The latest version debuts...
The latest version debuts at next week"s Geneva Motor Show, and will be at dealers by the end of the year. Blue oval bosses expect the cars to disappear so quickly they"ll leave tyre marks!
The crooks respond to...
The crooks respond to classified ads in the specialist press, and pay for vehicles with high-quality forged bankers" draft cheques. By the time the forgery is spotted - usually days later - the seller has handed over the keys and paperwork. The car is either exported or quickly sold on again.
The scam has been highlighted by the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), and coincides with a special Auto Express investigation into the latest con tricks. An NCIS spokeswoman said: "Typically, gang members won"t identify themselves as Lithuanian, but pose as Scandinavian or western European. They target cars costing í‚á£10,000-í‚á£15,000. Sellers should only release a vehicle once a bankers" draft has cleared and the money is in their account."
People have been duped in Suffolk, Nottingham, Wiltshire, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and London. However, a spokesman for the capital"s Metropolitan Police warned even waiting for the money to clear is no guarantee. "Once a bankers" draft has cleared, the cash will appear in the seller"s account, and he"ll be able to draw against it. But if the cheque is found to be stolen - which could be up to two weeks later - the funds will be withdrawn back out of the account."