A couple of car scammers have been caught on camera, with Sussex Police asking the public to help identify the men.
The force said: “Officers are appealing for witnesses following a scam in Saltdean.
“Police were called to reports of a car scam where three men pretend to purchase a car for sale but pour oil on to the engine in order to get it cheaper.
“The incident took place in Lewes Close on Saturday 7 October at around 7pm.
“Officers are now releasing an image of the men they would like to speak to in connection with the scam.
“If you recognise the men in the photo, or have any information, contact police online or call 101 quoting serial 1297 of 07/10.”
I hope you catch & lock them up soon
Scum & Devils walk amongst us
They were around the South about 1 year ago, squirting oil up the exhaust trying it on
I live in Plaistow, near the Surrey border. The same thing happened to me yesterday and I was previously unaware of the scam. I offered a 2012 Porsche Panamera on Autotrader and within minutes my phone was ringing from supposedly interested parties. I have sold cars privately before with no problems. Three young men of Asian descent arrived and parked outside the house, two entered the driveway. They were quite smartly dressed in an urban style, primarily black clothing and trainers. They seemed awestruck by the condition of the car and asked lots of questions. When they heard that I had spent a lot of money in 2025 mechanically and that the car had a clean, recent MOT they asked to see the records. I left them in the drive and went indoors to get the box file. After I returned, one asked for a test drive, which I did. He wanted me to show the performance of the car. When we returned after a relatively short drive, there was smoke coming from the bonnet, and when it was lifted there was oil all over the back of the engine and in the coolant. They asked for tissues to clean the oil for a closer inspection, so again I went indoors, and after I returned the car was running poorly. I realise now that on both occasions when I left them alone with the car unlocked, they tampered with it. They were very persuasive, and I knew that a replacement engine would be very expensive. I accepted a cash offer of less than one third of the asking price. There are many red flags in retrospect but I was in shock at the smoke coming from the engine and the lumpy running and assumed I must have created the problem when I drove the car hard at his request. I have ring doorbell footage of the two culprits. I reported the matter later in the day to Sussex Police online but they responded this morning that it’s not for them and that I should contact Action Fraud.