Car Jacking Scam

Post by **Ronnie** » 17 Dec 2006 10:57 pm

This is a new scam which has been seen in the NW, NE and London. Targets are usually women in nice new cars, unlikely that 300 drivers will be choice pickings.

Driver gets into car in darkness, starts engine and gets ready to drive off - then notices an A4 notice attached to rear window. Gets out of car with engine still running to see what it is and move it out the way.

Car jackers take this opportunity to jump into car and drive away...

That could really ruin your day.

Post by **pettaw** » 17 Dec 2006 11:03 pm

nah, the scam is the e-mail itself, see here

for this. I've seen this floating round various message boards. Of course it pays to be cautious, but this appears to be a worrying hoax.

Post by **Ronnie** » 17 Dec 2006 11:09 pm

Interesting - cheers for the clarification!

Post by **Chris_C** » 17 Dec 2006 11:24 pm

As much as I hate the hoax emails... and the ones that don't get checked out, all this needs is a teenager with an attitude and a few less brain cells than the rest of us, and he has a plan without thinking.

I think the warning stands, common sense at all times, don't leave the engine running! I saw someone leave the cxar going whilst going to a cash point the other day

Post by **A M R** » 18 Dec 2006 01:55 am

thats nothing! i walked right past a running passat the other day and none was sitting inside! it was on my uncles road at about 10 in the morning - i think the person went inside their house.

i have seen this happen quite a few times and if i didnt know any better, i could have taken the car right there and then...

Post by **redline** » 18 Dec 2006 08:51 am

it may be an email hoax bot I once knew a guy who had actually used this trick with success when he was younger and then used the car for a ram raid ,

same as the old one of flashing someone and when they stop , your passenger jumps out to tell them there is something wrong with the back of their car,
when they go to check the passenger jumps in the car and drives off followed by the "good samaritan " in the other car.

Or even lightly tail ending a car at a chosen spot and when the innocent party gets out to inspect the damage , a mate jumps in the victims car and drives off

all simple ,all proven to work.

the best advice is not to stop for anyone ( unless they have blue lights flashing and are in uniform ) try to get the cars number plate and drive to the nearest police station .

certainly never get out of your car and leave it running

Post by **foggyjames** » 18 Dec 2006 08:16 pm

Grandad sent this one out the other day...annoying chain mail, yes, but it also contains a useful reminder that you've gotta watch your back when pimping a whip as mad tyte as a 300. I'm fairly paranoid about this kinda stuff...but without any sort of reason! I always pull the keys at the first opportunity, and I've taken a long way home a couple of times to verify that I'm not being followed...

cheers

James

Post by **petefarrell360** » 18 Dec 2006 08:26 pm

I know what you mean James. I actually get the mickey taken for how I remove the keys everytime and lock the car. Filling up with fuel I sometimes lock people in the car by mistake if I've got passengers, as it's automatic for me to lock it. People ask me why, even when it's the van etc, it's best to do it, it may not be the expense of the vehicle, but it's the hassle that goes with it if is stolen, and often what's inside it too. Don't give anyone the opportunity. Also you're insurance won't be paying out if you can't account for all the keys for the vehicle, or didn't take reasonable steps to protect them and the vehicle.

Yeah I've seen people at ATM machines wit a soft top sports car, worth many thousands of pounds, still running, with their back to the car. Now once their card is in the machine, PIN number entered, they are effectively stuck there until their card is returned. What a fool, as if someone nicks his car, he'd probably have given chase, it's a knee-jerk reaction, leaving his card in the machine, with PIN entered for anyone to take advantage of. Not clever.

Also there was a scam shown on tv about people test driving cars, I think someone posted it on the VOC, but it's a panic situation where you act to try and help someone, or so you think and they take advantage and drive off with your car by making you get out.

Pete