A Harriston resident avoided a potential fraud attempt during a suspected shady incident during a car sale.
According to Wellington County OPP, an officer responded to a call on April 30 at 8:30 p.m. after an alleged attempted fraud at a residence just outside of Harriston.
The victim shared that they listed a vehicle on an online marketplace, and an interested buyer came to the seller's address with an agreement to purchase the vehicle at the listed price.
However. during a test drive, the vehicle began smoking, and oil was discovered on the engine and on the inside of the tail pipe. The victim believes the potential buyer, who was accompanied by another individual, at some point smeared oil on the engine and tail pipe to make the vehicle look defective, at which point the buyer offered a much lower price than was listed for the vehicle.
Police are encouraging people to be extra vigilant when selling vehicles. The OPP recommends that that you never provide your address or personal details online to someone you don't know and always meet in a local, public and safe place to complete an exchange.
Wellington County OPP has designated "Safe Trade" parking spaces available at all three detachments in Rockwood, Fergus and Teviotdale.
