DORSET residents are being warned of a new scam where fraudsters use online auction websites to advertise non-existent vehicles for sale.

Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud and internet crime reporting centre, is warning people of the scam and has issued advice for people to follow to protect themselves.

The scam involves the fraudster advertising on an auction website before getting their victim to agree to purchase a vehicle, making sure that all correspondence is done via email.

The victim then receives emails which claim to be from genuine payment merchants or auction websites, stating that the money they have paid for the vehicle will be held in an ‘escrow account’.

The email indicates the money will be released to the seller once the person has confirmed that they’re happy with the purchase.

The email says that this will provide the person with ‘buyer protection’.

Action Fraud state that in reality these emails are fraudulent, do not come from the named companies and the bank accounts are controlled by fraudsters.

People can protect themselves against fraudsters by following these steps:

• Always stay within the terms and conditions of the auction websites

• Remember that PayPal do not include vehicles under their buyer protection

• Meet the seller ‘face to face’ and view the vehicle before parting with any money

• Be vigilant of emails that claim to be from genuine companies and check the ‘domain’ name of the email address for any inconsistencies.

• Check feedback online by searching the associated phone numbers or email addresses of the seller

• If the vehicle is below market value, consider whether this is an opportunity which is too good to be true