On October 13th, a woman reported that she was selling a used vehicle online and had been contacted by a potential buyer. The “buyer” attended her residence to test drive the vehicle. When he arrived, the “buyer” indicated he was in a rush and wanted to immediately complete the transaction. He handed the seller an envelope containing completed transfer papers and the full asking price for her vehicle, with “payment” in the form of a bank draft. The seller began to review the documents.
Unbeknownst to the “buyer”, the seller has experience in the financial services sector and works with bank drafts. She immediately saw that the “bank draft” was a photocopied fake. She returned to the vehicle to discover the “buyer” zap strapping new license plates to the vehicle. She confronted the buyer, who apologized, cut the plates from the vehicle and fled the area. The seller then called police. The seller was not physically injured in the incident and was able to derail the potential fraud.
The “buyer” is described as a 40-year-old, slim, Caucasian male with a tanned complexion, standing five feet, seven inches tall. He had short, black hair, wore glasses and smelled strongly of cigarette smoke.
If you have information about this suspect or have been victimized by him, you’re asked to call our non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654 or Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.