Dubai: A British woman was so close to losing her Aston Martin worth Dh245,000 — to a fraudster preying on sellers of luxury cars in Dubai.
The fake buyer, using forged manager's cheques, tried to buy the woman's car — but Dubai Police foiled the ruse in the nick of time and nabbed the gang member, which led police to the arrest of two others involved in the crime.
Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in Chief of Dubai Police for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said the British woman put out an online advertisement to sell her red Aston Martin.
She was then contacted by the buyer, a Gulf national, with an offer to buy her vehicle using a manager's cheque for Dh245,000.
“We contacted her shortly before selling her car and explained that the man is part of a gang specialized in buying cars for forged manager cheque. We set a trap and arrested the suspect,” Maj-Gen Al Mansouri said.
Dubai Police said the arrest was made on October 15.
But police had been tracking the gang members after receiving 8 complaints from victims who sold their cars and were paid forged cheques.
“The gang members were targeting people posting luxury car for sale ads online. They managed to get cars like Maserati, Jaguar and Audi worth Dh3 million," said the officer, adding that the gang members were arrested just before British woman selling the luxurious Aston Martin almost fell for the ruse.
The suspect dealing with the British woman told police that the forged cheques were given to him by an Arab man who was forging the cheques.
The suspect further revealed that his role was to register the car in his name and give the cheque to the victim and then register the car to the Arab man's name.
Many forged manager's cheques
Colonel Omar Mohammad Bin Hammad, Deputy Director of the Anti-Economic Crime Department, said the Arab man was arrested and police seized numerous forged manager cheques with him.
“He was selling the cars with low prices immediately to other buyers. He illegally obtained Dh3 million from selling those cars,” Col Bin Hammad said.
The pair was arrested at a petrol station on Shaikh Zayed Road with a third suspect — who is also Arab man abetting the pair's criminal operations.
The suspects were referred to Dubai Public Prosecution after they were charged with forgery and attempted fraud.
“People should be careful when they sell their cars even if it’s a manager cheque. It's better to go to the bank to check if the cheque is real first and see if the buyer has money in his account before selling the car,” Col Bin Hammad added.
