Police are investigating an online scam in which fraudsters posing as used car dealers have reportedly conned several people out of money.
The scammers have been advertising vehicles for sale on Facebook, claiming to represent companies that sell used cars imported from Japan.
In a press release on 5 August, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) said interested buyers are directed to contact the seller via WhatsApp.
According to police, the fraudsters use false names such as ‘Anthony Daniels’ or ‘Ahmed’. The WhatsApp numbers used in the scam appear to originate in Pakistan.
A number of people have reportedly lost money after making payments to the fake sellers.
The RCIPS is urging anyone looking to buy a vehicle online to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of a seller before transferring any money.
Police also advised members of the public to deal only with established vehicle dealers that have verifiable business information, including a physical address, official website and telephone number.
Detectives are encouraging anyone who has communicated with the suspected scammers to report the matter at their nearest police station.
The investigation is ongoing.
