I recently replied to an Auto Trader on-line ad for a Land Rover Defender. Despite taking as many precautions as possible, including viewing at the seller's home (name and address on V5), doing an HPI check and DVLA vehicle enquiry check, and seeing the MoT, I was still subject to a scam.

I lost my deposit after the vendor refused to answer my calls when I tried to pay to pay the balance. It turned out that the car had been stolen, the number plate copied from an identical vehicle and the V5 and MoT forged. Apparently, this is becoming commonplace to the extent that new V5 documents put a "Buyer Beware" notice on the front.

DVLA has a very useful web site www.direct.gov.uk/buyerbeware which is worth visiting if you are thinking of buying privately. This vehicle was perhaps underpriced by about £2,000 (although it did have some minor damage). Perhaps the best advice from DVLA is "If it seems too good to be true it probably is."

I'm now buying from a Land Rover independent dealer this week. The police have arrested the vendor who sold to me for fraud as I had a receipt with his fingerprints on.