Drivers are being advised to exercise vigilance after a buyer unknowingly purchased a stolen vehicle through an internet trading platform.

The road safety unit of Thames Valley Police is warning shoppers following an incident where officers conducted a traffic stop and discovered the automobile had been taken illegally.

The person who considered themselves the new proprietor had bought the vehicle through the online classifieds service Facebook Marketplace, believing they had found a bargain.

A police spokesperson indicated that those searching marketplace advertisements for good value should be aware of the risks. A person recently obtained a car through Facebook Marketplace, thinking they had found a bargain. At first, everything seemed legitimate, but the vehicle in question was actually stolen. Consequently, they have lost the car and suffered financial loss, learning an expensive and difficult lesson.

Recommendations for those planning to acquire vehicles through digital sales platforms include checking the vehicle’s history through an HPI check, ensuring the V5C registration document is present and matches the seller’s details, and verifying the seller’s identity and home address.

Officers also recommended steering clear of cash transactions and deals without proper paperwork, as well as remaining suspicious of prices that seem unrealistically low.