Second-hand car sellers stung by stolen bank drafts

UNSUSPECTING motorists have been stung after selling their cars for stolen bank drafts.

A criminal gang is targeting people advertising their cars for sale in trade magazines and in newspapers.

The gang stole the blank drafts, as well as cash, in a raid on a bank in Cloghran, north Co Dublin, last July.

Gardaí said there have been two reported cases where the criminals filled in the drafts and used them to buy second-hand cars from private sellers.

A Garda spokesman said the drafts varied in the bank name and comprised as follows:

* Sterling and euro sterling: Nat West London.

* German euro: Commerz Bank, Frankfurt.

* US dollars: Bank of New York.

* Canadian dollars: Bank of Montreal.

He said all the drafts had the Ulster Bank brand on them.

Gardaí said two drafts had surfaced in scams in recent days.

“Between August 8 and 10, two of these bank drafts surfaced as payment to unsuspecting persons who were selling their cars privately through a newspaper advertisement. One incident occurred in Navan, Co Meath, and the other in Saggart, Co Dublin.”

He said detectives in Santry Garda Station were appealing for any information that might lead to the identification of the culprits involved in this case.

“They are also warning the public to exercise caution when accepting payment from individuals unknown to them and who present such drafts,” said the spokesman.

Anybody with information can contact Santry Garda Station at 01-6664000 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666111.