bahamas Authorized Ownership Papers' (title papers) for the vehicles they wish to sell. Too much doors for criminals to benefit from are left wide open and all those in authority do is say be careful, gees.

Posted 6 December 2013, 1:24 a.m. Suggest removal

carmichaelrdgal says...

I think its shameful how everything goes in the Bahamas when it comes to law, someone made a point, if you have an account number a real name, ID, address and other important info was needed to open the account! US would have already jailed that sucker! very poor RBPF.

Posted 8 December 2013, 2:46 a.m. Suggest removal

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