RESIDENTS are being urged to be on their guard about car matching scams that cost consumers millions of pounds every year.

People selling their car are increasingly being approached by rogue salesmen who falsely promise to match their vehicle with a guaranteed buyer.

Before any match can be made, the consumer is required to pay a matcher's fee upfront of between £80 and £99 - only to find the potential buyer does not exist.

Last year, hundreds of complaints to advice service Consumer Direct related to five car matching companies operating in Barnet.

Following enforcement action by Barnet's trading standards officers, two of the firms went into voluntary liquidation and two ceased trading.

Councillor Matthew Offord, cabinet member for community safety and community engagement, said: "These firms were very plausible and persuasive in extracting money out of private sellers on the false promise that they had a number of buyers lined up once they'd handed over their matcher's fee.

"These businesses were professionally managed, with teams of telesales people earning a lot of commission.

"Upon investigation, however, it emerged that there was not evidence of any valid database and the consumer had nothing left to show but a dent in their wallet."

Consumer Direct advises anyone selling their car to be sceptical when cold called and asked for money in advance, and to avoid giving out credit or debit card details.

For more information on vehicle matching scams, visit www.consumerdirect.go.uk/vehiclematching or contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.