The big car con

Available for over a year

Not long ago, it would have been unheard of to buy a used car without seeing it in-person first. But that’s all changed as more of us buy and sell online. Websites selling second-hand cars can offer a quick and easy way to buy a vehicle without travelling thousands of miles to see something you might not even buy. Many sites provide detailed information on a vehicle's history and condition. But - there's a warning this practice is opening the door to more people getting scammed. Action Fraud suggests there were almost 3,000 reports of online vehicle fraud in 2021, a rise of 21% on 2019. The BBC has spoken to several people who've handed over large sums of money for vehicles that never arrived. For 5 Minutes On, BBC reporter Ashley John-Baptise has the details of an exclusive investigation exposing a fake car dealership website called Auto-Promotions, that defrauded victims out of thousands of pounds. Image credit: Getty Images