Following the incessant scam on various social media platforms under the guise of vehicle auction by the Nigeria Customs Service, operators from the automobile sales sub-sector have advised the Comptroller General of the service to put in place measures on how to curb the illicit act.
Auto Port Weekly investigation revealed that most of the preys to the internet fraud on the sales of imported used vehicles by customs are mainly people who live outside Lagos State.
Following the incessant scam on various social media platforms under the guise of vehicle auction by the Nigeria Customs Service, operators from the automobile sales sub-sector have advised the Comptroller General of the service to put in place measures on how to curb the illicit act.
Auto Port Weekly investigation revealed that most of the preys to the internet fraud on the sales of imported used vehicles by customs are mainly people who live outside Lagos State.
Our correspondent also gathered that a large number of victims of the internet fraud are based in places like Abuja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, Sokoto and Katsina states respectively.
Pictures of some top echelon customs officers are displayed on Facebook to authenticate the sales.
However the service in recent time has appealed to the general public that it cannot display auction of vehicles on social media, but the operators have appealed to the customs to tackle it at once, because despite the awareness some Nigerian still fall victim to the fraudster.
However, the operators also urged the Customs boss, Col. Hameed Ali to create an aggressive campaign programme to address internet fraud on vehicles sale.
Even though the price of proposed vehicles for sale are unimaginably too low, when compared to what is obtainable in automobile fairly used market, some of the victims believe that since it is coming from the customs, the prices are reasonable.
Some of the price of fake auctioned vehicles on the internet is as low as N200,000 for a fairly used Toyota Camry 1999 model with full option.
Buyers are advised to shun such sales online, because it the biggest scam.
A list of such fake addresses on social media portals especially Facebook are : www.nigeriacarmart.com, facebook.
Speaking with our correspondent on how to nip the act in the bud, a dealer; Mr. Stephen Uzouoma said that the fake online trade has taken its toll on car traders in Lagos.
He said that the fake car sales online under the guise of customs auction has been on the increase on a daily basis, adding that there is need for customs to put a stop to the practice.
The car dealer reiterated that if the customs fails to put a halt to the fake auctioning of cars, it will send a wrong signal to the international community.
According to him, online sales of any item go virile worldwide and there is need for the new customs chief to put an end to it.
"As a dealer, I have banned over 200 usernames and over 600 fraudulent posts on sales of Customs Seized vehicles under the guise of auction", he said.
Uzonuoma further revealed that the mode of operations of these fraudster are to post purported Customs seized vehicles at very low prices and demand for deposits to "secure the car " or "secure the file" at Customs offices".
The dealer further revealed that "most times, they go as far as posting photos of Customs officials on their profile pages thereby impersonating genuine Customs officers".
He confirmed that "they have flooded the Nigerian Online car sales now and are on every major car Websites with free listings."
He further warned buyers that "not all that glitters is gold "
Also a dealer at the Berger automobile market in Lagos, Mr. Francis Ibezim disclosed that most of the victims are based in the northern part of the state, he called on the customs to carry out aggressive campaign to such states where less awareness about fake customs auction of vehicles exists.
"These fraudster also go as far as stealing other genuine auto dealers car pictures posted online and re-advertise them at a ridiculous prices in other to defraud unsuspecting buyers of their hard-earn money”, he said.
Meanwhile, One of the Facebook account sighted by our correspondent last week revealed that a 2010 model of Toyota Camry goes for as low as N400,000.
Other purportedly seized vehicles that are being auctioned include:
2007 Toyota Camry for N300,000
2010 Honda Crosstour for N700,000
2008 Mercedes Benz GL450 for N900,000
2006 Lexus GX470 for N600,000
2010 Toyota Camry for N400,000
2008 Toyota Highlander for N800,000
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