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- Jun 9, 2008
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Just a little warning to be safe out there . There are many scammers out there that take your 'downpayment' money. Make sure and meet at a police station or somewhere recorded to do money transactions.
A San Fernando man is claiming he was scammed after responding to a car ad for the sale of a vehicle.
Mervyn Simon, 50, of Dallas Avenue, Cocoyea, said he saw an advertisement in the Express for the sale of a Nissan Wingroad station wagon and made enquiries to purchase.
Simon, a cleaner at Goodwood Racing Service in San Fernando, said he spoke with a woman who told him he needed to make a downpayment of $19,000 and pay $1,900 monthly for three years.
However, Simon told the woman he could only afford $10,000 downpayment and a longer period for monthly instalments was agreed to.
Simon met with a man, whom he was told would collect the money on the woman's behalf.
Simon paid the man $10,000 and received a receipt and a copy of his driver's licence from the transaction dated March 20.
According to Simon, he did not view the vehicle before making the downpayment and was told by the woman the vehicle was not available currently for viewing.
After several attempts to contact the woman since the payment, Simon said she refuses to answer his calls.
He eventually made a report to the police on April 4.
Simon said he sold his own vehicle to make the downpayment for the purchase of the newer one.
"I just want back my money, nothing else but my money...I work hard for that," said Simon.
The San Fernando Police Station is investigating the case.
Attempts to contact the number listed in the ad went unanswered yesterday.