Gang arrested in Abu Dhabi for buying cars using 'bad cheques'

Abu Dhabi Police have apprehended a gang of six scammers, who bought cars using dud cheques.
The bogus car buyers deceived unsuspecting car sellers after seeing their posts online. The gang bought the vehicles on dud cheques to the sellers. They then resold the cars at a lower price than their actual market value.
Brigadier Rashid Mubarak Al Mesmari, Director of the Peripheral Areas Police Department of Abu Dhabi police, warned of such fraudulent practices. The gangsters resell the cars and export them via a showroom, which is involved in the crime as well. Al Mesmari said Al Rahba police station received a complaint from somebody, who had reported that he had been the victim of a con game.
The victim told the police officer that he was cheated by some people, who inspected his vehicle and agreed to buy it for Dh90,000. He handed the car over and collected the payment in cheques. However, he later discovered that his car was sold for Dh65,000 in another emirate.
The investigation revealed that the same gang had defrauded other victims in the country, who sold them their cars under names of people they did not know, before they collected the payment that they agreed on.
The investigators managed to identify the criminals, and chalked out a plan to arrest them. Six people have been nabbed.
When confronted, the six gangsters confessed to having committed the crime and other similar crimes in the country. They said they had shared the amount amongst themselves.
The six conmen were referred to public prosecution to undergo further questioning.
Brig Al Mesmari called on the public to be alert and stick to basic security rules while selling and buying cars. He advised the public to collect the amount agreed in cash before handing over the car or relinquishing it to the buyer. The deal must also be made during the time when banks are open so the seller could check if the cheques are valid and could be collectible or not.

• Abu Dhabi

A Staff Reporter

Got an interesting story to tell in the UAE? We want to hear all about it. Write to the nation's best reporting team, as we cover the emirates like no one else.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com