Due to our slow moving traffic in central London a variety of scams have been
invented to part motorists from their money.

Sad to say I fell prey to one.

It works like this: you are passing Euston station and are stuck in a slow moving column of traffic but at the front where there are traffic lights. The lights change from Red to Green when suddenly a woman pushing a pram runs across the traffic. You brake sharply and watch while the woman seeks the safety of the central island. What you do not notice is her partner squirting dirty oil on the front of your car specifically into slatted intakes.

You move off till further down the ring road approximately at the junction of commercial street with Kingsland road where you are hailed at a traffic light by some one pointing out you have an oil leak. The front of your car on one side is covered in oil that is dripping onto the road. The observant pedestrian introduces himself as a mechanic working around the corner but the opposite side to where you park to check your vehicle.

Meanwhile your dog is going berserk because he can smell the scam. The man produces a spanner and goes under your car where he supposedly whips out a hose that is frayed in the middle. While you are contemplating this hose he disappears around the corner and produces its replacement. You are in the meantime persuaded to open the bonnet/hood to check the oil - Hallelujah, there is oil in the sump - start the engine - no problem - that will be £65 plus labour of 5 minutes, he disappears with the "old" hose and you are short £80.

There are only two things you can do to prevent the scam taking off.

First when you are at the head of a queue of traffic at the lights you must start off slow or you must knock down late moving pedestrians who would otherwise wreck your engine.

If you are not at the head of the traffic queue you must keep your distance from the car in front by aligning the bottom of your windscreen with the bottom of the back tyres of the car in front - this gives you enough space to swerve around the car in front.

Once I realised I had been had, I told the Police and said I would inform you of the scam so you can pass it on.