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Car scams

(6 Posts)
Charleygirl Fri 09-Dec-16 11:42:01

Please be aware that the latest scam in my neck of the woods is for a car driven by a lone female being flashed by a car following. The female stops, gets out and the driver of the other car gets out and bends down to show her an imaginary problem at the bottom rear of her car. In the meantime his accomplice is out of their car and has snatched the woman's handbag, sat nav and anything else available. They jump in their car and drive off.

Ana Fri 09-Dec-16 11:44:50

Blimey, you wouldn't catch me obediently stopping and getting out of my car if a car flashed me from behind! I'd drive to the nearest place of safety...

Charleygirl Fri 09-Dec-16 11:52:04

I would keep on driving and if I had a puncture or whatever, tough. I do not even open a window.

vampirequeen Fri 09-Dec-16 13:32:57

Scary scam. I don't stop but I can imagine a lot of women drivers would.

Anya Fri 09-Dec-16 14:00:47

My niece is a Special Constable. She was waiting at a junction when a man knocked on her window. He was wearing a suit, a smart overcoat, carrying a brief case and wore one of those work identity cards around his neck. In other words he looked respectable.

Niece wound her window down and he leaned in asking for directions. Suddenly he reached inside and grabbed her bag and ran off.

Luckily she was able to give chase and as she was gaining on him he threw her bag down. She got her bag back in tact and didn't continue the chase as she'd left her car in a bad spot.

But there's another one to beware of. She's also heard of people simply opening the passenger door when a car is stopped at lights and snatching the bag off the passenger seat. Advises bags are in the footwell as it's harder to reach.

Charleygirl Fri 09-Dec-16 15:33:10

It was an elderly woman who was caught out fairly locally. Everything was in her bag, credit cards, phone, bus pass and money. I suppose it could have been worse, he could have hopped in the car and driven off.

The only time I stopped and got out was when somebody ran into the boot of my car accidentally. I switched off the engine, got out, locked the car door, pocketing my keys. Simples.