Detectives from the Coastal part of the country have launched investigations into an online syndicate that swindled unsuspecting car buyers of their hard-earned millions.
According to reports, a company posing as an online agent has been defrauding car buyers from various parts of the country. The entity attracted drones of buyers through their online advertisements enticing the public with an ongoing quick sale to clear stock. That promotion, according to detectives, was a hoax.
The online firm was also offering special giveaway offers to buyers for second hand cars, attracting a huge number of prospective customers.
The advert reportedly informed interested buyers that they would be required to make a deposit equivalent to 30 per cent of the vehicle’s value and clear the balance within 48 months.
According to law enforcement officers, most people bought into that idea making deposits and down payments with the hope of getting their dream cars.
In one instance, one unsuspecting individual paid a deposit of Ksh700,000 only to realise later that the deal was fake and the company did not exist.
“We have had at least seven cases where people have come here to check on their vehicles only to be shocked there is no such a car dealer. A woman who said she had paid Ksh700,000 fainted here at the gate. That is when we alerted security agents of the matter,” a security officer attached to the area it was marked as the location of the company stated.
“I had to make a trip to the vehicle depot as indicated in the location pin which was provided, only to be shocked there was no such company,” another victim stated.
Following the incident, police have launched an operation to unmask the syndicate targeting unsuspecting individuals online.
“We are closely following the case. The online car selling company is fake. I ask members of the public who have fallen victim to the syndicate to file reports,” Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia told Nation Africa.
He noted that such dealers target individuals seeking to purchase second hand cars and have capitalised on the current demand to run their online scheme.
The high demand has been attributed to the global shortage of the semi conductor chip that has persisted for over a year now.
Its shortage has affected car production, with inputs slumping by more than a third as manufacturers try to find new ways to fill the market gap.
According to recent reports, the price of second hand Vitz car model has hit Ksh1 million. Initially,it was going for as little as Ksh500,000.
Prices for other car models have also spiked forcing buyers to seek alternative and affordable dealers and hence falling victims of scammers.