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The allure of a Deal Gone Wrong: A โฌ18,800 Lesson in online Deception
What began as a promising transaction for a vehicle quickly unraveled into a costly lesson for Michal, who fell victim to a refined invoice scam. The initial stages of the purchase involved a seemingly straightforward negotiation, culminating in an agreed-upon price and arrangements for transport and delivery.
“He sent me a complete table with the data relating to the sale,” Michal recounted. “In total, the price amounted to 18,800 euros.I asked for proof of the order form, he provided it to me. I then made the transfer on May 19 and received proof of payment.” This exchange, appearing legitimate, lulled Michal into a false sense of security.
the situation took a sharp turn when an unexpected request arrived. “It was then that I receive an email asking me to pay an additional 6,000 euros for delivery,” Michal explained. This demand immediately raised a red flag. Upon closer inspection of the delivery slip, Michal’s suspicions where confirmed. “I analyzed the delivery slip and by searching for photos on Google,I found similar documents but with other contact details. I quickly understood that this document had been tampered with and that I had been due,” he lamented.
Frustrated and determined to recover his funds, Michal contacted his bank, but his efforts to reverse the transaction proved futile. He later filed a complaint with the Tubize police and reached out to the official dealer of the Jaecoo brand in Belgium. A formal complaint was then forwarded to the brand’s legal department.
On July 10th, the legal service responded, expressing their sympathy but clarifying their inability to intervene. “We would first like to express our sincere sympathy for the fact that you have been the victim of a fraudulent practice,” the manager stated. “we understand that it must have been a particularly disturbing experience for you. We would though emphasize that the situation you are referring to outside our official channels and our approved distributors. The part with which you were in contact was not a representative of Omoda & Jaeco to an approved point of sale of our brand.”
The brand acknowledged the likelihood of an organized criminal operation.”It seems to be an organized fraudulent practice involving the unauthorized use of our brand and our visual identity,” the manager continued. “This is unfortunately associated with a reality with which several brands in the sector are faced.Our legal team has already opened an investigation into the elements concerned.”
This incident highlights the significant risks associated with purchasing vehicles online, with reports indicating a considerable prevalence of scams in the used car market. Michal, though still hoping for recovery, serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in online transactions.