Interaction in Bonfield prompts OPP warning of ‘dirty oil scams’
The North Bay OPP is warning about a scam targeting private vehicle sales after an incident in Bonfield.
On July 20, provincial police received a report about an interaction between a vehicle owner and two prospective buyers from Ottawa, that was captured by surveillance cameras.
The OPP says during the interaction, one man directed the owner’s attention away from the back of the vehicle while the second man appeared to spray a substance into the vehicle’s exhaust pipe.
After a test drive, the men pointed out white smoke coming from the vehicle’s exhaust.
They say while the owner’s attention was focused on the smoke, one of the men opened the hood and appeared to spray a substance into the engine compartment.
They then claimed the vehicle experienced a catastrophic engine failure and attempted to renegotiate the price to less than half of the original agreed-upon amount.
The owner did not agree to the reduced price and advised that the vehicle would be professionally inspected.
The OPP is reminding individuals selling vehicles privately to remain vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from potential fraud.
Police say if you are selling a vehicle privately:
· Never allow prospective buyers to separate you from your vehicle.
· Be cautious if multiple individuals appear to be working together to distract you.
· If a serious mechanical problem suddenly appears during a vehicle viewing or test drive, stop the sale and have the vehicle professionally inspected.
· Do not feel pressured to reduce the sale price on the spot.
Richard Coffinhttps://www.mynorthbaynow.com/Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
