SimplyScared from Sasolburg is concerned about the apparent rise in incidents with fraudsters targeting motor dealerships. SuperSpark offers valuable advice.

SimplyScared from Sasolburg writes,

Dear SuperSpark,

It seems that fraudsters are targeting motor dealerships in bigger numbers, as yet another case was highlighted on television a few weeks ago.

While you have often mentioned a number of warning signs dealers have to be on the lookout for, won’t you please repeat them for the benefit of those that may have missed them?

Kind regards,
SimplyScared


SuperSpark answers:

Dear SimplyScared,

You are absolutely right, used car dealerships are increasingly being targeted and I am afraid that the situation is not improving.

So we all need to be extra vigilant. Or as the saying goes: if something seems too good to be true it usually is. So let good old common sense prevail and switch on the bright red warning lights particularly under the following circumstances:

• When a vehicle is offered to you way under book value – remember when something looks too good to be true...
• While circumstances may require some customers to conduct business after hours, this should also raise suspicion.
• Beware of copies of documents and temporary driving licences (even when they are certified and seem in order) as these temporary licences are issued on fraudulent ID documentation. You always need to check the originals.
• An ID book is safer and preferable over a passport.
• The NaTIS document is the most important vehicle document you should have and, as you know, a sale without the NaTIS document is not legal. Check the particulars of the vehicle against the NaTIS document. A red light should flash when you notice that the vehicle or NaTIS shows three or more registration numbers, e.g. ...GP / ...MP / ....FS. This could be an indication of the creation of a vehicle registration history.
• Use your ID buddy to check ID and other documents to ensure that they are legal and weren’t tampered with.
• You should have a good idea of the average number of Value-Added Products sold per transaction at your dealership. Exercise caution if a customer agrees to accept all of your VAPS, as this may be an indication that they just want the deal to go through as quickly as possible, so that delivery can take place.
• Hit the brakes and see those red lights flashing when a customer insists on signing papers somewhere other than the dealership and/or wants to take delivery at a different venue.

As they say in the classics, rather be safe than sorry! Spend the time and effort checking anything that looks out of the ordinary, and you can save yourself a lot of pain and money.

Gotta fly now...!

Best,

SuperSpark