A Dunedin car yard's website has been targeted in a scam, in a bid to entice private car sellers around the country to contribute cash towards freighting their vehicles to Dunedin.
More than 30 private car sellers, mainly from the North Island, have contacted Peter McCracken, of van and light commercial dealer Rob McLellan Motors, in Kaikorai Valley Rd, Dunedin, since Monday, seeking to verify apparent attempts by Rob McLellan Motors to buy vehicles via a bogus email address.
''I really don't know if the scammers are in Dunedin, or from India or Africa,'' he said.
No-one to his knowledge had lost money, but he was concerned some people could be duped, and about the reputation of his trading name.
The scammer has created an email address, and trolls car-selling websites and print media, pretending to be Rob McLellan and offering to buy private cars, tagging the email with Mr McCracken's bona fide website address.
The scammer signs himself ''Robert'' in some emails. The real Rob McLellan is Robin McLellan, who sold the business a decade ago and now lives in Australia.
Mr McCracken laid a complaint with police on Tuesday.
He said police told him the targeted sellers would probably be asked, at some stage, to contribute to freighting costs to Dunedin. That money would then disappear.
Mr McCracken urged people to make sure they knew who they were dealing with, and to be wary of requests from a buyer for any cash up front.
He was considering putting a disclaimer on his website, and circulating a warning to the wider car industry.
There was no response to inquiries directed to the bogus email address.
What the scammer emailed one car seller
Hi Xxxxxx,
Thanks for your mail and information of the vehicle which perfectly suits my need, i will buy the vehicle at your desired price but i will need you to send me some pictures of the vehicle again and i am also informing that i will be shipping the vehicle to my car stock in Dunedin and i will organize the shipping without you having to stress yourself.
