Police have charged two accused scammers after they allegedly tried to on-sell a fraudulently acquired car to an Albion Park Rail dealership.
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A Bankstown man advertised his BMW X5 for sale online earlier this month and arranged for a 32-year-old man to test drive it.
But it is alleged this man took the registration paperwork out of the glovebox on the test drive before returning the vehicle, which a 49-year-old man allegedly used to transfer ownership of the BMW into his name.
Five days later, the two men allegedly arranged to take the vehicle for another test drive, but this time did not return it.
The matter was reported to police and an investigation began.
The following week, the 32-year-old man allegedly arranged to purchase a MG AZS1 Turbo station wagon from an Arncliffe resident, and sent a photo of the receipt from the deposit of the funds into the seller's bank account before taking possession of the vehicle.
However, the seller became concerned when the transaction had not cleared his bank account and reported it to police.
Meanwhile, the 49-year-old is accused of having transferred the MG into his name.
That afternoon, on Tuesday, February 23, the 32-year-old and the 49-year-old allegedly attended a car dealership on Shandan Circuit, Albion Park Rail and tried to sell the vehicle for below cost price, prompting the dealership to contact police.
Officers conducted checks on the vehicle and found the two men at a hardware store nearby to the dealership, where the younger of the pair allegedly threw away a plastic bag that was found to contain cannabis.
Both men were arrested and subsequently charged.
The 32-year-old is charged with three counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception, two counts of receiving stolen goods, possessing a prohibited drug, supplying a small quantity of a prohibited drug, driving while disqualified, dealing with identification to commit an indictable offence, dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
The 49-year-old man is charged with two counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception, stealing a motor vehicle, and receiving stolen goods.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
