Private registration Facebook sales scam warning

Experts are warning motorists against buying and selling personalised registration numbers on social media sites following a marked rise in scams.

The soaring number of fraudulent cases is costing some drivers hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

One firm, Plates4Less, has now revealed the top three scams that are ripping off motorists selling private registrations on social media sites.

The first is where an innocent buyer lists a ‘wanted’ advert. The scammer simply replies with a tempting offer, a sale is conducted in private – and the buyer loses their money without getting the plate they agreed to buy.

The second is more intricate, and sees a fraudster posing as a buyer. They convince the seller to send the certificate of ownership (officially called ‘Certificate of Entitlement’) prior to completing the sale. Due to a loophole in the system, they can use this to assign the registration to their own vehicle immediately – without completing the sale.

The third scam is where a fraudster lists for sale a private registration they do not own, using someone else’s Certificate of Entitlement number as their proof of ownership.

"We are hearing about cases similar to these all the time and they seem to be on the rise," says Antony Clark from Plates4Less.

"Buyers must triple-check the seller is the legal owner of the registration mark before they part with any money. We would advise that they try to conduct the sale in person, if possible – and if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is."

Motorists are being caught out partly because of a change in government processes: it’s this that sees anyone with a valid certificate number able to assign a plate to their vehicle.

"The applicant no longer has to be connected to the registration mark, and anyone who innocently posts their certificate online, or has their email hacked, runs a major risk."

Other tips to keep private registrations safe include checking the validity of physical documentation every six months or so, and only using reputable businesses to buy or sell number plates, rather than social media marketplaces.