These so-called mechanics prey on lone drivers, claiming there is something wrong with their car and offering on-the-spot repairs at exorbitant prices.
“One of their most common tactics is to throw diesel on the wheel of your car, causing it to emit smoke due to the heat and friction,” said City CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ku Chin Wah.
They would then try to get the attention of the car driver and volunteer to fix the vehicle, he said yesterday.
Once they manage to dupe someone to alight from the car, SAC Ku said the “mechanic” would lead the victim to a deserted area where he would pretend to check the vehicle.The victim would be told that his car parts had malfunctioned. The “mechanic” would offer to replace them for him.
However, the motorist would likely end up with the same part which had been repainted and sold back to him at inflated prices.
Police, who have received several reports about the scam have cautioned motorists to remain in their vehicles and not to be fooled by the “mechanics”.
“They may seem like good Samaritans trying to helping you, but the best thing to do is to ignore them and go to a trusted mechanic,” SAC Ku said.
Journalist T.T. Kitt, 24, said he almost fell victim to the scam while driving along the Federal Highway at 1pm on Thursday (see sidebar).
Another motorist, who declined to be named, said he had a similar experience driving in Jalan Universiti a few months ago.
These motorcyclists, he said, wore T-shirts with the logo of a petrol station and claimed to be their staff.
They took him to an isolated place and tried to sell him car parts for about RM1,000. These were actually parts from his own car which the culprits had repainted in gold.
“I told them I could not pay and they got angry,” he said. “I had to call some friends over before they left.”
However, he lost RM200 to the conmen whom he had paid earlier as a deposit for the car parts - The Star
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