Experts are sounding the alarm for motorists, urging caution when engaging in the buying and selling of personalised vehicle registrations through social media channels, due to the escalating risk of falling victim to scams.
Amidst the soaring number of fraudulent incidents, vehicle owners are at risk of losing significant sums, ranging from hundreds to thousands of pounds, when attempting to list their UK private plates for sale on online platforms catering to buying and selling.
Plates4Less, an entity under VRM Swansea, has disclosed the top three scams along with a dedicated guide to empower motorists in evading potential swindles.
There exist three primary types of scams demanding vigilance:
- A legitimate buyer posts a “wanted” advert. In response, a scammer presents an enticing offer, conducting the transaction privately. Regrettably, the buyer never receives the intended registration plate and ends up losing their hard-earned money.
- A deceitful individual masquerading as a buyer manipulates the seller into providing them with their certificate of ownership before any funds exchange hands, ultimately abandoning the transaction without completing the purchase.
- Fraudsters attempt to sell items they do not legally possess, frequently employing someone else’s entitlement copy as their fraudulent proof of ownership.
Plates4Less, operating out of Swansea and dedicated to facilitating private number plate transactions across the UK and Northern Ireland, is at the forefront of guiding clients through this terrain.
Antony Clark, Marketing Manager at Plates4Less, shared insight: “Instances akin to these are consistently coming to our attention, and it’s evident they are proliferating. Potential buyers must exercise thorough scrutiny to ensure that the seller is the legitimate proprietor of the registration mark before they part with any funds.
“We recommend in-person transactions whenever feasible. If an offer appears too exceptional to be genuine, it’s likely too good to be true,” he cautioned.
The surge in such cases can be partially attributed to shifts in government protocols, enabling any individual with a valid certificate number to promptly assign that registration mark to their vehicle. This newfound flexibility means that applicants no longer need to have a direct association with the registration mark, posing a risk when certificates are inadvertently posted online or when email accounts are compromised.
Many victims of private number plate deception only realize the crime much later, upon attempting to utilize the registration mark, only to discover that it has been assigned elsewhere.
Plates4Less extends the following protective guidelines for private plate proprietors:
- Refrain from sharing images of certificates online.
- Store physical documents in a secure location and periodically assess their validity every six months.
- Exercise vigilance over emails to verify that any online DVLA accounts containing plate details have not been infiltrated by scammers.
- Opt for well-established businesses when selling or appraising a number plate, and assess their reviews on independent websites.
Antony added, “For the safety of all parties involved, we recommend utilising a trustworthy and fully registered intermediary such as Plates4Less for secure fund and goods transfers. We deliver a secure and gratifying experience for both buyers and sellers. All parties involved have clarity on their positions and can expect to receive their desired outcome at the appropriate price.”
