Experts are issuing a stern warning to vehicle owners, cautioning them against engaging in the buying and selling of personalised number plates on social media platforms due to the alarming surge in scam incidents.
Motorists listing their UK private plates for sale on social media buy-and-sell platforms are at risk of falling prey to scams, potentially resulting in significant monetary losses ranging from hundreds to thousands of pounds.
Plates4Less, a division of VRM Swansea, has unveiled a comprehensive guide aimed at helping motorists evade falling victim to these scams, spotlighting the top three fraudulent tactics currently in circulation.
The following three scams warrant heightened vigilance:
- Innocent buyers post wanted ads for specific number plates. Scammers respond with enticing offers, and the transaction is carried out privately. However, the buyer never receives the plate and incurs a financial loss.
- Fraudsters posing as buyers manipulate sellers into sending their certificate of ownership before receiving payment, only to abandon the transaction.
- Scammers list non-owned items for sale, often utilizing someone else’s copy of entitlement as fraudulent proof of ownership.
Plates4Less, headquartered in Swansea, dedicates itself to facilitating the buying and selling of private number plates across the UK and Northern Ireland.
Antony Clark, Marketing Manager at Plates4Less, stated, “Instances resembling these are becoming increasingly frequent, and it appears that their occurrence is on the rise. Potential buyers must exercise extreme caution, verifying the seller’s legal ownership of the registration mark before any financial exchange takes place.
“We would strongly advise attempting to finalize the transaction in person, if feasible. If an offer appears too remarkable to be true, it’s likely a deception,” he cautioned.
The escalation of such cases can be attributed in part to shifts in government procedures. Now, anyone possessing a valid certificate number can promptly assign that registration mark to their vehicle. This change eliminates the requirement for a direct connection between the applicant and the registration mark. Consequently, individuals who unknowingly share their certificate online or become victims of email hacking inadvertently expose themselves to significant risk, as scammers can exploit or sell the information.
Frequently, victims of private number plate theft only become aware of the crime when attempting to use the registration mark, discovering that it has been reassigned elsewhere.
To aid private plate owners in safeguarding themselves, Plates4Less has issued the following protective measures:
- Refrain from sharing images of certificates online.
- Store physical documentation in a secure location and review it every six months (including its validity).
- Monitor email accounts to ensure that potential scammers have not compromised online DVLA accounts where plate details are stored.
- Engage a reputable entity for number plate sales or valuation, verifying their reviews on an independent platform.
Antony further stated, “In the interest of both parties’ security, we advocate using a trustworthy and fully registered intermediary such as Plates4Less for secure funds and goods transfers. We offer a secure and gratifying experience for both buyers and sellers. Transparency prevails, assuring parties that they will receive what they’ve paid for at the rightful price.”
