Network of Car Scammers Dismantled
Intercepted between the end of 2018 and March 2019, the fine team of swindlers set up false credit files in order to acquire new vehicles that had never been paid for. They then sold the vehicles to garages run by accomplices or to private individuals on classified ad sites such as Leboncoin or La centrale.
An extremely profitable scam
20 000€. On average, this is what the network received for each vehicle resold on bogus loans, which were never repaid. Total value of the loot? More than €2.5 million. When it came to laundering the funds, the network had no shortage of ideas or resources: property abroad, capital from private companies, sports complexes, etc. It was a well-executed scam, discovered somewhat by chance by a member of the police force.
Car on Leboncoin sparks investigation
And not the least: a police officer buys a vehicle on the classified ads platform. He then discovers that the vehicle has been falsely registered. Due to his professional training, he decides to investigate and discovers that the seller of the car he has just bought had already sold a dozen other vehicles under an assumed name. This alias led the investigation to discover that the person using the real name was a victim of identity theft. And the crooks didn't stop at identity theft: to obtain credit, they used forged identity documents, gave the address of an abandoned flat, and forged proof of address, forged tax notices... Real professionals in forgery and the use of forgeries.
As the investigation progressed, dozens and dozens of similar cases were identified and linked to the case. The authorities discovered an extensive network operating throughout the Ile-de-France region.
Tracking for the long haul
The police therefore tracked down the swindlers, using the suspects' telephone numbers to prove that they were using numerous temporary numbers and regularly visiting the address of the abandoned home mentioned on the receipts. Finally, the authorities learn that a new transaction is planned, at a dealership that is going to be the victim of bogus credits. The police anticipated this and contacted the dealership to let them know and have a GPS tracker placed on the vehicle. All that remained was to follow up and apprehend the suspects.
A network of scams involving garage owners
The file also reveals the complicity of unscrupulous garage owners who kept the vehicles and made a few modifications, such as plates and certain other elements, until they were sold.
Use Obvy to secure the purchase of your used vehicles
As well as being able to be accused of concealment, using Obvy guarantees you optimum traceability of your transaction and the assurance of the real identity of your seller. In the event of a nasty surprise, you'll have all the information you need to take the necessary steps. What's more, your used car transaction is guaranteed to be 100% secure and free from scams.
You can read all our other articles on vehicle scams in our dedicated section.