Don’t hand over your car keys to anyone claiming to fetch your car for a ‘safety recall’. Ever. That’s the warning from insurer King Price, which says there’s been a sharp increase in cases of theft syndicates trying to scam consumers out of their vehicles in recent months.
It’s an old scam: someone claiming to be from your car manufacturer or dealership calls, and says there’s been a safety recall for an issue like an airbag or a mechanical issue. They then arrange for your vehicle to be fetched by a tow truck or a flatbed – and that’s the last you see of your precious wheels.
“What makes the scam believable is that the scammers know your registration number and personal info. It all seems legitimate and above board. Many people actually think they’re getting great service, when they’re busy being robbed of their car,” said Wynand van Vuuren, the client experience partner at King Price.
By targeting dealership records, criminals are often able to gather detailed information about unsuspecting consumers, including when last you took your car for a service, and even how many kilometres you drive per month.
What can you do to avoid being scammed? King Price’s advice to consumers is simple:
- If someone calls you about a car recall, contact your manufacturer or your nearest dealer immediately to verify if they are an employee, and if there is a genuine recall.
- Under no circumstances should you hand over your car to a third party. It’s highly unlikely that a manufacturer will fetch your car from you. They will generally ask you to take it in to a dealer yourself.
- In the case of a genuine recall, the manufacturer will send you formal communication that describes the process in detail, the steps to follow, and how to verify what’s happening at every stage.
- Never give out your personal information, or make any kind of payment, to anyone claiming to be from a car dealership or manufacturer. End the call or delete the email, and call the nearest dealership. Or the police.
Safety from Vehicle Scams and Fraudsters when Buying and Selling Vehicles
