Police Department

SPD Warns Of Potential Car Purchaser Scheme

Ofc. John O'Brien, PIO

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 1:09 p.m.

The Spokane Police Department would like to warn citizens of a scheme where a man meets with a potential car purchaser. The buyer agrees to purchase the vehicle and hands over money to the seller. The seller, who may be the same person in all three incidents, takes the money and flees in the vehicle being offered for sale.

These incidents occurred on November 29, 2019 and December 4 and 29, 2019. In one of the thefts, the seller provided a bill of sale with a license plate and VIN number written down. Neither the plate nor the VIN belonged to the car being sold.

We encourage residents to try and safeguard themselves from this type of theft. Don’t hand over cash until the transaction is complete. Get the bill of sale along with the signed off title, and confirm the VIN number on the documents matches the vehicle before handing over cash. Meet in a location where you are more visible and may have surveillance cameras.

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