OPP are warning residents to be vigilant after an attempted fraud in Minto.
On April 30th at around 8:30pm, Wellington County OPP were called about the fraud at a home outside Harriston.
The victim who had their vehicle listed on an online marketplace had someone express interest in purchasing and arrangements were made later in the day with the victim sharing their address.
The suspect arrived with another individual and shortly after a test drive, black smoke began billowing from the vehicle where oil was found covering the engine and inside the tail pipe.
The suspect then offered to purchase the vehicle at a much lower price but the victim declined.
It’s believed suspects tampered with the vehicle before the test drive.
Police say this is a common fraud when suspects will try to distract sellers to go to their homes in advance to tamper with a vehicle and when it appear to malfunction offer a much lower price.