HIGH COST
Wheeler Dealers’ Mike Brewer reveals he was SCAMMED as he issues urgent warning after selling car over the phone
Includes tips on how to avoid a scam
WHEELER Dealers' presenter Mike Brewer has issued an urgent warning after revealing he was scammed.
He took to YouTube to explain details of what happened and how he was conned after selling a motor over the phone.
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The petrolhead said a buyer used fake information to fraudulently buy a car from him.
He told his X followers: "We think we’ve been scammed not only once but possibly twice.
"Once by a customer who scammed somebody with their ID to buy a car but the second time quite possibly by the car provider.”
Mike explained how his One Automotive group had advertised a white VW Golf Mk7 GTD for just over £10,000.
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He stressed there was initially lots of interest in the car but things quickly took a turn for the worse.
An interested driver rang up and promptly offer to buy it.
As they didn't live nearby the buyer instead arranged a collection service to pick up the vehicle at Mike’s Leamington Spa base.
Mike admitted that before letting the vehicle go they ran various checks on the buyer's personal information to process the sale.
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The buyer's driving licence “checked out” and the bank details provided appeared to be legitimate.
The individual was invoiced, with the courier then arriving to pick up the vehicle.
To his surprise, Mike was contacted by his bank who revealed the person charged for the vehicle had disputed the sale.
He explained: “They tell us this chap has opened up his statement and he’s seen he has paid for a car at One Automotive and it wasn't him.
“He’s been scammed by somebody who has stolen his ID and stolen his card details and used that to buy a car from me and James at One Automotive.”
How to spot a scam
Scammers are becoming far more sophisticated in the way they swindle people out of their money, here's some tips for spotting a scam according to the National Cyber Security Centre.
Firstly it advises: "Scammers try to quickly gain your trust. They aim to pressure you into acting without thinking."
It adds that if a message makes you suspicious this is usually a "tell-tale sign".
gives the following pointers to steer clear of scammers.
- Authority - Is the message claiming to be from someone official? For example, your bank, doctor, a solicitor, or a government department. Criminals often pretend to be important people or organisations to trick you into doing what they want.
- Urgency - Are you told you have a limited time to respond (such as "within 24 hours" or "immediately")? Fraudsters often threaten you with fines or other negative consequences.
- Emotion - Does the message make you panic, fearful, hopeful or curious? Criminals will use threatening language, make false claims of support, or tempt you into wanting to find out more.
- Scarcity - Is the message offering something in short supply, like concert tickets, money or a cure for medical conditions? Fear of missing out on a good deal or opportunity can make you respond quickly.
- Current events - Are you expecting to see a message like this? Criminals often use current news stories, big events or specific times of year to make their scam seem more relevant to you.
And the drama wasn't over yet as the TV host claimed he was being forced to repay the money to refund the suspected scammer.
He added: “We did everything we could do. We did our due diligence. We checked the card, checked the names and addresses and did everything we possibly could do.
“And somehow now we get a reverse charge so we’ve now lost not only the car but the money as well. We are not at fault.”
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Mike finished by offering a warning to anyone selling their car.
He said: "If you're going to sell a car make sure the customer is there in person with ID and with a drivers' license.
"Check the address, check where they live, and check everything."
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