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Dealer accused of selling non-existent cars, taking deposits
🇬🇷 Greece /Crime & Justice

Dealer accused of selling non-existent cars, taking deposits

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A car dealer in Greece is accused of defrauding buyers by accepting down payments for vehicles he never delivered, then disappearing.
  • Multiple victims have filed complaints, reporting losses ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of euros, with the dealer allegedly providing fake bank deposit confirmations.
  • The dealer denies the accusations, claiming all customers are settled and that past mistakes from years ago are unfairly stigmatizing him.

A car dealer in Greece is facing numerous accusations of fraud, allegedly operating a scheme where he accepted down payments for used cars he never intended to deliver. Citizens have come forward with complaints, detailing how the dealer would collect substantial advance payments before vanishing, leaving buyers without vehicles or their money.

The car was 4,000 euros and we had an agreement to give him 3,000 upfront and the rest in installments. He told me that if we did it now, he would gift me insurance and change some things inside.

— A victimA victim describes the initial agreement and the promised benefits for an upfront payment.

Victims report that the dealer promised favorable deals, such as including insurance or making repairs, in exchange for upfront payments. One individual stated they paid 3,000 euros upfront for a 4,000-euro car, with the promise of installments for the remainder. Another victim recounted paying a 3,500-euro deposit for a car that was allegedly sold three times over, with the dealer providing fabricated bank deposit confirmations to placate them.

Buddy, it will happen today by the afternoon or tomorrow morning.

— The dealerThe dealer reassures a customer about a delayed car delivery, captured in an audio message.

When pressed for explanations or deadlines, the dealer reportedly offered reassurances, with audio messages captured by MEGA showing him saying, "Buddy, it will happen today by the afternoon or tomorrow morning." However, these promises were allegedly never fulfilled. Authorities are now investigating the case, with at least eight individuals having officially filed complaints against the dealer.

I gave a down payment of 3,500 euros. I told him, 'Leave it, I found someone to expedite it immediately, today.' We talked to him constantly. We never got our hands on this car, this car has already been sold three times. I went to the Neos Herakleio Police and filed a complaint.

— Another victimA victim details the significant deposit paid and the subsequent lack of delivery, leading to a police report.

The accused dealer, however, denies all allegations. Speaking to MEGA, he claimed that all his clients are "settled" and that any delays in vehicles or money do not equate to fraud. He attributed his current situation to a mistake made "five or six years ago," arguing that it should not define him permanently.

Customers are all settled. That we might have a delay either in a car or in money, it doesn't mean we've ripped anyone off. Because a mistake was made, five or six years ago, it doesn't mean I'm stigmatized for life.

— The dealerThe dealer denies the fraud allegations, attributing issues to past mistakes and claiming all customers are satisfied.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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