Second -hand cars buying can be an economic solution, but it also hides serious risks. A woman from Lleida discovered this the hardest way when she traveled to Badalona to close a deal of a used car and ended up victim of a violent robbery.
According to the Spanish newspaper AS, the search for good business on online platforms has been growing in Portugal and Spain, but with this trend also increase the hazardous slops and schemes. In this case, it all started with a seemingly legitimate advertisement advertisement of a car used for 7,000 euros.
Convinced that he would purchase the vehicle, the victim moved about 160 kilometers, taking the money in cash. The meeting was scheduled for last September 27, in a peripheral area of Badalona, near Barcelona.
What seemed like a simple transaction ended up quickly in violence. As soon as she arrived at the scene, the buyer realized that something was not right. Instead of the keys of the car, the alleged seller removed pepper gas and attacked the woman, seizing all the money.
Atonite and without reaction, the victim was abandoned at the scene, in a state of shock, without vehicle, without money and even with the effects of aggression. The robber immediately fled, leaving behind just another case of crime linked to the trade of used cars.
Police already follows a track
According to the same source, the Badalona authorities were quickly called to the scene and assisted the woman, collecting their testimony. According to the preliminary investigation, there were already similar complaints in the same region, all with the same “modus operandi”: fake ads, marking meetings and violence attack to steal high cash amounts.
Investigators admit to already identified suspect, known for other episodes of the genre. Nevertheless, police warn of the difficulty in preventing this type of crimes when transactions are made in private contexts and cash payment.
The most dangerous side of second hand shopping
This case exposes the risks associated with transactions outside safe places. Although the business is often legitimate, there are well -assembled schemes that exploit the confidence and desire to get a “good price.”
Security experts cited by the same source recommend that you never make a purchase of great value in isolated or poorly moved locations. They also advise to privilege bank transfers, phased payments or supervised meeting places, such as police parks or public spaces frequented.
Several similar cases registered
Badalone aggression is not an isolated case. In recent months, reports of similar attacks have emerged at different points of Spain, always with victims who move with large amounts in cash. In Portugal, although less frequent, scans have also been registered in which the advertised car simply did not exist.
Schemes vary, but almost always start from the same point: an attractive ad, a price below the market and a convincing story to justify the urgency of the business. Once the victim’s interest is gained, meetings are marked in conditions that favor the robber.
A tradition that has become a risk
For years, paying cash cars was common practice. However, with the increase in scams and legal limitations to the use of cash, this option became increasingly risky. In addition, capital laundering prevention rules make cash transactions above certain illegal values in Portugal.
In the Spanish case, where this attack took place, although there is no such restrictive limit, transport thousands of euros in notes remains an obvious risk, especially in private transactions without contractual guarantees.
How to protect yourself in future transactions
Authorities advise never to move alone to meetings of this nature. Whenever possible, you should choose public places, preferably during the day and movement of people. Avoiding transport of large sums in cash and resorting to formal contracts are essential measures.
Another recommendation is to be suspicious of too advantageous ads and always verify the identity of the seller, as well as the legal situation of the vehicle through official entities.
A lesson for future buyers
The case of buying this car used in Lleida is a warning for those looking for opportunities in the used car market. What seemed to be a good purchase became a traumatic episode, with the loss of all the money and a violent aggression.
The investigation continues, with the police trying to locate the perpetrator, according to the. However, the message is clear: security must always be first, even when the hurry or price seem irresistible.
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