A UK customer on Auto Trader recently put his car up for sale through the website for approximately £2,000. He was contacted via email by someone who offered £4,400 for the vehicle. The supposed buyer posted what appeared to be a National Irish Bank draft from Manchester. The draft was stamped such that it appeared to have been issued by a National Irish Bank branch in Finglas, Dublin. The seller was suspicious and a UK bank confirmed it as a fake.

The seller of the car subsequently received a contact from a caller using a Nigerian-registered mobile phone, asking if the cheque had cleared. He has contacted UK police, who, he says, have shown little enthusiasm for pursuing any investigation into the fraudulent bank drafts.

Another UK seller on Auto Trader was also offered a fake National Irish Bank draft for payment of her vehicle.

She was also suspicious of the offer.

One UK online seller who was offering a piece of music equipment for £500, was sent a National Irish Bank draft for £5,000. The sender claimed that a colleague had filled in the draft incorrectly and asked for the seller to cash the cheque and return the £4,500 surplus to him, minus a small handling fee. It is a classic scam tactic.

National Irish Bank, now rebranded Danske Bank following its takeover, has warned online and other sellers to be vigilant. Auto Trader said it is aware of the scam and also warns its customers to be careful.